Jabulani: Soweto’s CBD is flourishing
26-11-2014
Soweto’s Jabulani Node, one of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) projects the City of Johannesburg is undertaking, is fast emerging as the hub of business and upmarket accommodation.
The objective of the node is to create a restructured space economy that will give poor households better access to well-located accommodation, jobs and markets.
According to Thanduxolo Mendrew, the CEO of the Johannesburg Development Agency, the aim is to develop vacant and under-utilised land into high density housing developments supported by social facilities that will attract private sector investment.
Mendrew says Inhlazane Station will, for instance, become a focal point of the precinct, complete with a safe and walkable environment.
“There is a need to integrate key properties such as Jabulani Mall and the new Soweto Theatre to create a vibrant activity hub. Jabulani was always intended to be the CBD of Soweto. Since 2006, it has begun to flourish and take its rightful place as Soweto’s CBD,” he says.
The precinct 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.
The Johannesburg Property Company envisages Jabulani as a pedestrian-orientated development with a high-quality environment that includes a public square and a park adjoining the amphitheatre.
In 2012-2013, the JDA participated in a JPC-led process to prepare an Urban Development Framework with a priority implementation plan.
The following year, the first phase of the project was implemented. This included the improvement of storm water infrastructure and public environment upgrades.
The JDA has up to the 2016-2017 financial year been allocated more than R58 million for the implementation of priority interventions to support developments in the area.
The National Treasury has, in addition, injected more R50.5 million from the New Integrated City Development Grant into the project.
The medium-term implementation programme will focus on public environment upgrades, which will include:
The complete redesign of the Bolani Road Link to facilitate pedestrian and public transport movement. The project will include cycling infrastructure and sidewalks to accommodate all modes of transport;
A combination of public environment and infrastructure upgrades in the Inhlazane Station Link;
Improvement of the cultural precinct to support the Soweto Theatre; and
Installation of new storm water infrastructure to catalyse private sector investment.