By Benjamin Moshatama

Soweto is heading for a property boom, with developers set to plough more than R1.7-billion into Joburg’s iconic township.

There has been such a development boom that a leading economic analyst says Soweto is no longer a township, but has been transformed into a suburb. Starting next June, construction companies will get cracking on various projects, including the township’s first waterfront development, a theatre, and a 1 200- townhouse complex.

The Joburg Property Company, the council agency tasked with property development, is also awarding tenders for the development of upmarket malls and mixed-use housing, office and shopping complexes in Meadowlands, Jabulani and Orlando.

JPC project manager Jo McCrystal said the projects were “starting to take off”.

“We are bringing about a lifestyle that suits people’s aspirations. Instead of people leaving the township, we now see the reverse. The middle class is coming back to Soweto,” she said.

The Jabulani Central Business District is the site of a 300 000m² development along the lines of Joburg’s mixed-use Melrose Arch. It will include Soweto’s first performing arts complex— a 400-seat, R60-million theatre — as well as a 70 000m² shopping area, 70 000m² of office space and 2 000 flats.

Meadowlands will get the R4.1- million, 10 405m² Meadowpoint Precinct, which will include 2 000m² office space, a shopping complex and 150 residential units.

The R1-billion Orlando Ekhaya project announced two years ago — located between Orlando West, Pimville and Klipspruit — includes 1 200 homes for buyers ranging from low-income earners to wealthy homeseekers, a 30 000m² shopping area, and a 60ha nature reserve.

The second phase will include a hotel. Also on the cards is the R700-million Isango Waterfront on the Orlando Power Park Dam, which will include an upmarket shopping centre.

Said T-Sec chief economist Mike Schüssler: “We used to call Soweto a township

— and now that definition is not relevant anymore. We should be calling it a suburb.

“We are now seeing banks moving into the area as well as industry.

“In the past few years, Soweto has made remarkable strides. We have seen an interest in the development of retail, offices, parks and even hotels.” Residents, including Terry Martin, chairman of the Greater Orlando Community Policing Forum (CPF), said the new developments would bring much needed investment.

“We have shown through two big malls [Maponya and Jabulani malls] that have already been built here that the people have buying power and that businesses can be sustained in Soweto,” he said. Greater Jabulani CPF chairman Monty Dlamini said the construction in his neighbourhood would not only create jobs, but provide better recreation facilities.