President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ambition for the Lanseria Smart City has officially begun in an ambitious drive toward contemporary urbanisation.
With construction due to begin later this month, a cutting-edge water-treatment facility capable of producing 2 megalitres per day (2MLD) is at the heart of the project, setting the framework for one of South Africa’s most major infrastructural undertakings.
This cutting-edge facility, which has a budget of more than R320 million, is intended to address not just the severe shortage of bulk infrastructure in the Lanseria region, but also to dramatically reduce environmental effect.
The project is expected to save 300,000 tons of CO2 emissions while reusing 90% of the water processed, making it four to eight times less electricity intensive than previous plants.
The construction of the water treatment plant, which is expected to take 18 months, will begin next week with a sod-turning ceremony.
Following that, the development team will hold public meetings to finalize plans for key access roads and other supporting infrastructure.
As part of the larger “Lanseria Mega Project,” this facility is designed to house a growing population of between 350 000 and 500 000 people. The facility is expected to provide 4 500 employment, provide potable water to around 1,800 people, and give more than 300,000 square meters of commercial space, resulting in a considerable economic boost for the area.
The water treatment plant, led by Crosspoint Property Investments, will be a pioneering reference site for a suite of smart technologies targeted at advancing Lanseria’s sustainable water management.
Crosspoint’s CEO, Sizakele Mabuza-Kekana, expressed confidence in the project’s impact yesterday, highlighting the importance of such a facility.
“This is certainly the start of the overall development. The advantage is that it will have a privately-owned and -run water treatment plant through which grey water will be recycled for reuse in flushing toilets and watering gardens. We couldn’t start developing the Township without a bulk water treatment system that gives everyone from shareholders to investors and others confidence,” Mabuza-Kekana said.
“The consent to build such infrastructure has been obtained from the relevant authorities. Crosspoint has secured major international financial backing from Exim Finance Limited and Invest International Capital B.V with a medium to long-term vision to provide innovative funding models, implement and operate sustainable water services infrastructure to support investment in Lanseria Smart City.”
Initial residential developments are projected to feature 1 000 mid-market units alongside 700 GAP housing units, catering to diverse economic demographics.
“Through securing funding, and technical partners for a turnkey delivery of the WWTP, Crosspoint is now in a position to exercise its Option on the land, becoming co-owners with the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) as per a Co-ownership Agreement signed at the time of the Option Agreement,” she explained.
President Ramaphosa has described this project as a “truly post-apartheid city,” stressing its intent to create a vibrant and modern urban environment.
“This is a real city that is rising from the ground up…we have put together an innovative process that will fund the electricity, water, digital infrastructure and roads that will be the foundation of this new city,” he said.
“It will not only be smart and 5G-ready, but will be a leading benchmark for green infrastructure, both continentally and internationally.”
The Lanseria Smart City’s formation can be traced back to its introduction to the PIC in 2015. Since its approval in 2017, the project has navigated various stages, culminating in the current drive towards essential bulk infrastructure.
Mabuza-Kekana highlighted that developing a privately-owned sewage treatment package plant is critical to advance the township’s mixed-use developments.