What is Happening at The Wedge, Morningside?

The Wedge, owned by the Government Employees Pension Fund, was previously managed by the Public Investment Corporation Property Division, later renamed to PIC Properties.  Under their mismanagement and lack of promotion, tenancy declined until the centre was more than half empty.  New Centre Management and a new Marketing Agency have now taken over, respectively doing no apparent management and no visible marketing.

It was originally intended, it seems, to demolish the entire centre and rebuild it from a hole in the ground, as was done with the Morningside Shopping Centre.  Plans have since been scaled back to just increasing the parking, probably by digging out the upper parking level and putting a lower level in beneath the current ground level.

Nothing has yet happened on site, except that most of the tenants were told to vacate (see the many shops that have closed in The Wedge, listed below).  The centre is now perhaps a quarter occupied.  With the scaling back of the redevelopment, this appears to have been a mistake, as shops can carry on trading.  We are told that one of the anchor tenants signed a lease in a nearby centre in anticipation of moving, and now finds that they will have to run both shops.

In contrast to its thriving fully-tenanted competition up the road, The Wedge seems a classic case of how to run a shopping centre –into the ground!. Pity the Government employees whose pension money has gone down the drain!  Yet it has so much going for it: Great location, easy access, visibility, lots of space, lovely view over the suburbs, and copious free parking.

Welcome to Sandhurst Centre!

In the last month we added a new page to the Megaplex site: for Sandhurst Centre, 60 Rivonia Road (entrance in Protea Road), Sandhurst, Sandton.

This small centre serves Sandhurst, Inanda, Illovo, and the southern Sandton CBD.  There are two fast food restaurants, a gym, and a few other businesses. There is adequate uncontrolled free open-air parking, with a little shade. Security staff are in evidence.  The gym may be upstairs, though the entrance is on the Ground floor on the extreme right as seen from the parking.  The other businesses and both the restaurants are on the ground floor:

• Bride & Co and Eurosuit Sandhurst – Factory Outlet Store in the first building on your left as you enter. Bridal wear and for special occasions. Men's suits. Sales and hire.

• Burger King – American fast-food chain who think they can beat South Africans at grilled burgers.
• Pizza Hut – Casual pizza chain with wide selection, even chocolate pizza!
• M&A Jewellers of Rosebank and Diamond Exchange – Cash loans, pawn cars, coins, art, antiques. Buy and sell gold, silver, diamonds.
• Sandton Fight Club – Boxing Gym: developing the skill of boxing as a means of increasing core strength, losing weight, learning self-discipline and to relieve stress.

Odd Jobs

Being an Executor is an exacting business: You're constantly splitting heirs.

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

• Little Scholars Pre-Primary School, 12 Satara Avenue, Gallo Manor near Morning Glen Mall – Nurturing, loving environment, where every child matters! Integrated private and government school curriculum. Age 4 months - Grade 00 (5 years old). Morning snack and cooked lunch. High teacher to learner ratio. Half Day to 14:00, Full Day to 17:30. Passionate, experienced and qualified teachers, Owner managed, Variety of extra-mural activities.
• David Britz Biokineticist (Suite 2), 1st Floor in Sunninghill Village – Biokineticist (Reg.) & Qualified Sport Scientist.
• Mi Power, Shop G01B, Ground in Rivonia Junction – LED lighting, standby power applications: Solar power, diesel and petrol generators. Solutions from 5 to over 2000 KVA.
• Gienius Kiosk, Lower Level in Nicolway Bryanston.
• JJ Cale Tobacconist, Shop U29, Upper Level in Nicolway Bryanston – Men's gifting. Electronic cigarettes. Addictive and unhealthy tobacco products. Smoking accessories. Candles.
• Old Khaki, Shop L44, Lower Level in Nicolway Bryanston – Men's and Ladies' clothing: Shirts, Jeans, Shorts, Trousers, Jackets, Knitwear, Shoes, Accessories, Bags, Wallets, Belts, Scarves, Hats, Sunglasses, Tops, Dresses, Belts, Scarves, Sunglasses, Scents, Jewellery.
• ABSA Bank, now a full bank in Nicolway Bryanston – Banking, Forex & ATM.
• Adidas Factory Outlet - Ladies, Shop 8, Ground in Woodmead Super Value Centre – Expanded into the former Reebok shop next door, but will revert to Reebok.

Restaurant Review by Judith Back to top

***** Luca's Ristorante Italiano, Rivonia Crossing 2, Achter Road off Witkoppen Rd, Paulshof

A very special night out after a successful trip to Bloemfontein and a good sense of timing, as we went when the rugby was on.  This meant the place was quiet!.  Drinks were hot chocolate, Spritzer and Buiten Blanc.  Sylvester impressed immediately by knowing what a Spritzer was.  Mains were fresh River Trout, Lasagne and a medium Frutti de Mare Pizza.  The latter produced the remark that, "if this is medium, how big is the large?"

The trout came with spinach and was excellent.  The lasagne was pronounced very good.  For once, we made space for dessert and ordered Cheese Cake, a Double Choc Crunch and a Banting Choc Almond Triangle.  All were approved by the person ordering.  My Choc Almond Triangle lasted until Sunday lunch, it was such a generous helping, and my trout is still going!

Sylvester's service was on the ball.  Great value for money and great place for a special meal!

Contact Details for Luca's Ristorante Italiano.

Funny Language, English...

If you say "My tolerance is up", do you mean "My tolerance level is high, do carry on" or "My tolerance is all used up, if you carry on I'll moer you!"?

Lifeless:  Back to top

• Morningside Post Office in The Wedge, Morningside. One of the Post Offices that issued vehicle licence disks.
• IFA, in The Wedge, Morningside – Independent Field Advertisers, the network marketing division of Clientèle Life.
• Mochachos, Shop 16 in The Wedge, Morningside – Mexican-themed Chicken Restaurant, also did take-aways. Spicy but not hot. Tastiest chicken, chicken burgers and Mexican meals like Burritos and Fajitas in town.
• Global Photographic, Shop 24-26 in The Wedge, Morningside – (previously Universal Image) Photographic shop, photo processing, digital copy and print, blockmounting, digital cameras, memory cards, large array of telescopes.
• Zen Hot Yoga in The Wedge, Morningside – The Edge Office Block. May be relocating to Hot Yoga Studio in the Hobart Grove Shopping Centre in Bryanston, Corner of Hobart & Grosvenor Roads, about 29 June.
• Babor Beauty Spa, Shop 10 in The Wedge, Morningside – "Mo Beautiful You". Facial treatments, spa body therapies, body, hands and feet, nails, lashes, waxing, men's.
• Charlmers Biokinetics in Sunninghill Village – Was 1st Floor (Suite 2).
• Maneki, Shop U05A in Nicolway Bryanston – African arts and crafts, homeware. Designer & Manufacturer of Cutlery, Jewellery & Arts.
• 8ta Mobile from Telkom, Shop L02 in Nicolway Bryanston – Cell phone services.
• Red Rabbit French Grill, Shop U24 in Nicolway Bryanston – Grilled French rabbit? Were open 7 days a week, now apparently closed
• Yankee Candle (has become JJ Cale), Shop U29 in Nicolway Bryanston – Candles: large, medium & small jars. Fragrances, car jars, signature reeds, concentrated room sprays.
• Altech Autopage Cellular, Shop L03 in Nicolway Bryanston – Cell phones and accessories, cellphone contracts, upgrades.

Civic News: OUTA Petition   Back to top

OUTA, now renamed as the "Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse" has started a petition asking the ConCourt to make Zuma pay back all the money.

Once the Constitutional Court approves the National Treasury's report, President Jacob Zuma will have 45 days to pay the R7.8m he owes for his Nkandla home.  South Africans are saying that is not enough.  We are petitioning the Constitutional Court to make him pay back to the taxpayers the entire R246 million that paid for the upgrades in the first place.

South Africa is done with corruption and bad leadership.  Please sign and share so we can create awareness about what the country wants.

Not With Battery, though

Julius says that, if Jacob is short of energy, he probably needs to be recharged.

Civic Appeal: Help the FMF Improve Legislation   Back to top

Parliament has appointed a High Level Panel to investigate the impact of legislation in the following areas:
a. The challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality;
b. The creation of, and equitable distribution of wealth;
c. Land reform, restitution, redistribution and security of tenure;
d. Nation building and social cohesion.

The High Level Panel aims to identify laws that require strengthening, review and/or amending.  It will make recommendations to Parliament. The Panel has called for submissions from the public by 20 August 2016.

The Free Market Foundation (FMF) is a longstanding NGO that promotes true economic freedom, which research indicates is the best way to uplift a country.  The FMF plans to make 10 to 15 submissions to the High Level Panel in the areas of businesses licensing, energy, expropriation, finance and taxation, health including NHI, labour law including the national minimum wage, land reform, small business inhibitors, and special economic zones. Given the tight deadline, much of this work will need to be contracted out. They would appreciate it if you could consider an ad hoc donation:  The budget is R375,000.  If you would like to help, please email Gail Day (FMF Executive Manager) on gailday@fmfsa.org or phone her on 011 884 0270 / 076 836 5661.
 

Overheard at the Checkout

"Your cough sounds better!"

"Not really {cough}: I'm coughing more."

"I meant that you were getting well practiced at it!"