Ekurhuleni opens door to private investors for massive CBD revamp
New partnership opportunities include infrastructure upgrades, mixed-use developments, urban renewal projects, and the redevelopment of municipal assets.
The City of Ekurhuleni is seeking qualified and experienced strategic development partners to assist in driving its CBD Revitalisation Programme and the implementation of City Improvement Districts (CIDs) across the metro.
The municipality has issued a formal call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) as part of its broader long-term development agenda linked to the approved 30-Year Aerotropolis Master Plan and the Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF) 2025.
At the core of the MSDF is the implementation of 18 council-approved precinct plans designed to unlock investment opportunities, accelerate urban regeneration, and revitalise Ekurhuleni’s central business districts through private sector-led initiatives supported by coordinated public sector intervention.
The City of Ekurhuleni has developed a wide range of precinct plans to guide long-term spatial transformation, urban regeneration, and transit-oriented development across the metropolitan area, with a strong focus on key nodes in Kempton Park, Benoni, and Germiston.
In Kempton Park, the most significant plans include the Kempton Park CBD Precinct Plan, the Terenure BRT Station Precinct, and the Dries Niemandt Precinct.
These are supported by additional surrounding frameworks such as the Bredell and Aero-Blaaupan precincts. Collectively, these plans focus on strengthening transport-oriented development, improving land-use integration, and promoting higher-density mixed-use growth, particularly in areas influenced by the OR Tambo International Airport and the broader Aerotropolis corridor.
In Benoni, the primary focus is the Benoni CBD Precinct Plan, which aims to drive urban regeneration through the revitalisation of the historic CBD core.
Key interventions include the redevelopment of public spaces such as Civic Square, the upgrading of pedestrian routes, the integration of transport and retail nodes, including Benoni Plaza and Lakeside Mall, and the promotion of higher-density mixed-use development to restore economic activity and urban vibrancy.
In Germiston, major precinct plans include the Germiston Lake Precinct and the Germiston Rand Airport Precinct.
These focus on restructuring industrial and mixed-use areas, improving institutional and health-related nodes, and unlocking underutilised land for redevelopment within key transport and logistics corridors.
Across the broader metro, additional precinct plans in Boksburg, Brakpan, Springs, Kwa-Thema, Primrose, Dunnottar, Wattville–Leeupan, and Thiteng further support Ekurhuleni’s polycentric development approach.
These areas collectively reinforce the city’s strategy of decentralised growth supported by strong transport connections and targeted urban renewal.
Overall, all precinct plans align around a consistent set of strategic priorities, including transit-oriented development, CBD revitalisation, mixed-use densification, public space improvement, activation of underutilised land, and the repositioning of urban nodes within the wider Aerotropolis development framework.
According to the city, the EOI process forms the first stage of a multi-stage investor identification and engagement programme aimed at attracting strategic partners capable of transforming approved spatial frameworks and urban development strategies into investment-ready and socially responsive projects.
The municipality said the proposed partnerships are intended to unlock catalytic development opportunities, attract private capital investment, and reinforce Ekurhuleni’s position as a competitive, resilient, and integrated metropolitan economy.
The city plans to leverage private sector expertise, innovation, funding, and delivery capability through structured partnerships, including potential Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and blended finance models.
Potential projects and partnership opportunities may include the implementation of approved precinct plans and catalytic developments, mixed-use commercial, residential and industrial developments, CBD revitalisation and inner-city regeneration projects, infrastructure upgrades, and the establishment and long-term management of City Improvement Districts.
Additional opportunities include precinct-based asset and property management, urban services management, redevelopment and optimisation of municipal land and buildings, as well as the rehabilitation and repurposing of derelict or underutilised buildings.
The city is inviting EOIs from property and precinct developers, real estate agencies, property development and facilities management firms, banks, development finance institutions, institutional investors, infrastructure developers, urban regeneration specialists, consortia, Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), and blended finance partnerships.
Submissions will be evaluated according to several criteria, including relevant experience in spatial planning, urban regeneration, precinct-scale development, and CID operations, as well as the strength of the proposed delivery team.
Other key evaluation areas include the proposed methodology and integrated development approach, the practicality of the delivery model, financial innovation and sustainability, and strategic risk management and governance.
Only submissions scoring at least 70 out of 100 points will be considered for further engagement or shortlisting.
Interested parties are required to submit a proposal outlining their experience, capability, and interest in the partnership opportunities, together with supporting documents, including company registration documents, a valid Tax Compliance Status (TCS), BBBEE certificate or sworn affidavit, and two verifiable business references linked to similar projects or partnerships.
Strategic partnership proposals must be submitted via email to eoi-precinctplans@ekurhuleni.gov.za before the closing date of June 15 at 17:00.
The municipality noted that late submissions will not be considered and that only shortlisted respondents will be contacted following the evaluation process.
The city also reserved the right to vary, discontinue, or not proceed with the EOI process without obligation or liability and confirmed that all submitted information will be treated confidentially in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and other applicable legislation.
