Modderfontein smart city in Johannesburg, South Africa would be the ‘New York’ of Africa. However, its construction by a Chinese developer, Shanghai Zendai fell through the cracks never to be completed. Hopes were high among East Rand locals where the smart city is located. There would be 300,000 jobs up for grabs once construction ended and some 50,000 luxurious homes.
Nine years later, the dream is still alive after a new developer, M&T bought the project from Zendai. The Chinese developer hit a hurdle in the development of the city due to a financial crisis.
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What City Does Modderfontein Fall Under?
Modderfontein smart city is located in Gauteng within the larger City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. It’s near Kempton Park in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. This area is known as East Rand and it’s famous for its underground mining activities. Johannesburg metropolitan municipality provides the management of this big city with an area of 1,645 square kilometres (635sq mi). This makes it the largest city in South Africa and acts as the country’s economic hub.
What is the History of Modderfontein?
Modderfontein is beautiful surronded by nature. Photo/
Modderfontein derives its name from the Afrikaans language. Thus, the smart city’s name translates to muddy spring in East Rand, Gauteng Province. Besides the fame behind Modderfontein smart city, this region had a long history of adopting the South African gold mining industry. It was first established as a mining town near the Mud River where its Afrikaan name was coined.
The gold mining industry requested a higher use of dynamite in the 1880s. To fill this need, German firm De Zuid Afrikaansche Fabrieken Voor Ontplofbare Stoffen Beperkt began construction of an explosives factory in Modderfontein in 1894. This factory later on formed part of the Nobel Dynamite Trust after the Anglo-Boer war.
In the early 1920’s African Explosives and the Nobel Trust entered into a partnership. They formed a new organization known as African Explosives and Industries Ltd to major in the supply of explosives to the mining industry. Properties for ammonium explosives were improved by the construction of an ammonia plant in 1932. Further to this, the company was later renamed African Explosives and Chemical Industries (AECI) Limited in 1944.
Modderfontein developed over the years as a mining town and grew into a residential and commercial area. The Modderfontein Conservation Park was established in 1987 to restore and protect the natural and historical values of the site. The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) manages the park with its core mandate being conservation and ecological recreation.
Today the town is famous for history, conservation, and the AECI Dynamite Factory Museum, dedicated to Modderfontein’s industrial history. The atmosphere of the town reflects a green scenery with trees and some older buildings which gives a good impression to those who desire to be relieved from the rush of Johannesburg.
Why is Modderfontein Smart City Special?
The idea of Modderfontein Smart City was launched by Shanghai Zendai in 2013. The company intended to create a new 1,600-hectare urban centre near Johannesburg. The dream was to develop an ‘African New York’ with the following amenities:
- 55,000 apartments
- 5 million square kilometres of business spaces
- A hospital
- Schools
- Technology hubs
Modderfontein smart city in Johannesburg. Photo/Warp News
The project as a concept sought to invest R84 billion ($4.4 billion) in the South African economy and generate 150 000 new workplaces within the next 20 years. Moreover, the Modderfontein Smart City project outlined expectations of comfort and sophistication. It included:
- 55,000 homes,
- 5 million square meter commercial space
- A sustainability centre
- 300,000 jobs within the city
- An African Technology Centre
The development plan sought to achieve a closed city society with a well-organized working environment, playgrounds and other social amenities and modern infrastructure. Its plan originally detailed a vigorous socio-economic activity, with commercial boulevards, leisure facilities and advanced communication technology.
Is Modderfontein Safe?
With the development of Modderfontein smart city, safety questions always come up. The truth is that Mordderfontein is safe to a big extent. Johannesburg residents regard it as one of the safest and most stable suburbs in the South African capital. Investment and development have also grown in the area over the years due to its great security rating.
Modderfontein has several boomed areas with restricted access on top of having secure lifestyle estates. These estates have parks, children’s play areas and swimming pools. It is also well situated with regard to basic facilities like OR Tambo Airport, Sandton and Midrand.
