The Free State
Free State province is situated in the heart of South Africa, between the Vaal and Orange rivers. The province contributes about 5.5% of the country’s GDP and is the granary of the country, with agriculture and mining the main drivers of the economy and also the main employers. Other large industries are forestry and fishing, and community, social and other personal services.
The Free State covers an area of 129 825 km2 and 5.7% (2.8 million people) of South Africa’s population lives in the region. Most people (64.4%) speak Sesotho, followed by Afrikaans (11.9%) and isiXhosa (9.1%).
Bloemfontein, the province’s capital city, is home to South Africa´s Supreme Court of Appeal, the University of the Free State and the Central University of Technology.
The province has approximately 676 002 m2 of enclosed shopping centres, and the main high street retail node remains limited. Compared to the other major provinces, the Free State has a limited offer of prime shopping destinations, the largest all being in Bloemfontein – Loch Logan Waterfront (80 000 m2), Mimosa Mall (36 858 m2) and Bloem Plaza (36 152 m2). The region got a new small regional centre in October 2010 when the new Goldfields Mall (30 000 m2) opened its doors in Welkom.
Rentals in these prime shopping centres have remained stable over the last two years and vacancies are limited.
New developments currently under construction are limited and prime space in the various upmarket centres remains in demand.
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