Townships in South Africa are complex areas with unique socio-economic structures and urban forms, facing growing pressures that require strategic approaches for integration and prosperity. Transport nodes are essential in supporting the functionality of urban neighbourhoods. Ensuring that these nodes are safe and accessible is important for enabling residents to use these facilities to move around the city.
The case study of the Thembisa Train Station node in Ekurhuleni focuses on optimising land adjacent to the station to drive economic growth and intensify land use. Effective management is crucial to combat criminality, dumping, and the consequences of poor land management. Development here requires both short-term and long-term interventions, including catalytic investment, such as social housing, to unlock the site’s full potential. This Knowledge Product outlines an approach for transport node investment that incorporates these considerations, serving as a model for similar projects. The proposed investment strategy advocates for catalytic investment in the precinct, which could help transform station nodes into well-managed, economically vibrant, and socially inclusive urban hubs.
The case study is structured into four parts:
- Part A: Overview of the Thembisa Transport Node and its broader spatial context.
- Part B: Situational analysis, including spatial data, policies, and a co-produced vision for the site.
- Part C: High-level design concept and development strategy, proposing mixed-use elements such as social housing, public spaces, transport facilities, trade, education, and community amenities.
- Part D: Business case for investing in social housing, outlining financial assumptions, partnerships, and potential returns for stakeholders like developers, development finance institutions, and PRASA.