Jabulani brings vibrancy to Soweto
11-02-2015
“With the Jabulani Precinct in my backyard, who needs Sandton City?” Phumzile Maseko, a Soweto resident, remarks in reaction to the rapid developments that have been unfolding in recent years in the Jabulani Node, considered to be Soweto’s own central business district (CBD).
The area, whose landmark during apartheid rule was the Jabulani Amphitheatre, then the mecca of music festivals, has in a few short years been transformed into a modern and vibrant urban space that is beautifully changing the once dreary-looking Soweto skyline.
Councillor Ruby Mathang, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Development, says the precinct has played a strategic role as a catalyst for development in Soweto. The success of initiatives such as the Jabulani Mall has sparked interest from other developers looking at opportunities to introduce further retail expansions.
The node is one of the signature projects of Johannesburg’s approach to use Transit-oriented Development (TOD) as a stimulus to attract investment and improve the quality of life of Soweto residents.
The node – which consists of 25 000sqm of retail shop space, 10 000sqm of office space and 4 000 mixed-income residential units, 30% of which are for low-income earners – is one of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) projects the City of Johannesburg is undertaking to improve the quality of life of Soweto residents.
The R320-million Jabulani Mall, the newly opened 300-bed provincial hospital, the R150-million Soweto Theatre – the first of its kind in the township – and a trendy townhouse complex are some of the reasons changing people’s perceptions about Jabulani, which during the dark days of apartheid formed part of Soweto’s “Wild West”, notorious for its high crime rate.
The rehabilitation of single-sex dormitories at the infamous Jabulani Hostel into family units at a cost of R487-million is seen by residents of what is now known as Jabulani Extension as “an important break with an ugly past”.
The upgrading of Koma and Bolani roads, which includes the construction of pedestrian walkways and cycle lanes, also contributes to making the Jabulani Precinct an urban centre of the future.
“We’re now having our own Sandton,” says Maseko, who has lived in Jabulani for the past 20 years. “There is so much development and improvement in the area. It is unbelievable that only 20 years ago this area was an open veld, save for the amphitheatre. We now have a mall, a hospital and a theatre, to name a few. Because of the Rea Vaya [bus rapid transit system], transport is convenient.
“We are only short of a cinema and gym. If we can have all that, then we will be having our own Sandton. I’m proud to be a Soweto resident,” she says.
“I remember many years ago people would laugh at me when I told them I was from Jabulani. But now, everyone wants to come to Jabulani Mall. I also brag that my area boasts the only theatre in Soweto. This is service delivery at its best,” Maseko adds.
Speaking on behalf of former Jabulani Hostel residents, Magagu Ngubane says life has changed for the better since the upgrading.
Ngubane says for the first time in their lives former hostel residents are living like human beings, a far cry from the days when up to 16 men shared a dormitory at a time.
“We’re now having the privilege and freedom of living with our families and enjoying life like other citizens of this country. We don’t feel like migrant workers anymore.
“We have a mall and a hospital nearby and transport is galore. There is a lot of hope and happiness than ever before. If the City could build us a pre-school for our children we would be very grateful,” Ngubane says.
Nico Mdluli lives at the Jabulani Heights townhouse complex with his wife and their four-year-old daughter, Fikile.
He says he is happy with the environment and finds security in the complex to be very tight.
Mdluli, who moved into the complex in December, pays R3 500 a month for his two-bedroom townhouse. He is so impressed with the area that he intends to buy the property.
He says there is no need to live in the so-called white suburbs as the precinct has everything he needs at his disposal.
“We have a mall, a hospital, a police station, a fire station and a theatre on our doorstep. We’re only short of a gym, otherwise the place is complete,” he says.
Mahoro Lieta, a draughtsman who moved into Jabulani Heights with his family three years ago, agrees with Mdluli’s sentiments but says he is concerned about the lack of recreational facilities for the children.
Oupa Moloi of Klipspruit says he prefers Jabulani Mall to Maponya Mall, which in nearer his home, because all major stores are available at the former.
Patrick Kologwana of Mofolo North says Jabulani Mall has made shopping so convenient for Soweto residents.
“There is no need to go to Sandton because everything we need is right on our doorstep,” Moloi adds.
Thanduxolo Mendrew, the CEO of the Johannesburg Development Agency, says Jabulani has always been intended to be Soweto’s CBD.
“Since 2006, it has begun to flourish and take its rightful place as Soweto’s CBD,” he says.
Alan Dinie, Senior Manager, Property Development at the Johannesburg Property Company, the City’s property arm, says Jabulani Node plays a strategic role in the development of Soweto and is fast developing into a vibrant and mixed high-density residential centre.
Dinie says the success of Jabulani Mall has also resulted in plans for expansion as well as interest from developers looking to introduce further retail components.
She says due to the presence of large tracts of land, the Jabulani CBD node had lacked integral legibility and the relationship between various developments needed reinforcing and strengthening.
“Therefore there was a need to refocus the City’s and private sector investment initiatives to knit the area into a stronger, more functional and thriving place.
“Investment in public spaces and the built environment is required to create a more attractive environment for investors, visitors and residents as well as to support the growth of this node to play a more prominent role within the broader City. Opportunities exist to strengthen not only the community services sector, but also the retail and tourism arenas as well as modern housing stock,” she says.