29 September 2029.The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr Dada Morero, officially launched the Jabavu Mixed Housing Precinct Development in Soweto on 26 September 2025.
He was joined by the MMC for Human Settlements, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso, the MMC for Economic Development, Cllr Nomoya Mnisi, and the CEO of the Johannesburg Property Company, Musa Makhunga.
The ambitious project will deliver 1 591 housing opportunities, made up of 768 RDP units, 439 FLISP units and 382 social housing units. The first phase, valued at R485.6 million, will focus on the RDP houses.
Located in the heart of Soweto, the precinct is designed as a mixed-use development that combines residential, commercial, and community facilities. A multipurpose centre with a soccer field, community hall, athletics tracks and other amenities will also form part of the project.
The development will accommodate households from the Homemakers informal settlement and beneficiaries identified through the City’s Human Settlements Allocation Policy. Housing will take the form of four-storey walk-ups, averaging 40 m² in size.
Speaking at the launch, Mayor Morero praised the public-private partnership that made the project possible. “This project belongs to the people. It forms part of our commitment to clear the 1996/1997 housing waiting list before our term ends in November 2026. Many on that list have passed on, but for those still waiting, we are determined to deliver,” he said.
MMC Mabaso emphasised that the precinct would not only ease the housing backlog but also uplift living conditions in Johannesburg. “We are committed to developing sustainable human settlements, with proper infrastructure and social amenities, so that private sector investment continues to grow in our communities,” he said.
MMC Mnisi highlighted the project’s economic impact: “This development will bring much-needed business opportunities, jobs and housing to Soweto. We call on young people and women to participate fully, and on the community to safeguard the project from criminal elements.”
JPC CEO Makhunga noted that the project represents what can be achieved when City departments collaborate effectively. “Today marks the beginning of something significant. This project demonstrates how compliance, planning, and teamwork can unlock major developments for our city,” he said.
Strategically situated near major routes such as Elias Motsoaledi and Chris Hani roads, and within reach of Jabulani Mall, Maponya Mall, Jabulani Hospital and Thokoza Park, the Jabavu Precinct is set to reshape Soweto’s urban and economic landscape.
