Huge shopping mall being built at the heart of a new R5 billion smart city in South Africa
Leratong City is poised to become South Africa’s next smart city, with the new R5 billion development anchored by its own shopping centre.
Found within the borders of Mogale City in Western Gauteng, the new precinct aims to be a forward-thinking urban centre.
The construction of the 42,000sqm Leratong City shopping centre marks the first significant milestone in the development. The mall is on track to open on 29 October 2026.
Built on a once-barren stretch of the land, the project has made good progress since its launch on 5 June 2025.
The project draws inspiration from President Ramaphosa’s 2019 national Smart City pronouncement.
The city envisions urban spaces that are powered by technology, efficient, sustainable, and characterised by improved living standards.
Smart City developments are purpose-built to counter persistent challenges, including unemployment, stagnant economic activity and social inequality.
The city is situated beside the long-standing Leratong Hospital, built in the early 1970s, and neighbouring Chamdor precinct.
The multi-billion-rand development aims to stimulate growth, create employment, and introduce advanced digital infrastructure into the project, ensuring that the benefits of progress are shared wisely.
The development is currently employing 495 workers, with over 20 SMMEs having been contracted from the surrounding wards.
A project steering committee has also been established, and is mandated to provide oversight, champion community engagement and monitor compliance with urban development goals.
The development aims to draw significant private-sector investment and generate ongoing opportunities and jobs through upcoming retail stores, food outlets, and a mini-taxi rank, and connected mall offerings.
Thousands of houses
The Leratong Smart City is envisioned as an intelligent urban district designed to stimulate local, regional, and provincial economic and infrastructure development.
The mega-project comprises approximately 15,000 housing units and public amenities, including schools, a private hospital, ECD centres, parks, transport nodes, and government service facilities.
With an investment value of R5 billion, it stands among the most significant developments in Mogale City over the next decade.
Adding to the long-term vision, the municipality also completed the strategic construction of a 5-million-litre reservoir in Kagiso Extension 13 in 2024, located adjacent to the mall.
The infrastructure node ensures water supply to the broader Smart City development.
While centred around the Leratong Hospital precinct and neighbouring communities in Mogale City, the design of the development aims to go beyond its boundaries.
It is positioned to drive urban regeneration across the West Rand, establishing a new economic nucleus and uplifting underdeveloped and underserved areas of the city through strategic densification and formalisation.
The model aligns with the national and provincial goals for integrated human settlements, spatial justice and inclusive growth.
Mogale City stated that the project also outlines a forward-looking blueprint for transforming township and peri-urban areas through innovative infrastructure, public-private partnerships, and intelligent mixed-use design.
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