New mega-development in the heart of South Africa’s richest province

Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero revealed they will launch a mega project of 83,000 housing opportunities in the heart of Gauteng, South Africa’s richest province.

Morero shared information about the planned mega project during his 2025 State of the City address debate on 8 May 2025.

He first mentioned the Grand Central Mega Housing Development aimed at delivering 83,000 mixed housing opportunities during his State of the City address.

However, during his speech, Morero only mentioned that the City of Johannesburg would support the Grand Central Mega Housing Development.

He did not provide any additional information about this mega-development, except to say it was a first for South Africa.

During the debate, he told the Johannesburg council that they are faced with tough choices, which must “balance between servicing ourselves or serving the people of Johannesburg”.

The mayor said they focus on servicing the people of Johannesburg, which includes investing in mega projects to unlock housing opportunities.

“We are proudly saying that for the first time in the history of South Africa, we will unlock a mega project of 80,000 housing opportunities,” he said.

Morero said that this mega project in Midrand, between Johannesburg and Pretoria, will contribute to housing opportunities and economic growth.

“So, watch the space in Midrand, delivered proudly by the government of local unity,” Morero said during the debate.

Although the Morero has not provided details about the planned mega housing development, questions have already been raised about infrastructure problems.

Johannesburg councillor Fatima Abdool questioned the source of funding for the Grand Central Mega Housing Development.

She argued that the City of Johannesburg does not even have the funds for service delivery, which raises the question about such a large development.

Many failed mega projects

The South African government has been behind numerous failed mega projects on a national and local level, costing taxpayers billions.

Many of these projects served to enrich a few connected individuals while taxpayers are left holding the bag.

A good example is the Daggafontein Mega City, which promised people living in informal settlements in Springs, Gauteng, a permanent home.

First announced in 2016, it promised to tackle Ekurhuleni’s housing shortage, the growth of informal settlements, and homelessness.

It is part of 15 land parcels identified for mega housing projects in 2016 by the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements (GDHuS), an intergovernmental partnership.

Spanning approximately 750 hectares and divided into three main portions, the project has been said to deliver between 16,000 and 18,000 housing units.

These include RDP or Breaking New Ground (BNG) homes, social housing, affordable rentals, and bonded units for middle-income buyers.

Beyond housing, the plan incorporated a range of amenities to support a self-sustaining community.

These amenities include three schools, a medical facility, a sports and recreation centre, a shopping mall, and even urban agriculture initiatives.

The development would also include retail, industrial, and office spaces to stimulate local economic activity, all underpinned by high-speed fibre internet.

They promised 7,500 temporary jobs during the five-year construction phase and 3,500 permanent jobs thereafter.

The sod turning ceremony took place in September 2017, attended by former Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, then MEC of Human Settlements, Paul Mashatile and former Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzandile Masina.

According to the City of Ekurhuleni’s 2016 to 2021 Integrated Development Plan (IDP), the projected completion date was 31 March 2023.

Two years after the deadline passed, BusinessTech visited the area and found that, to date, very little has been done.

Some roads and internal services are reportedly completed, hundreds of millions have been spent, yet not a brick has been laid.

Meanwhile, just a few hundred metres from the new mega-development site, nearby informal settlements and backyard dwellers have mushroomed.

Millions have been spent on the Daggafontein Mega City, but there is very little to show for the money, especially not housing for poor people.