Southern Farms Housing Project Begins—10-Year Plan to Transform Joburg South

The dream of dignified housing for Johannesburg South residents is finally taking shape. After more than a decade of organising, protests, and delays, construction is now underway on the Southern Farms Mega City Project — a massive development that promises to transform Region G.

On Friday, 9 May 2025, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero and other City officials officially handed over the Bushkoppies site to the appointed developer, marking the beginning of a R27 billion project that will deliver 43,000 homes, infrastructure, and economic opportunities over the next 10 years.

Picture: Lerato Mutsila

A turning point after years of struggle

The Southern Farms Mega City Project, initially launched under a different name in 2018, has its roots in grassroots resistance that dates back to 2013. That’s when Abahlali base Freedom Park, a local movement, began organising residents who were enduring overcrowded conditions and inadequate housing.

“For years, we lived three to four generations in one RDP house,” said Peter Monethe, one of Abahlali’s founding members. “We came together to fight for a space where we could live in dignity.”

Persistent community pressure eventually led the City to purchase the Bushkoppies land — once the site of forced removals and resistance — and designate it for housing development.

Building homes and restoring dignity

Speaking at the launch, MMC Mabaso described the project as a restoration of dignity: “It restores faith by ensuring our residents are seen, valued, and housed decently.” The development will address Johannesburg’s estimated housing backlog of 1.3 million units, prioritising verified beneficiaries on the official housing database.

The Southern Farms project will deliver a variety of housing types, including Breaking New Ground (BNG) units, affordable finance-linked homes, and serviced stands. The 4,000-hectare development will serve communities from Freedom Park, Eldorado Park, Diepkloof, and other areas.

A complete, connected community

But Southern Farms aims to be more than just a housing project. According to the City, it will include new roads, clinics, schools, and economic zones. Cllr Nomoya Mnisi, MMC for Economic Development, encouraged residents — especially youth, women, and people with disabilities — to seize the job and business opportunities the project will create.

“We want to see communities not just housed, but thriving,” she said.

Residents hopeful, but cautious

While the mood at the handover was festive — with residents singing and dancing — some expressed concern about transparency. Monethe questioned how many RDP homes would be built and whether vulnerable groups would be included in the allocation process.

MMC Mabaso assured the public that only individuals listed on the verified housing database would receive homes, stressing that no political influence would affect allocations.

Mayor: ‘We’re building more than homes’

Executive Mayor Dada Morero called the project a bold step toward building an inclusive future: “Every Joburg South resident deserves dignity, opportunity and progress.”

As construction machinery prepares to move in, community members remain hopeful but vigilant. For many, the launch of the Southern Farms Mega City Project signals the possibility of real change — and a long-overdue opportunity to live in homes they can call their own.

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Sourced:Daily Maverick