SPECIAL FEATURE Credit:
SPECIAL FEATURE Credit: Mark Hillary/Flickr for the creation of new zones for development, housing, and industry. The aim is to diversify away from mining towards renewable energy, tourism, bus manufacturing and agro-processing. The release of 30 000 hectares of land by Sibanye Gold has unlocked the potential for major investment projects. A Smart City is envisaged for Lanseria and the area to its west. Where steel used to be the anchor industry in the Southern Corridor, today the aim is to build new industries through an SEZ that will cover both sides of the Vaal River and thus extend into the Free State Province. Among the investments that will create impetus are the Savannah City development, Vaal River City development, a cargo airport and logistics hub, the AB InBev investment project, the Gauteng Highlands water project, the Vaal Marina development and logistics and mining investments in the Lesedi Local Municipality, which includes Heidelberg and Nigel. Metropolitan drivers The Central Development Corridor revolves around the City of Johannesburg as the hub the of financial services, information and communication technology, services and pharmaceutical sectors. New investments are planned for the Joburg Inner-City and the South, from Soweto, N12 which includes Masingita City, Southern Farms to Orange Farm. The City of Johannesburg has recently completed a review of its policy of nodal development with a view to creating a fairer spatial framework for the city than that created by the racist planning laws of the apartheid era. As Member of the Mayoral Committee Lawrence Khoza puts it, “Nowhere is the legacy of our painful past expressed more vividly than in the racially divided spatial character of South Africa’s cities.” Johannesburg has designated eight zones: Inner-city: high-intensity use. Metropolitan: mix of land uses which currently includes Sandton and Rosebank and will expand to include parts of Soweto. General urban: designed to be transformative, mix of economic and residential use. Local economic development: interventions planned to create economic opportunities in areas with poor facilities (Zandspruit, Orange Farm, parts of Soweto). Suburban: lower density with local mixing of land use (homes, offices, offices, shops). Dark green: a limit of 8% coverage of buildings. Peri-urban/agriculture: low density. Another transformative initiative being undertaken in Johannesburg is the use of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) to drive investment and development. Implemented by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), the TODs are another attempt to improve the lives of people living in previously neglected areas. GAUTENG BUSINESS 2020/21 12
SPECIAL FEATURE One such TOD is the Jabulani TOD in Soweto where a seven-phase project is underway that includes a multi-purpose hall, a library, counselling facilities, sports facilities, offices and meeting rooms. A pedestrian bridge over a railway line and new roads underscore the transport element, with the facilities near the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) route that runs through Soweto to central Johannesburg. TODs are designed to attract further investment and are supported by the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant from National Treasury. Other projects undertaken by the JDA range from the upgrading of Constitution Hill, the Faraday Station precinct, work on the Fashion District and pavements of the inner city, renovation of the Drill Hall and the big Newtown make-over. Johannesburg has been the focus of a major tax incentive initiative, the Urban Development Zone (UDZ). The inner city of Johannesburg, comprising just less than 18km², is the largest UDZ in South Africa and it is expanding its footprint in response to significant successes that have been achieved. The Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco) has plans to provide affordable rental accommodation in 12 inner-city buildings that were recently identified for that purpose. But the main target for the UDZ is private investors. The City of Johannesburg has identified the following nodes for development: • Carlton Precinct: Johannesburg’s tallest building attracts tourists; undergoing revamp; Sky Rink TV and film studio being developed; conference centre planned. • Park Station: intermodal node catering for cars, buses, rail commuters and taxis; Gautrain link to OR Tambo International Airport; wide variety of users. • Central park: JDA has worked on greening and community engagement and wants the park to be a symbol of the successful city. • Doornfontein/Ellis Park railroad corridor: planned retail hub and student village. • Fordsburg: interior design focus; more offices and accommodation can be built. • Newtown: cultural precinct with the potential to cater to students and university departments with specialised offices and spaces. • Hillbrow, Berea, Parktown, Bellvue, Yeoville: creation of new public open space; opportunities for office and hotel developments. National Infrastructure boost An Investment and Infrastructure Office has been created in the Presidency. It is headed by the former Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa. In 2020, 51 infrastructure projects with a total investment value of more than R340-billion were gazetted. Ten of the 18 affordable housing projects listed are located in Gauteng. These include Malibongwe Ridge, Green Creek, Mooikloof Mega Residential City, Fochville Extension 11 and Germiston Ext 4 Social Housing Project. A large project is underway in Tshwane, Salvokop Precinct, to house government departments and commercial buildings. The energy projects identified by national government will have an impact on Gauteng, the country’s biggest consumer of energy. Priorities include embedded generation and the huge water supply project, Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, will create many opportunities. ■ 13 GAUTENG BUSINESS 2020/21
