The development of the multibillion-rand Vaal River City megacity project will begin at the end of this year and it will create new economic and industrial activity anchored by the Vaal river.

Speaking at a sod-turning event at the project’s 250 ha site in Vereeniging, Gauteng, earlier this month, Gauteng Premier David Makhura stated that the development would be a catalyst for further investment and economic development in the area and added that residents would directly benefit.

The “hydropolis” project is a public–private partnership aimed at unlocking the potential of the waterfront developments in the Sedibeng district’s Emfuleni and Midvaal areas and removing the district’s dependence on its ailing steel industry.

The residential and commercial development is expected to be worth between R7-billion and R11-billion and will create 10 000 jobs during its construction phase and 19 000 jobs during its operational phase.

Makhura noted that the vision was to add more than R40-billion to the Vaal’s economy in the next 15 years.

The integrated spatial development project would centralise the Vaal metro and would create a new metropolitan municipality that would stimulate economic development in the Midvaal area and fast-track development and housing delivery.

“We want to eliminate the housing backlog in Gauteng and cannot do this if we build houses sporadically and in small numbers. This development will see up to 120 000 houses being built over the next five years. We are moving to a new dispensation of human settlements – mega human settlements,” said Makhura.

He added that every human settlement should have its own economic zone to successfully develop.

The goal was to achieve diversity in human settlements by emphasising mixed-income, high-density human settlements that placed emphasis on social and economic inclusion, as well as the promotion of spatial justice, Makhura said.

He revealed that government intended to abolish reconstruction and development programme housing developments and was, therefore, pursuing large-scale sustainable human settlement projects in collaboration with the private sector.

Also speaking at the event was River City Development Company CEO Reggie Kukama, who stated that the Sedibeng district lacked the proper investment and infrastructure to stimulate economic growth.

Another challenge, he added, was that a portion of the river was privatised, making access to it difficult for the general public.

“The development will change this. It will be the first development that will allow the public access to the river. The vision is to also create a river city with a waterfront to ensure the area is attractive as a tourist destination. This development promises a better lifestyle for people and will serve as a blueprint for future cities,” said Kukama.

The development will feature a consolidated municipal district with all government services – the Midvaal and Emfuleni local municipalities will merge with the Sedibeng district municipality to create a single metropolitan municipality.

The Vaal River City project will also feature a 60 000 m2 lifestyle centre, a 400 000 m2 commercial office park, as well as parklands.

The residential component of the development will constitute between 20% and 25% and a mixed-housing typology is intended.

Kukama stated that the aim is to ensure that a minimum of 60% of residents were from the Sedibeng district.

Sedibeng mayor Simon Mofokeng stated at the sod-turning ceremony that the country’s landscape was changing with developments, such as the Vaal River City, which would leave an economic, institutional and environmental legacy for future generations.