Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has placed the revitalisation of the metro’s central business districts (CBDs) and other urban areas as fundamental to turning the city around, calling for action through large-scale partnerships with the private sector.

Delivering the keynote address during the city’s Expression of Interest (EOI) engagement session at the ACSA International Indaba Conference Centre in Kempton Park on Friday, Xhakaza said the initiative marked the city’s attempt to put planning into action.

“Today’s session is not merely a procedural milestone; it is a decisive step toward repositioning our city’s urban core as a dynamic, investment-ready and globally competitive environment,” he said.

Xhakaza said the metro had adopted a structured approach to spatial transformation through its approved Municipal Spatial Development Framework, which will guide long-term urban growth and economic revitalisation.

Central to the strategy is the implementation of the metro’s 30-year Aerotropolis Master Plan, which seeks to position Ekurhuleni as Africa’s leading aerotropolis, built around logistics, industrial growth and its proximity to OR Tambo International Airport.

Xhakaza said the city had already approved 18 precinct plans aimed at unlocking investment and stimulating regeneration across strategic economic nodes and CBDs.

“These precincts are not abstract concepts; they are targeted, high-impact spatial interventions designed to unlock investment, stimulate regeneration, and revitalise our Central Business Districts and strategic nodes,” he said.

The city is seeking partners capable of assisting with mixed-use developments, infrastructure upgrades, property redevelopment and urban management initiatives.

Among the projects identified by the city are the revitalisation of inner-city environments, public realm upgrades, redevelopment of municipal land and buildings, and the rehabilitation of derelict properties into productive economic assets.

Xhakaza said the city was focused on attracting investment through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and blended finance models that would help accelerate delivery and improve long-term sustainability.

“Government alone cannot achieve this scale of transformation. Through this Expression of Interest process, the City seeks to identify capable, innovative, and well-capitalised partners who can assist in translating our approved spatial frameworks into bankable, implementable and socially responsive development projects,” he said.

The mayor stressed that the city’s vision extended beyond infrastructure development and included social and economic upliftment.

“We are looking for partners who understand that urban development is not only about infrastructure and buildings, it is about people, opportunity, dignity, and long-term sustainability,” he said.

The programme also includes plans for City Improvement Districts aimed at improving safety, cleanliness and operational efficiency in targeted precincts.

Xhakaza acknowledged the challenges facing several of Ekurhuleni’s CBDs, including urban decay, underutilised buildings, ageing infrastructure and fragmented investment.

“This programme is our response. It is a clear, structured, and action-oriented intervention to fix, rebuild, and modernise our urban centres,” he said.

The mayor said the administration had declared 2026 the “Year of Fixing Local Government”, with a renewed focus on restoring service delivery, rebuilding infrastructure and improving municipal responsiveness.

He argued that urban renewal efforts would only succeed if supported by a functional and capable municipality working alongside the private sector.

“The success of this revitalisation programme will therefore be underpinned by a capable and responsive municipality, working in partnership with the private sector,” he said.

The city emphasised the importance of inclusive growth, with Xhakaza saying investment must deliver tangible benefits for residents through job creation, support for small businesses and improved urban mobility.

The EOI session forms part of what he described as the beginning of a long-term engagement process that will culminate in concrete development partnerships and project implementation across the metro.

Xhakaza called on investors and developers to participate in reshaping Ekurhuleni’s future.

INSIDE METROS

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