Johannesburg executive mayor Herman Mashaba has declared Johannesburg’s inner city open for business by putting 71 properties out to tender for private-sector development into mixed-income housing, student accommodation and small business rental space.

This forms part of the City of Joburg’s inner-city revitalisation project, which was approved by the council in September 2017.

The 71 properties make up Phase 2 of the project.

Thirteen buildings were put out to tender in Phase 1, with bids currently being evaluated.

Bids for Phase 2, which is expected to create 5 000 jobs during construction, will close on November 30.

The revitalisation project will, over many phases, result in 500 buildings being redeveloped, with between 50 and 100 buildings a year to be put out to tender.

Mashaba explained that the project was a multitargeted initiative incorporating strategies to facilitate the revilatisation of the inner city, which should unlock greater economic potential in the city – creating an enabling environment for small businesses to flourish, as well as permanent jobs.

“Increased economic growth should . . . be realised by 2021.”

Mashaba added that the city was facing a housing crisis, with an estimated backlog of 300 000, more than 160 000 people on the housing waiting list and an average of 3 000 people moving into Johannesburg every month.

Other challenges that the city faced included expensive housing – therefore, the bids were required to cater for monthly rental income of between R800 and R1 000, in 20% to 30% of the development – as well as deteriorating buildings, syndicate-run or hijacked buildings and crime on the streets.

Mashaba assured that these issues would be dealt with through the inner-city revitalisation project, since it would also include the appointment and training of more police officials who would focus on raiding hijacked buildings.

City of Joburg economic development MMC Leah Knott explained that Phase 2 would attract about R2.5-billion worth in investment and that the 71 properties werre spread over 35 pockets of space in the city. The areas included Braamfontein, Yeoville, Hillbrow, Marshalltown, Jeppestown, Pageview/Vrededorp, Turffontein, Newtown, Greater Ellis Park/Doornfontein and New Doornfontein, as well as Salisbury.

Since Johannesburg was established as a result of the gold rush 130 years ago, the inner city has grown into an 18 km2 hub, with an estimated 1.8-million households.

Africa is expected to be the continent with the highest urbanisation rate between 2020 to 2050.

In South Africa, 63% of people live in cities, but this figure will grow to 71% by 2030. Therefore, City of Joburg development planning MMC Reuben Masanga noted that it was vital to ensure proper infrastructure and job creation.

City of Joburg city manager Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni said the ideal location of the inner city, its access to various modes of public transport, and available economic opportunities provided an ideal environment in which both business and residents could flourish.

“The city will sustain its efforts in regenerating the inner city by ensuring that neglected buildings that have been allowed to deteriorate and become invaded [are] expropriated and redeveloped within a legal framework, since these buildings result in urban blight and hinder city transformation.”