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The Lanseria Smart City, envisioned as South Africa's first airport-centric smart city for 500,000 residents, remains largely undeveloped years after its announcement. Initially introduced in 2007 as Cradle City and later highlighted in President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2020 State of the Nation Address, the project aimed to create a modern, sustainable urban hub with advanced infrastructure and technology. However, as of October 2024, progress has been slow, with only a R320 million water treatment plant under construction and limited visible infrastructure beyond Lanseria International Airport. While some business developments are planned, much of the area remains open land with growing informal settlements, raising concerns about the project's long-term viability.
The Lanseria Smart City was once envisioned as a groundbreaking development that would provide a new way of living for up to 500,000 South Africans. However, years after its announcement, the project remains largely unfulfilled. Instead of bustling infrastructure and new homes, much of the land remains open veld, while informal settlements with makeshift shacks have begun to appear. Advertisement
The idea of the Lanseria Smart City was first introduced in 2007 under the name Cradle City. It was planned to be South Africa's first city built around an airport, similar to successful projects overseas. The goal was to create a smart city with cutting-edge infrastructure, sustainable urban planning, and convenient transport links. The project gained national attention in 2020 when President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned it in his State of the Nation Address, positioning it as a significant development.
The city's developers, including Crosspoint and the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, envisioned a ten-year plan to create a thriving urban hub centered around Lanseria International Airport, just north of Johannesburg. The aim was to make Lanseria Smart City a modern, sustainable, and green city, with a focus on limiting car usage and encouraging walking, cycling, and public transport. It was also planned to host advanced mobile technologies, Wi-Fi, and high-speed internet.
Fast forward to October 2024, and the smart city's progress is still in its infancy. While a R320 million water treatment plant broke ground in October 2024, there has been little visible development elsewhere in the area. The water plant, expected to produce two megalitres of water daily, is set to be completed in 18 months, but the surrounding area still consists mostly of open land and informal settlements, with many people living in temporary structures.
In terms of infrastructure, only the airport and a few business developments are visible. Crosspoint, in partnership with the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), has been working on the Lanseria Business District, which is supposed to be a key part of the development. However, this is still in its early stages. The master plan for the Greater Lanseria Growth Node was released for public feedback in 2020, but construction and real estate development have been slow.
The project's promise of creating a smart city with strong environmental sustainability and minimal environmental impact has yet to materialise. Despite being marketed as an innovative and forward-thinking project, the area still lacks visible signs of progress. The planned development around Lanseria International Airport, which was supposed to act as the city's main economic driver, has not resulted in significant growth. Instead, the area is marked by stretches of open land and informal settlements.
The Lanseria Smart City project, once hailed as a revolutionary development for South Africa, remains far from its original vision. Despite the lofty ambitions of creating a modern, sustainable urban hub, progress has been slow, with only limited infrastructure in place. While some developments, like the water treatment plant, have begun, much of the land remains underdeveloped, and informal settlements are growing. The dream of a smart, green city remains largely unrealised, leaving many to question whether the project's full potential will ever be realised. The slow pace of construction and lack of visible progress highlights the challenges of turning ambitious plans into reality.
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