South Africa’s Gauteng province sets out $30bn development plan

The Gauteng Provincial Government, which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria, has published a report adding details to its Vision 2030 National Development Plan.

If the vision is achieved, mega construction projects totalling some $30bn will be implemented along five development corridors, each intended to seed new industries and even cities.

These are:

• Central Development Corridor is based on Johannesburg’s role as a centre of the financial services sector, as well as IT and pharmaceuticals. This will include projects worth more than $12bn, including regeneration of Johannesburg’s inner city and the development of "megaprojects" in the south from Soweto to Orange Farm.
• Eastern Development Corridor will use the Ekurhuleni metro as a hub for manufacturing, logistics and transport. The OR Tambo University of Science will be built, and OR Tambo International Airport expanded. Factoring in a new Prasa-Gibela rail manufacturing hub in Nigel, this corridor is also expected to cost around $12bn.
• Northern Development Corridor, anchored on Pretoria, will be the base for the automotive sector and research and development. This will include special economic zones for those industries, and the development of Rosslyn Auto City. 
• Western Corridor, including the West Rand district, will aim at creating new industries and new cities. Among the projects envisaged is the expansion of Lanseria Airport and Lanseria Smart City.
• Southern Corridor is based on the Sedibeng district and the creation of new industries, new economic nodes and new cities. Among the schemes here are the development of Savannah City, Vaal River City and the Vaal University Village, as well as a cargo airport and logistics hub.

The report says the aim of the corridors is to rebalance the region’s economy, which has been reliant on large enterprises "principally operating in only three of Gauteng’s metro areas".

This in turn will end the region’s "dismal" employment record. The whole scheme is expected to require about $30bn over the next 10 years.

Image: Lanseria Smart City was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in February (Government of Gauteng)

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