New international airport planned as part of a new R22.6 billion smart city in South Africa

The developers of the proposed Vaal Aerotropolis are seeking environmental authorisation to establish a new international airport.

The project, headed by the Vaal Aerozone, aims to create a new special economic zone (SEZ) centred around a brand-new airport in the Emfuleni Local Municipality in southern Gauteng.

Located west of Vanderbijlpark and the N1 highway, the new development area stretches across 13 farms in Heidelberg, Kookfontein, Langlaagte, Rietspruit, and Zwartkopjies.

According to the developers, the airport will feature a two-terminal design with integrated air cargo services.

“The aim of the Vaal Aerotropolis is to serve as a driving force and strategic investment for economic growth and global trade,” the Vaal Aerozone said.

“This development aims to serve as a key freight and logistics hub, thereby revitalising Emfuleni and creating sustainable value in the region.”

The Sedibeng District Municipality estimated that the total cost of the project will be R22.6 billion, with the airport accounting for just over half at R12.2 billion.

The construction phase is expected to generate roughly 12,000 jobs, followed by another 6,000 permanent jobs once the airport begins operations.

Development is set to take place over the next 60 years, spread across multiple phases as the area gradually expands to meet demand.

Phase 1, scheduled for 2029 to 2031, will establish the airport’s core infrastructure, including a passenger terminal, cargo terminal, a main runway, and two rapid-exit taxiways.

The terminal will have an annual capacity of 7.2 million, and the main runway will be 4.2km long to support Code F aircraft.

The cargo terminal, meanwhile, will be able to handle up to 150,000 tonnes of freight per year and will be supported by a logistics hub linked to the nation’s road and rail networks.

Other infrastructure will include aircraft parking, maintenance areas, fuel storage, road access, and municipal services such as water supplies, wastewater treatment, electricity, and stormwater systems.

As the region develops, the SEZ is projected to feature an airport city, solar farm, and trade and agricultural zones.

The airport city will include the Vaal International Airport, office spaces, medical consultation facilities, and a hotel with over 90 rooms.

A new smart city

The proposed Vaal Aerotropolis is part of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s larger plans to establish a new smart city along the Vaal River in Gauteng.

The SEZ was first announced by former Gauteng Premier David Makhura during his State of the Province address in February 2020.

According to the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, the goal of the project is to attract both domestic and foreign direct investment and to restore industrial activity in the Vaal.

In 2023, Citibank pledged R1.4 billion toward the first phase of establishing a new international airport in the Vaal, along with an aerotropolis comprised of four major zones.

The bank said that the airport’s development would act as a catalyst for further investment in the area.

A key focus of the project is the “blue economy,” which concerns economic activity and its impact on the surrounding environment, including the Vaal River.

The Vaal is considered one of the most polluted rivers in South Africa, as it has become a dumping ground for raw sewage and toxic waste from the nearby steel mill, Lethabo coal power plant, and Sasolburg petrochemical facility.