On Youth Day 2026, South Africa celebrated a young property developer at his sod turning event as he broke the ground for a mixed-use development that will bring 24 residential units and 9 shops.
Image: Supplied
During a sod-turning ceremony on Youth Day, South Africa honoured a young property developer as he initiated a mixed-use project set to deliver 9 shops and 24 residential units.
This came as part of Phase 1, with future phases set to bring more commercial activity in this historic node of Soweto, on the iconic Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, says Lusanda Netshitenzhe, CEO at TUHF21.
She says the development also honours the legacy of the visionary developer of Merabe Hotel and will be named "Merabe on Vilakazi".
“To have held this event on the 16th June is especially special as we commemorate 50 years of the Soweto uprising, remembering the determination and resolve of the youth of 1976.
"We are proud finance partners of this development, providing the necessary access to capital (both senior debt and Intuthuko Equity Fund) to property entrepreneurs and partnering for mutual success and growth,” Netshitenzhe says.
For more than two decades, TUHF says it has been the leading impact investor in commercial property development in South Africa's urban and township areas. It says that as their markets have evolved and their clients have grown, they have evolved with them.
“Our unique history of growing property entrepreneurs' businesses has laid the foundations that make us the trusted partners entrepreneurs turn to - whether they are just entering the property market or seeking to scale their businesses.”
Meanwhile, Olebogeng Manhe, the group chairman & co-founder of GIC, says Calgro M3 Developments officially breaking ground on its Bankenveld District City project is an important milestone for urban development in Johannesburg.
He says the location alone makes it worth paying attention to, positioned between the N3, M1, and Gautrain Marlboro Station.
“This is the kind of development that speaks to how Johannesburg and other South African urban spaces can densify in a more practical way. Beyond the expected creation of 20,000 to 30,000 jobs over the next 15 to 20 years, the project will provide affordable housing close to Sandton and other major economic nodes.”
The group chairman says approximately 34% of the land has also been allocated to infrastructure, which should improve residents' quality of life and support the surrounding area. He says that when housing, transport access, infrastructure, and economic activity are planned together, urban growth becomes much easier for people to live with and participate in.
According to Waters Development Management, development is not just about building but also about creating spaces that function economically and support the long-term success of a community.
The multi-family, commercial, and mixed-use projects manager says at Function Junction, construction and pre-leasing efforts are moving forward together as the project continues to take shape.
It says mixed-use developments require careful planning to ensure residential, commercial, and public-facing spaces work cohesively, both physically and economically.
“Successful mixed-use projects create environments where businesses can operate effectively, residents can access amenities close to home, and communities gain spaces that remain active throughout the day.
The goal is not simply to fill space. It is to create places that contribute to the long-term functionality and vibrancy of the area around them,” the company says.