Following the opening session of the CEO Breakfast Dialogue on Property Development, leaders from the public and private sectors engaged in robust discussions on how to remove barriers that delay development, investment and job creation across Johannesburg and Gauteng.
Despite their different perspectives, both panels agreed on several priorities:
- Stronger collaboration between government and industry.
- Faster, more transparent development approvals.
- Improved coordination across departments and municipal entities.
- Better communication and accountability throughout the approvals process.
- Practical mechanisms to fast-track strategic investment projects and resolve bottlenecks before they impact delivery.
Representatives from the private sector highlighted the high cost of prolonged approval processes, noting that regulatory delays can postpone projects by years, discourage investment and slow economic growth.
Responding to these concerns, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Dada Morero acknowledged the need to strengthen systems, improve collaboration, address capacity challenges and establish dedicated mechanisms to unlock strategic developments.
The Mayor also committed to practical interventions, including improved interdepartmental coordination, enhanced communication with developers and the establishment of structures to accelerate investment-related approvals.
Throughout the dialogue, one message remained clear: approvals are not simply administrative processes; they are catalysts for investment, infrastructure development, job creation and inclusive economic growth.
As Gauteng’s investment promotion agency, the GGDA welcomes the constructive engagement from both sectors. The Agency remains committed to working with government and industry to remove barriers to investment, support catalytic projects such as the Emdeni Industrial Park, and ensure that investment commitments translate into implementation and lasting economic impact.
The objective is no longer simply to identify the challenges; it is to deliver measurable solutions.
