Northmead Square

Opened in 1998, Northmead Square [1][2] is known as the first shopping centre to bring cinemas back to the city of Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa. The last remaining cinema had closed in the 80s. Northmead Square is a community centre that services people within a 5 km radius, though because it has regional branches of three of South Africa's biggest banks (FNB, Nedbank and Standard Bank) members of the public do come from greater distances. Family-run and maintained by the Coutsides family, Northmead Square is popular and is affectionately known as "The Square".

Aerial view of Northmead Square.

History

The property on which Northmead Square was built has been owned by the Coutsides family since 1961. The house that originally existed there was known as "The Pink House" and was a portion of the property known as "Beckett's Farm". In the 90s when the proposed shopping centre was being planned opposition came from the surrounding neighbours and some businesses which delayed the development. Construction eventually went ahead as planned and the centre was opened by the ANC's late [3] Minister of Public Works Mr. Sicelo Shiceka.

Community involvement

Northmead Square hosts an annual "Shavathon" with the national cancer charity CANSA.[4] March 2012 saw approximately R43000 being raised at the Centre, the most successful entrant in Eastern Gauteng having raised more than even regional centres such as East Rand Mall.[5]

A performing artist by the name of Kassio used Northmead Square as the stage for an act in 2012.[6]

The Benoni Lions Rotarian Club and the South African National Blood Service host quarterly blood drives at Northmead Square which are generally very well attended.[7]

Charlene Wittstock, the Princess of Monaco, visited Northmead Square for lunch in February 2011. She grew up in Benoni [8] and most of her family still live there.

Cenestra Male Choir performed at Northmead Square on 1 July 2012, at Northmead Square's 14 year anniversary celebration. The 46-voice Cenestra Male Choir was selected to perform at the Wales Choir of the World as part of a pre-celebration for the London Olympics 2012. Over R55000 was collected to at the event to help the choir fund their trip overseas. [9]

Benoni City Times

Benoni's local newspaper opened their doors at Northmead Square in 2004. The Benoni City Times celebrated their 100th birthday in 2011.

gollark: > "i support the rights but i also support withholding them for the benefit of the majority"What?
gollark: People *allegedly* care a bit about homelessness, abstractly. If you ask "homelessness, is it good" people are obviously going to say no. If you ask "so would you actually give up any money/resources to help homeless people", a few might say no. But people's revealed preferences, i.e. what they actually do, suggest that they do not care.
gollark: I mean, I support... market systems, broadly speaking... and also the existence and, well, human/whatever rights of people regardless of race/gender/sexuality/whatever.
gollark: WHO, exactly?
gollark: ... what?

References
  1. http://www.northmeadsquare.co.za
  2. http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/benoni/benoni-news-general?oid=4574610&sn=Detail&pid=null&Northmead-Square-grows-bigger-and-better
  3. http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2012/05/13/shiceka-funeral-draws-hundreds
  4. http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/benoni/benoni-news-general?oid=5057374&sn=Detail&pid=null&-Northmead-Square-hosts-Shavathon
  5. http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/boksburg/boksburg-your-voices?oid=5537031&sn=Detail&pid=217460&Cansa-thanks-everyone-involved>
  6. http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/benoni/benoni-news-general?oid=4876609&sn=Detail&pid=null&It-is-a-bird--Is-it-a-plane--No--it-s-Kassio--
  7. http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/benoni/benoni-news-general?oid=3875937&sn=Detail&pid=null&Lions-Clubs-and-SANBS-join-forces
  8. http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/benoni/benoni-news-general?oid=3083677&sn=Detail&pid=null&Lunch-with-future-princess-of-Monaco
  9. http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/benoni/benoni-news-general?oid=5811325&sn=Detail&pid=null&Cenestra-choir-gets-donation-of-R50-000

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