Too Many Malls in South Africa? Rise of Ghost Malls

South Africa has one of the largest and most mature shopping mall cultures in the world, ranking globally in the top 10 for retail space with around 2,000 shopping centres nationwide. But with shifting consumer habits, rapid urban expansion, and the explosive growth of on-demand delivery apps like Checkers Sixty60, Pick n Pay asap!, and Woolies Dash, is South Africa facing a shopping mall crisis? In this video, we trace the full history and evolution of South African retail—from the opening of Killarney Mall (1961) and Hyde Park Corner (1969) to megamalls like Sandton City, Mall of Africa, Gateway, Menlyn Park, and Canal Walk. We break down the historic shifts that built this mall empire (from Apartheid spatial planning and CBD flight to the post-2007 township retail boom) and investigate what the future holds for retail in South Africa.