By Dr Nasiphi Moya
Executive Mayor of Tshwane
The City of Tshwane’s Mayoral Committee continued its programme of strategic
engagements with the City’s 17 Strategic Urban Developments (SUDs) through the
sod-turning ceremony for The Yard at the Rosslyn Hub development.
The sod-turning marks the commencement of construction of the approximately 9 700m² convenience retail development, forming part of the broader 100-hectare Rosslyn Hub precinct and the Tshwane Automotive City (TAC).
For the City, the occasion represents a demonstration of confidence in Rosslyn,
confidence in Tshwane and confidence in the potential of partnerships between government and the private sector to turn plans and investment into tangible economic opportunities.
The development at Rosslyn Hub demonstrates what is possible when planning, approvals, infrastructure coordination and private-sector investment come together to move development from plans into implementation.
Economic growth remains a foremost priority of this administration.
Through the Tshwane Economic Revitalisation Strategy (TERS), the City has set a target of achieving economic growth of 3.9% by 2029. Reaching this target requires investment, business expansion, infrastructure development and job creation across Tshwane.
Rosslyn is particularly important within this vision because it sits at the heart of
Tshwane Automotive City, an economic ecosystem connected to major manufacturers and industries, including Chery, BMW, Iveco and Tata.
The TAC has the potential to attract approximately R500 billion in investment over 50 years, while its three priority nodes have an estimated investment case of
approximately R42 billion and the potential to create almost 60 000 jobs over 15
years.
The more than 1 400 construction jobs already created through bulk infrastructure
investment demonstrate that the benefits of development begin well before a project
is completed.
These numbers represent people gaining employment, families gaining income and businesses gaining opportunities.
The Mayoral Committee welcomed the more than R1 billion in bulk infrastructure
investment already secured for the broader Rosslyn Hub precinct, which is planned
as an approximately 700 000m² mixed-use development incorporating housing,
logistics, vehicle distribution, retail, healthcare, education, hospitality and other supporting facilities.
The Yard itself will provide approximately 9 700m² of retail development, anchored
by Shoprite and supported by a 70% national tenant footprint.
This will bring commercial activity closer to the people who live and work in Rosslyn while creating opportunities for enterprise and strengthening the local economy.
The development also reflects the importance of connecting economic growth with liveability.
Approximately 1 100 homes have already been delivered, with a further 1 180 apartments planned.
The precinct is also home to Spark Rosslyn Hub Primary School.
The confidence being shown in Tshwane is further reflected in the R670 million
greenfield investment by YFPO, its first investment outside mainland China.
Such investment demonstrates that international capital is prepared to come to Tshwane when the fundamentals for investment are right.
The City must continue doing its part by improving infrastructure planning, making
municipal processes more efficient, supporting responsible development and
ensuring that growth areas are aligned with Tshwane’s broader economic and spatial
priorities.
Local businesses must benefit, young people must have access to employment, entrepreneurs must find markets and communities must experience the benefits of development around them.
The sod-turning is, therefore, a new chapter for Rosslyn, defined by investment,
enterprise and opportunity, and reinforces the City’s commitment to ensuring that when development takes place, its benefits reach the people of Tshwane.
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