A Bold Step Toward Economic Upliftment and Dignified Living in Southern Farms Mega City Project

A New Era for Joburg South: Southern Farms Mega City Project

The City of Johannesburg has officially launched its highly anticipated Southern Farms Mega City Project, a transformative R27 billion initiative aimed at economic upliftment and solving the region’s persistent housing backlog. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 9 May 2025 at the Bushkoppies Site Camp in Region G, signalling the start of a 10-year development plan.

Contents

A New Era for Joburg South: Southern Farms Mega City Project
More Than Just Housing: Building Communities
A Call to Protect the Dream
A Vision of Dignity and Opportunity
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With a promise of 43,000 housing units, the project is set to redefine living standards for thousands in Joburg South. At the handover event, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso, MMC for Human Settlements, emphasized the project’s commitment to restoring dignity and faith in the community. “This project is about dignity. It restores faith by ensuring our residents are seen, valued, and housed decently,” he affirmed.

More Than Just Housing: Building Communities

Southern Farms is designed as a self-sustaining mega-city, complete with essential amenities like:

Clinics
Schools
Taxi Ranks
Road Infrastructure
Community Centres

These facilities are tailored to ensure that the community thrives long after the final brick is laid. Cllr Nomoya Mnisi, MMC for Economic Development, highlighted the broader vision, urging locals—especially youth, women, and people with disabilities—to seize job and business opportunities that will arise during and after construction. “We want to see communities not just housed but thriving,” Mnisi stated.

A Call to Protect the Dream

City officials made a clear appeal for community cooperation in safeguarding the project against land invasions and illegal activities. “Protect the development, support the appointed developer, and refrain from anything that could stall progress,” was the message shared during the launch.

For those hoping to secure one of the 43,000 housing units, MMC Mabaso underscored the importance of being on the verified housing database. “No one will receive a house unless they’re on the verified housing database,” he stressed, promising transparent profiling and fair allocation.

A Vision of Dignity and Opportunity

The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr Dada Morero, spoke passionately about the project’s long-term impact: “Southern Farms is a bold statement that every Joburg South resident deserves dignity, opportunity, and progress. We’re building more than homes—we’re building an inclusive future.”

The optimism among residents is palpable as groundwork begins. With thousands of jobs expected to emerge and new homes on the horizon, the Southern Farms Mega City Project is more than just a housing development; it is a beacon of hope and sustainable progress for the south of Johannesburg.