Gauteng Premier David Makhura says his province plans to develop a new Vaal triangle smart city, which he hopes would become Africa’s “cannabis capital.”
The project, which encompasses portions of the Free State and Mpumalanga provinces, would serve as the cornerstone for a new Special Economic Zone, Makhura said at a news conference on Tuesday, October 26.
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Unlike earlier smart city models proposed for the country, Makhura said the Vaal smart city would focus on developing innovations in the Gauteng area, including a new logistics sector, a cannabis industry core, and a hydrogen economy center.
According to Makhura, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the Gauteng provincial government, in collaboration with the Sedibeng District Municipality, have already established the Vaal River SEZ Company and the project management unit. All of this is done in conformity with current rules to aid in the coordination and expediting of specific shovel-ready projects that will accelerate the whole smart city and SEZ.
However, the premier claimed that the Sedibeng area had experienced serious service delivery challenges in previous years. According to some observers, it is South Africa’s worst-run municipality.
The sewage overflowing into the Vaal River due to poor infrastructure maintenance, sanitary infrastructure, and poor administration has had a terrible economic and ecological impact on the Vaal. Makhura claimed that the surrounding area’s road infrastructure would be extensively enhanced to meet these service delivery challenges, including developing a new interchange to help spur the expansion of the smart city and the Vaal River SEZ.
He also mentioned that further maintenance and infrastructure would be developed to accommodate future smart city growth.
Vaal Triangle Smart City to be Africa’s cannabis capital
A substantial focus on the hydrogen economy, according to Makhura, will be a key differentiator for Vaal City. Sasol and Mitochondria Renewables are leading the charge to transform the Vaal into Gauteng’s hydrogen commercial hub.
Several renewable energy initiatives are now underway, which will result in the development of new industries and small businesses that will provide employment and money to local residents: The themes discussed include solar and battery storage, biomass, hydrogen, the circular economy, and carbon capture, to name a few.
According to Makhura, a ‘Vaal Cannabis Consortium,’ led by MK Malefane, has put up ideas to create the Vaal as a major center for cannabis cultivation, processing, and export.
According to him, all of these programs for small and local businesses in the Vaal must be inclusive, transformative, and powerful. He claimed that they need to bring in black entrepreneurs, women, and young people to play a genuine role in this region.
Makhura said the objective is to make the Vaal “Africa’s Cannabis Capital.”
Growing and processing cannabis for medical and other purposes is a new industry with huge potential for new developing farmers and entrepreneurs.
Lanseria has been well planned. Now we’re concentrating on Vaal River City and the Special Economic Zone.
