Johannesburg, Sept 27, SPA -- Former South African president Nelson MandelaThursday cut the ribbon on the first mega mall in the famous Sowetotownship, symbolizing the changing fortunes of the former anti-apartheid hotbed, REPORTED DPA. The 65,000-square-metre Maponya Mall, named after its 82-year-oldSoweto-born founder Richard Maponya, brings international clothingbrands and upmarket food stores to Sowetans' doorstep. The mall aims to capitalize on the growing disposable income ofSouth Africa's burgeoning black middle class. Total household income in Soweto, home to nearly 1 million SouthAfricans, is estimated at 10.5 billion rand a year. Until now most ofthat money has been spent outside the township. Maponya said the 650-million-rand mall is aimed at bringingSandton City to Soweto, referring to an elite mixed business andresidential district in northern Johannesburg that boasts severalritzy malls. He has also expressed hopes the mall would bring over 2,000 jobsto the township south-east of Johannesburg. Anti-apartheid icon Mandela was a resident of Soweto for severalyears to his 27-year imprisonment for his resistance activities,living along the same street as fellow Nobel laureate AnglicanArchbishop Desmond Tutu.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/486279