Big changes to iconic South African shopping mall

Sandton City’s owner has significant plans for the shopping centre, including opening up its rooftop to future development opportunities.

Sandton City is one of South Africa’s most iconic shopping malls in the heart of Africa’s richest square mile, Sandton.

It is home to over 300 of the world’s most in-demand brands spread across its eco-fashionable Food District, family-focused Fun District, and chandelier-draped Diamond Walk.

Millions of locals and tourists visit Sandton City each year. In October 2024, Lightstone’s head of retail, Mohit Narotam, identified the centre as the second-busiest in South Africa.

Sandton City was built as a twenty-one-storey, concrete block shopping centre that opened in late 1973.

It was built and owned by property development company Rapp and Maister, in partnership with brothers Hilliard and Eli Leibowitz.

The centre opened to the public on 12 September 1973 and, today, has a gross leasable area of 47,941 m² of retail space. 

Together, Sandton City and the adjacent Nelson Mandela Square form one of the largest retail complexes in Africa.

In the 1970s, Liberty acquired the emerging Sandton City north of Johannesburg, funding its expansion into the richest square mile in Africa.

Liberty Two Degrees (L2D), an operation in the Asset Management and Insurance (IAM) business of Standard Bank, has a precinct-focused retail-centred portfolio.

In a press release on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, the company said it aims to continue to position its malls as hubs that offer more than just the traditional shopping experience. 

Therefore, Liberty intends to create vibrant community hubs and lifestyle destinations to embrace evolving customer needs, including expanding its offering at Sandton City.

In what the company calls its “strategic rooftop masterplan”, it plans to unlock Sandton City’s rooftop to future development opportunities.

The company said this space holds a thriving potential for leisure, sport and dining in the heart of Africa’s richest square mile.

They aim to provide vibrant and diverse spaces and experiences within the malls in L2D’s portfolio.

Unlocking value

L2D’s developments executive, Melinda Isaacs, explained that the development of the Sandton City rooftop holds a pivotal opportunity in the mall’s evolution.

“Through the strategic redevelopment of Sandton City’s rooftop area, L2D’s long-term master plan is designed to align with the evolving lifestyle needs of its increasingly diverse and experience-driven customer base,” she said.

“We are introducing new lifestyle elements and reimagining how customers engage with our retail spaces, ensuring our malls are relevant and responsive to future-facing consumer behaviours.”

She explained that the aim is to create multifaceted hubs that support societal needs. In addition to creating Interactive Spaces, the rooftop activation aims to create “Safe Spaces.”

This will be done by providing a safe urban space where visitors can increase their dwell times. “This will also ensure that we continue to attract a broader demographic to the centre,” she said.

The initial implementation of Sandton City’s rooftop initiative began with installing Net Set Padel, a premium padel centre located at entrance 8, with the indoor courts officially opened in March 2025. 

The rooftop facility, which offers sweeping 360-degree views across the Sandton skyline, features four indoor and four outdoor padel courts built to international standards.

L2D’s vision for Sandton City’s new rooftop activation is to ultimately feature a curated mix of recreation, entertainment, and convenience-led amenities to encourage longer dwell times and attract a broader market segment.

“This phased transformation forms part of Sandton City’s broader 20-year spatial plan to remain at the forefront of international retail trends, while adapting to changing consumer expectations,” Isaacs said.