The 33-year-old company that built and refurbished Mall of Africa, Sandton City, and Menlyn Shopping Centre

Property • 30 October 2026 • Kirsten Minnaar

Origin Project Management is behind several of South Africa’s best-known shopping centre developments, including Mall of Africa, Sandton City’s Diamond Walk and Menlyn Shopping Centre.

The company specialises in construction project management, overseeing developments from planning and design through to construction and completion.

Its projects span retail, commercial, hospitality and residential developments across South Africa and other African markets.

Origin dates back to 1993, when Neil Graham & Associates was established to provide professional project management services in the built environment.

The business later became GHC Africa in 2005 as it expanded into sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015, Origin Project Management was established.

At the same time, GHC Africa began trading as Origin International, which expanded its operations to 15 African destinations.

The group subsequently broadened its services through its 2023 relationship with Milestone Time Management.

Origin describes itself as a specialised consulting company that manages construction projects of varying sizes and levels of complexity.

Its work includes appointing project managers, coordinating professional teams, overseeing budgets and programmes, and managing the process through to completion.

The company’s portfolio stretches from offices and hospitals to universities and airports. Origin has also worked on some of the largest and most popular shopping malls in South Africa, as well as in West and Central Africa.

In Ghana, the company worked on West Hills Mall, a 27,700 m² shopping centre that combines local and international retailers, restaurants, and a cinema complex.

In Cameroon, Origin’s portfolio includes Douala Grand Mall, which has 18,000m² of lettable retail space across two levels.

The centre includes 160 shops, 22 restaurants, a Carrefour supermarket, a spa and a five-screen cinema complex with seating for 1,000 people. It also has 300 open parking bays and 340 underground bays.

The development has a total building area of 26,500 m² and offers space for fashion, lifestyle and service retailers.

Working on South Africa’s biggest malls

One of Origin’s most prominent projects is the Mall of Africa in Waterfall City, Midrand, which has 131,000 m² of lettable retail area. The wider complex has a gross building area of 485,000m².

The centre houses more than 300 shops, including major anchor tenants and a mix of local and international retailers.

Origin’s project focused on contemporary design, environmentally sustainable materials and technologies in the development.

Origin has worked on several projects at Sandton City, one of Johannesburg’s most high-end shopping centres.

Its work included a major reconfiguration of the mall and its courts, together with an extension on the south-eastern side.

The project added 30,000m² of gross lettable area and created a new shopping circuit across the existing two levels and the extension. It also introduced the Protea Court pedestrian entrance.

The work required relocating 12 tenants and created space for 72 additional shops. Much of the refurbishment took place while the shopping centre remained open and trading.

One of the most recognisable projects was the creation of the Diamond Walk, which links Sandton City to the Sandton Sun Hotel.

The luxury retail section was designed to accommodate high-end international brands, including Louis Vuitton, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Billionaire and Zegna.

Origin also managed the refurbishment of Sandton City’s food court, including replacing its roof while tenants continued operating.

Other projects included the reconfiguration of retail space on different levels of the centre, changes to the Checkers Court and work to create space for additional shops.

Origin said these projects required careful coordination to allow retailers to continue trading while construction work was underway.

At Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, the company managed a refurbishment covering the mall’s shared areas and office tower lobbies.

The work included replacing existing finishes throughout the common areas, upgrading the external square and formalising outdoor seating for the restaurants and food outlets.

The company has also worked on major retail projects in Pretoria, including the development of the second phase at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre.

This phase involved alterations to the existing centre, including relocating Checkers and other shops into the Phase 1 section.

Finishes were updated to match the new section. The project also included a new northern parking facility.

Origin’s other retail projects include refurbishments and reconfigurations at centres such as Alberton City, Cresta Shopping Centre, Southgate Mall, Tyger Valley and Westgate Shopping Centre.

The company has also worked on facilities at the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Johannesburg.