Johannesburg seeks private funds to revive CBD
The City of Johannesburg is seeking private capital to develop key socioeconomic nodes in the inner city, including the demolition and rebuilding of the iconic Noord taxi rank.
The Noord taxi rank, officially called the Jack Mincer Public Transport Facility, is South Africa’s largest and busiest taxi rank, serving as a nexus for commuters in the Joburg city centre.
It has become notorious for its filth, petty crime, and lack of maintenance, with previous attempts to refurbish it falling short.
The Johannesburg Development Agency has gone to tender, looking for private sector investment to redevelop the facility, which will increase the taxi facility from two storeys to seven storeys, maximising the site’s potential.
The project involves the full demolition of the existing transport facility and the construction of a new multilevel public transport interchange, including public amenities, commercial spaces, and supporting infrastructure.
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The new facility, to which MTN has naming rights, will incorporate a clinic, informal trading stalls, and public refuse management area, access control, and stormwater and sewerage reticulation, including new municipal connections.
The city faces severe fiscal and infrastructure challenges, prompting a recent intervention and co-operation drive through a government-business partnership to stabilise municipal management and economic growth.
The city-owned agency is also looking for private funds to complete the construction of the proposed mixed-use development and long-term lease of Klipfontein Wellness Centre, an initiative to combat drug and alcohol abuse in Klipfontein.
The wellness centre was supposed to be completed in 2022 but is only 65% complete, with the agency seeking additional funding and sponsorship support to complete the project.
The agency is wooing the private sector to upgrade various properties at Constitution Hill, including the women’s jail, Old Fort, the visitors’ centre, Constitution Square, and the nurse’s home.
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Old Fort, constructed in the 1890s, is Constitution Hill’s most architecturally significant structure and is the most underutilised major asset, according to the agency.
It housed Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and thousands of political prisoners, anchoring the Unesco World Heritage Site designation and is in partial use.
The city seeks to develop and lease the site as a mixed-use precinct, with the agency’s efforts aimed at creating a more sustainable and equitable urban environment, and private investment will play a significant role in shaping the future of Johannesburg’s inner city.
With the city’s economy accounting for 16% of South Africa’s economy, the success of these projects will be closely watched, and the agency’s ability to attract private sector investment will be key to their completion.
