Certification of Chief Executive Officer                           Exhibit 32(a)
EastGroup Properties, Inc.

In  connection  with the  quarterly  report of EastGroup  Properties,  Inc. (the
"Company")  on Form 10-Q for the period ended  September  30, 2005 as filed with
the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on the date hereof (the  "Report"),  I,
David H. Hoster II, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to
18 U.S.C.  1350, as adopted pursuant to 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002,
that, to my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The  information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.



                             /s/ DAVID H. HOSTER II
                             -------------------------
                             David H. Hoster II
                             Chief Executive Officer
                             November 8, 2005