OPINION: What a failed Joburg project tells us about mega cities in Africa

  • 📰 ewnupdates
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 42 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 20%
  • Publisher: 53%

South Africa Headlines News

South Africa Latest News,South Africa Headlines

Six years ago a major development was announced in South Africa. Billed as a game changer, it was meant to alter the urban footprint of Johannesburg, Africa’s richest city, forever.

Zendai, a Chinese developer, bought a 1600-hectare site north-east of Johannesburg for the development, which it quickly dubbed as the “New York of Africa”. Early plans showed it was to include 55,000 housing units, 1,468,000 m2 of office space and all the necessary amenities for urban life in the form of a single large-scale urban district. The cost estimate was set at R84 billion.

Modderfontein has faded away from the public consciousness. The story of why it failed has never been adequately told in the media. The project’s trajectory also shows how African “edge-city” developments, which are generally elite-driven and marketed as “eco-friendly” or “smart”, can be influenced by a strong local government with the means and willingness to shape development.Zendai’s aspirations to produce a high-end, mixed-used development did not fit with the City of Johannesburg’s approach.

To this end, the city demanded that Zendai include at least 5,000 affordable homes in its plans. It also wanted to ensure that the development was compatible with, and complemented, Johanneburg’s public transport system. The city was willing to contribute funding for the necessary infrastructure and inclusive housing.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 30. in ZA

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

OPINION: South Africa is failing the rights of children to education and healthSouth Africa is violating its own Constitution, and international obligations when it comes to undocumented children. Mnxm, South Africa is failing all it's citizens, full stop!
Source: ewnupdates - 🏆 30. / 53 Read more »

This fake City Power employee is wanted for robberies in JoburgA man is pretending to work for Acumen Software, and allegedly robbed at least one family already.
Source: TheCitizen_News - 🏆 6. / 75 Read more »

Central Africa armed group says govt failing to honour peace commitmentsOne of the Central African Republic's main armed groups on Sunday accused Bangui of failing to honour 'its commitments' under a peace deal signed in February by forming a new government without changes to the main ministries.
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »

$1.5 billion US Mega Millions jackpot claimed in South CarolinaLottery officials have announced that a South Carolina resident had stepped forward to claim the $1.5bn Mega Millions jackpot.
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »

Netflix film tells tale of Malawian eco boy genius | News | Africa | M&GA new Malawian film, Netflix’s latest offering to raise the profile of African cinema, has caused a stir back home, facing accusations of mangling the language and relying on foreign actors. read these bastits for filth! 1 or 2 Malawians in a film about Malawi? Make it make sense ... Is there a netflixAfrika? netflixMalawi?
Source: mailandguardian - 🏆 2. / 92 Read more »

South Korea to work with US and North Korea after failed nuclear talksSouth Korea’s President Moon Jae-in has been an active supporter of efforts to end confrontation on the Korean peninsula, meeting Kim three times last year and trying to facilitate his nuclear negotiations with the United States.
Source: ewnupdates - 🏆 30. / 53 Read more »

Pressing Issues: Africa should celebrate Kolo Touré for putting us on world mapMy fist was still up after punching the air at the news that former Ivorian international defender Kolo Touré had been roped in by Brendan Rodgers as his assistant at Leicester City when a blow to the pit of my stomach took the wind from my sails. SBu_Mseleku KoloToure well done son of the soil, keep flying the African flag high SBu_Mseleku Congrats to him, LiecesterCity , you are always ahead of the rest. AFRICANMAGIC. SBu_Mseleku Wow ,saw him on the bench , thought he was playing
Source: City_Press - 🏆 7. / 72 Read more »

'Nurses told us he was shouting Jesus': Thoriso Themane's dad on son's deathThorisho Themane died nameless and alone in a Polokwane hospital - using his last laboured breaths to call out for Jesus. So very sad and upsetting . Sincere condolences to family and friends. What is going on with our people? What have we become? Eish!! 😭😭😭
Source: SundayTimesZA - 🏆 47. / 51 Read more »

'Nurses told us he was shouting Jesus': Thoriso Themane's dad on son's brutal deathThorisho Themane died nameless and alone in a Polokwane hospital - using his last laboured breaths to call out for Jesus. May his soul Rest In Peace Atleast we know where he is now... 😢😭😭
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »

Sudan is Africa’s secret crisis | News | Africa | M&GCOMMENT: It is no surprise that people are protesting in Sudan. Having long failed to establish an inclusive and stable political system, al-Bashir’s government has now presided over a prolonged economic crisis. It was only a matter of time.
Source: mailandguardian - 🏆 2. / 92 Read more »