Menlyn

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Menlyn
South Africa Gauteng location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Menlyn
South Africa adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Menlyn
Coordinates: 25°47′0.343″S28°16′38.897″E / 25.78342861°S 28.27747139°E / -25.78342861; 28.27747139
Country South Africa
Province Gauteng
Municipality City of Tshwane
Main Place Pretoria
Area
[1]
  Total
0.56 km2 (0.22 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [1]
  Total
491
  Density880/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
[1]
   Black African 54.18%
   White 18.74%
   Indian/Asian 4.28%
   Coloured 3.26%
  Other19.55%
First languages (2011)
[1]
   English 38.59%
   Afrikaans 16.24%
   Xhosa 12.24%
   Zulu 5.41%
  Other27.52%
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
0181
PO box
0063

Menlyn is an affluent suburb of the city of Pretoria, South Africa. It includes the Menlyn Park Shopping Centre and the Menlyn Maine Central Square. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Menlyn Maine

Menlyn Maine is a mixed-use development in the Menlyn and Waterkloof Glen suburbs of Pretoria and is Africa's first green city. [7] It is a 315,000 sq mi (820,000 km2) precinct that incorporates office, retail, residential, and hotel spaces, alongside amenities like a public park, originally valued at R8 billion. [7] [8] It has contributed to the decentralization of the Pretoria city centre and surrounding suburbs. [9]

The Menlyn Maine development was introduced in 2006, with developers purchasing 104 residential properties in Waterkloof Glen Extension 2 in order to assemble the land for this green mini-city project. [8] [10] [11] It was one of the 16 green cities participating in the Climate Positive Development Program by the Clinton Foundation, a program introduced in May 2009 [12] which works together with businesses and governments to improve energy efficiency in urban areas. [7] [8] [11] It is a mini-city in which offices, retail spaces and residential areas are all near one another, ensuring that work and leisure can be experienced from the same environment. [11] [13] The green city includes a Sun International hotel and residential apartments. [3] [13] [14] [15]

On 21 September 2016, the 65,000 sq mi (170,000 km2)Menlyn Maine Central Square was opened by David Makhura, the Premier of Gauteng, within the green city. [10] [13] [16] It was built at a cost of R1.8 billion at the heart of the Menlyn Maine development and was co-owned by Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings (MMIH) and the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). [3] [10] [13] It includes a mall with supermarkets, banks, restaurants and a Virgin Active gym among other services. [13] WBHO was the main contactor in the project. [3]

Menlyn Maine Central Square Menlyn Maine, Pretoria.jpg
Menlyn Maine Central Square

In July 2014, Sun International made a R4.2 billion investment in Menlyn Maine for a hotel, casino and arena, with construction beginning in April 2015. [17] [18] The Times Square Casino was opened on 1 April 2017, followed by the SunBet Arena on 4 November 2017 (with a capacity of 8,500 people) and the 17-storey Maslow Times Square Hotel in April 2018. [19] [20] [21]

The Times Square building seen from Garstfontein Road. Times Square, Pretoria.jpg
The Times Square building seen from Garstfontein Road.

On 29 July 2021, it was reported that the Competition Tribunal approved a proposed merger between the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) and Menlyn Maine Investment Holdings (MMIH), which would give the GEPF sole control over the MMIH's share of the Menlyn Maine Central Square. [22] [23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sub Place Menlyn". Census 2011.
  2. "Central Square at Menlyn Maine announces opening". Bizcommunity. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "R1.8 billion mixed-use Central Square brings life to the heart of Menlyn Maine - eProperty News". eprop.co.za. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  4. "New Menlyn development to become one of the tallest residential buildings in Pretoria". 15 December 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  5. "Liberty Life chooses prime green location in trendy Menlyn - eProperty News". eprop.co.za. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  6. "Menlyn area and property guide". www.privateproperty.co.za. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "Menlyn Maine Africa's first 'green city'". www.privateproperty.co.za. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "SA's first green development comes to Menlyn Maine precinct – GreenEconomy.Media" . Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  9. "Menlyn Maine to become Pretoria's 'Sandton'". Property24. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 Wyngaardt, Megan van. "Menlyn Maine Central Square open for business". Engineering News. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 "Menlyn Maine | The African Business Journal". www.tabj.co.za. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  12. "Press Release: Clinton Climate Initiative To Demonstrate Model For Sustainable Urban Growth With Projects In 10 Countries On Six Continents". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Nkosi, Nomaswazi (22 September 2016). "R1. 8bn Menlyn Maine mall opens its doors". IOL. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  14. Shevel, Adele (19 March 2017). "Menlyn development set to make all others green". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  15. "A look at Menlyn Maine's new luxury apartments – starting at R1.6 million" . Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  16. "Central Square opens at SA's first green, mixed-use city precinct". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  17. Import, Pongrass (4 April 2017). "Time Square casino: how it affects locals". Rekord. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  18. "The Maslow Time Square hotel in Pretoria". Sun International. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  19. "Sun International opens multi-starred hotel | Southern & East African Tourism Update". www.tourismupdate.com. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  20. "Design masterpiece The Maslow at Time Square unveiled". Bizcommunity. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  21. "WATCH: Hotel, events arena to complete R4.2bn investment". IOL. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  22. "Government pension fund acquisition of Menlyn Maine shopping centre gets green light". TimesLIVE. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  23. Arnoldi, Marleny. "GEPF, Menlyn Maine merger gets Tribunal go-ahead". Engineering News. Retrieved 29 August 2025.