Masterplan a weapon of mass economic stimulation

The Ekurhuleni
aerotropolis
masterplan could
lead to massive
economic stimulation and
the development of new
industries and growth
points in and around
OR Tambo International
Airport.
This is the view of MEC
for Roads and Transport in
Gauteng, Ismail Vadi.
“If this plan materialises
over the next ten or fifteen
years, a completely new
type of environment
will be formed. We are
talking about freight and
logistics, pharmaceuticals,
aerospace, hospitality
and tourism, retail and
commercial and housing
settlements,” he says.
He believes things will
move at a faster pace
once the private sector
understands that the
masterplan is approved.
“What the private
sector is looking for is
certainty. They need to
get that from government,
municipal authorities
and the provincial
government. Today they
need certainty about the
planning; they need to
see that government itself
is investing in a certain
amount of infrastructure.
If they see those two
things on the table, the
private sector will make
commitments.”
Vadi says the R21
corridor between Kempton
Park, Thembisa and
Tshwane provides evidence
that important freight and
logistics developments are
being driven by the private
sector.
“That is largely
agricultural land, but you
are already beginning
to see industrial
development. New hubs are
emerging and automotive
developments are taking
place. In five years from
now that corridor will be
completely transformed."
Vadi says there is a
new cargo centre that
will be developed at the
Airports Company of
South Africa at OR Tambo
International.
“That is called
the Midfield cargo
development and we
will be doing the road
network there.
In the city of
Ekurhuleni, we
have to upgrade
as many as 30
intersections
in and around
the airport
to facilitate
the increased
movement of
people,” he
adds.