PIENAAR – The first phase of the R8bn project is expected to commence in June and is likely to be a game-changer, which will see over 15 000 employment opportunities created.

A brainchild of the former Mpumalanga MEC for agriculture, Mandla Msibi, Chief Sicelo Nkosi and Philip Kleijnhans some years ago when Msibi was still a ward councillor in the area, this smart city project is arguably the province’s finest innovation so far.

Besides his political ambitions, many believe that Msibi who is currently facing ambiguous charges, is being persecuted by his political opponents because of this project.

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Msibi has, however, declined to comment on these speculations and conspiracy theories, except maintaining that the charges were a fabrication and politically motivated.

Speaking to one of the country’s national newspapers about the developments surrounding the development of Nkosi City, Dovetail Properties director, Philip Kleijnhans said the development would take the form of an agricity with small-scale farming land parcels next to RDP houses, which will be integrated into the urban design from the outset.

He further said the farming projects will create jobs for unemployed women and young people.

“This is a project where government, private enterprise and the local community are doing something together, probably for the first time. The city will not only be a central business district for the region, but also an agricultural hub of macadamias, citrus and cash crops, eventually totalling about 5 000 hectares,” said Kleijnhans.

The Nkosi Smart City will include over 3 000 residential housing units and apartments, RDP housing units, bonded housing units, urban farms, preschools, three primary and two secondary schools, a TVET college, an agricultural training centre, and a provincial hospital and clinic. The city will also be made up of a retail centre, fresh-produce market, entertainment venues and restaurants.