The opening of Leratong City Mall in Kagiso marks a significant milestone in the R5 billion Leratong Smart City Development, with Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Tasneem Motara announcing a target to deliver 3,500 homes before the end of 2027.
The 42,000 m² shopping centre, featuring 89 retail tenants, is the first major component of the wider mixed-use development, which aims to establish a new economic and residential hub serving Kagiso and surrounding communities in Mogale City. The official opening was attended by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and MEC Motara and hosted by Mogale City Executive Mayor Lucky Sele.
From a long-awaited vision to tangible development
The mall’s opening follows years of planning and anticipation, with the project recorded as a development initiative in 2010. For the municipality, the milestone represents progress towards a broader vision of investment, economic participation and integrated urban development. “A vision, however compelling, cannot transform a community while it remains on paper,” said Mayor Sele. “For the residents of Kagiso, the significance of today’s occasion lies in the difference between what was anticipated for years and what they can now see taking shape before them.” The development has supported approximately 1,096 local employment opportunities and 44 local SMMEs and companies during construction, contributing to local economic participation.
Housing and amenities to expand the development
In her address, MEC Motara announced a target to deliver 3,500 homes before the end of 2027, encompassing low-cost, bonded and other housing types. The broader development is planned to include approximately 15,000 housing units, alongside amenities such as a private hospital, various types of schools, community centres, recreational facilities, commercial precincts and government support services. The housing target announced by the MEC represents a key milestone towards the wider development vision. The shopping centre itself is also expected to expand through a planned second phase, providing scope for further commercial activity as the development progresses.
Mayor Sele emphasised that the mall must form part of a wider programme that connects investment with housing, essential infrastructure and economic opportunity. “Our vision cannot end at the boundary of one shopping centre. Leratong must connect to the wider growth of Kagiso, the West Rand and Mogale City as a whole,” he said.
The development is being advanced through a partnership involving the Gauteng Provincial Government, Mogale City Local Municipality, Trendville Investments and McCormick Property Development.
The opening marks an important step in Leratong’s broader development journey. As the development progresses, the focus will be on ensuring that continued investment delivers long-term economic and social benefits, including sustained economic activity, housing opportunities and improved access to essential services for surrounding communities.