In a bid to address the housing shortage in the City of Johannesburg by providing formalised and quality affordable housing while promoting economic development and job creation, the Orlando Ekhaya housing precinct development located in the heart of Soweto, is making rapid progress.
Orlando Ekhaya consists of multiple phases, with a total of 2 800 residential apartments to be rolled out over a few years. It is being developed by a consortium that is led by Sonama Africa, UrbanDev and the Raubex Group.
Preggie Pillay, FNB Commercial Property Finance CEO, says “This milestone project located at the heart of Soweto aligns with our ongoing commitment to facilitate the entrance of first-time homeowners into the formal housing market. To date, FNB Commercial Property Finance has provided a Development Loan facility of R276,4 million to fund this project – the Orlando Towers Lifestyle Estate South. It is currently under construction, includes 568 walk-up units in a range of sizes and priced between R650 000 and R950 000. The building of the first 136 units has already been completed, with units handover successfully taken place during November 2023.”
“Once the first phase is completed, by approximately February 2025, FNB Commercial Property Finance will unlock funding for the next phases,” says Pillay.
The socio-economic contribution of the first phase to date:
- 424 direct job opportunities created for the local community by the developer and the construction company;
- approximately 40 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) supported in ward 25 (Pimville), where the project is located;
- 596 indirect jobs supported through suppliers and contractors.
- 517 operational job opportunities created (unskilled service-related jobs);
Approximately 40% of the total jobs supported are held by black women and 35% by black youth.
The development is situated along the Chris Hani transport corridor close to the Orlando Dam, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the University of Johannesburg Soweto Campus, Bara taxi rank and Bara Mall. It forms part of a broader investment initiative driven by the City of Johannesburg that intends to transform the area into a growth node.
The Orlando Towers Lifestyle Estate South offers:
- Two – and three-bedroom apartments that are energy-efficient and use LP gas for water heating (geysers) and cooking.
- Lifestyle amenities, including a clubhouse, sports facilities, and outdoor braai areas.
FNB’s alternative energy team is assisting the developers in assessing options for solar energy and a bulk battery storage facility.
The development has a strong focus on upskilling and training the local community. The developers will continue to ensure that labourers and suppliers gain valuable skills and experience to participate in other projects and the broader market. The main contractor, Raubex Group, will provide support, training and oversight as part of the development.
