By Johnathan Paoli
The City of Cape Town is preparing for a major land release in early 2026, with plans to auction approximately 50 City-owned properties as part of a strategic push to stimulate economic growth across the metro.
The properties, which will be offered for sale and lease, are zoned for residential, commercial and industrial use and have been declared surplus to municipal requirements.
City officials say the large-scale auction is designed to attract private-sector investment, unlock underutilised land, and generate revenue that will be reinvested into essential municipal services.
While the final auction date has not yet been confirmed, it is expected to take place in the first part of next year.
Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth James Vos, described the initiative as central to the City’s economic development strategy.
He said the release of well-located land was necessary to ensure that public assets actively contribute to growth rather than remaining dormant.
“As part of my mandate, I am prioritising the release of well-located land to unlock economic potential. I firmly believe that our land portfolio must drive economic growth rather than sit idle, and this auction sets the standard for how we will put our properties to productive, purposeful use,” Vos said.
According to the City, all properties included in the auction have been assessed and confirmed as no longer required for municipal operations.
The land parcels are spread across different parts of the metro, allowing for a mix of development opportunities that range from housing and small businesses to large-scale industrial activity.
To ensure accountability and public confidence, the City has committed to conducting the process through an open, competitive public auction.
Vos said this approach was essential to maintaining transparency and integrity in the disposal of public assets.
“To ensure full transparency, bidders will have the opportunity to compete via a public auction. This major land release initiative complements the broader pipeline of disposals successfully delivered over the past several years,” he said.
The upcoming 2026 auction builds on a series of similar land releases that the City has conducted in recent years, which municipal leaders say have helped unlock investment, create jobs and strengthen service delivery through reinvested revenue.
In May, the City hosted a property auction offering 13 residential, commercial and industrial sites across areas including Constantia, Philippi, Woodstock, Gardens, Maitland, Khayelitsha, Vredehoek and Kraaifontein.
That auction included 11 improved properties and two vacant sites, with proceeds earmarked for municipal infrastructure and services.
One of the most prominent properties offered at the time was a 9.2-hectare industrial site within the Wynland Industrial Park in Kraaifontein.
Zoned General Industrial 2 and located along the N1 corridor, the site was positioned as a catalyst for private-sector-led development, job creation and broader socio-economic upliftment for surrounding communities such as Wallacedene and Bloekombos.
The property also benefited from enhanced electricity capacity following the commissioning of the Denova substation in 2024.
That same auction also included a vacant erf in Khayelitsha reserved specifically for first-time home buyers earning between R13 000 and R22 000 per month, highlighting the City’s attempt to balance commercial objectives with social development goals.
Earlier, in September and October 2024, the City auctioned 44 properties ranging from Goodwood to Fish Hoek and from Somerset West to Atlantis.
Those properties included vacant land, improved sites and council-owned lease properties, such as industrial land near the N1, beachfront commercial leases and adjoining erven in Constantia.
At the time, Vos emphasised that the City should not function as a “land bank” and that releasing underutilised assets was essential for long-term economic sustainability.
He said revenue generated from these auctions was reinvested into service delivery, ensuring tangible benefits for residents.
The City maintains that its ongoing land release programme reflects a deliberate policy choice to partner with the private sector in driving development, while ensuring that public assets are managed responsibly.
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