cities

the corporate structure and governance, nature of application of funds, timing and duration, funders and
revenue sources
Reflections
Given the importance of air transport for both freight and people, it seems logical that an Aerotropolis can
serve as a stimulus to economic development in areas around airports. Two key success factors are:
• Very efficient and effective transport links to the rest of the region and beyond, in order to maximise the
locational benefits.
• Cooperation, integration and alignment of plans and implementation strategies across all three spheres
of government, the key municipalities involved (e.g. Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and Tshwane) and the
various sector departments.
The cost of air transport for heavy or bulky items (which is considerably more expensive than rail, road and
sea, and could increase further as oil prices rise or oil reserves decline) could limit the economic development
potential of an Aerotropolis. However, this is offset by the need for fast travel for goods such as high tech
electronic goods and agricultural products (flowers, fruit, vegetables and fish).
City of
Ekurhuleni
The planned eThekwini–Free State–Gauteng freight and logistics corridor (Strategic Infrastructure Project 2)
is a national government project to improve the movement of goods between Durban and Gauteng. It will
benefit both Ekurhuleni and eThekwini where the Aerotropolis KZN/Dube Tradeport is being built on a
greenfields site around King Shaka International airport.
Looking forward
The next phase of the project (the 25-year Master Plan) will address four major challenges that were identified:
capital, land, connectivity and partnerships. In arriving at this plan, the five-year implementation plan will
undertake the following actions, grouped according to five principles:
• Community: create Aerotropolis gateways and coordinate province-wide bus/BRT services.
• Collaborate: clean and effective government administration that meaningfully spends allocated budgets
each year.
• Concentrate: coordinate current municipal land use with the upcoming study and beautify the City of
Ekurhuleni through improving natural resources and linkages for citizens.
• Connect: upgrade road linkages (PWV 13 and 15), reduce traffic congestion (100km of road
improvements), improve road network (5km of new road construction and upgrades to 30 intersections)
and Sentrarand (inland port freight hub), and integrate Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni’s public transport
systems.
• Compete: Identify and assemble 25 redevelopment sites and increased support targeted industirial
sectors.
In addition, the Ekurhuleni Digital City initiative, which will provide citizens with widespread broadband
infrastructure, will greatly benefit Aerotropolis development.
References
EMM (Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality). 2011. Spatial Development Framework. Ekurhuleni: EMM.
EMM. [n.d.] Aerotropolis Concept Document. EMM
EMM. 2015. Five-year implementation report. Ekurhuleni: EMM.
GPG (Gauteng Provincial Government). 2015. State of the Province Address
City of Ekurhuleni: Aerotroplis 333