Masina’s Bold Plans To Create A Wold-class African City, 20 Years On

Charles Molele

During his 2020 State of the City Address, executive mayor Mzwandile Masina unveiled plans to turn Ekurhuleni – a metro forged out of a collection of small mining and industrial towns, into a historic city of the new world. 

Masina has promised to pour billions of rands into mega commercial development projects, part of the metro’s Aerotropolis Master Plan and the ‘big ideas and focused development agenda’.

The development will see more affordable housing in Ekurhuleni, a botanical garden, ‘super-highways’, Ekurhuleni International Convention Centre, a Formula 1 race track and a Disney Africa.

This has proven that once again Masina has a long term view of development and was not only interested in pomp and ceremony, and cutting the ribbon at sod turning ceremonies.

He dismissed with a shrug critics who say he is ‘day-dreamer’ who focused too much on large developments that go to favoured builders and