South Africa’s smart city to host global cities summit

by MTHULISI SIBANDA

JOHANNESBURG – THE Waterfall City in Johannesburg is positioning itself as a leading global smart city of the future after its confirmation as the host of the 2026 New Cities Summit.

It will in December host, in partnership with the Charter Cities Institute (CCI), convening governments, technology executives, private investors, city developers, entrepreneurs, infrastructure providers, philanthropists, scholars and professional service firms.

Waterfall City is regarded as the largest mixed-use development in Africa, ultimately combining over 28 000 residential units housing an estimated 80 000 people.

“While our 2,200-hectare smart city is only halfway complete, we believe it already reflects the pioneering urban design and human-centric principles that underpin this project,” Willie Vos, Chief Executive Officer of Waterfall City Management Company (WCMC), said.

The company looks forward to showcasing how innovative planning, long-term vision and dedicated property management can translate into a smart, safe and sustainable environment, where people can truly live, work, play and prosper, he said.

“At the same time, we look forward to engaging with global thought leaders and gaining valuable insights during the Summit, as we continue building a city that raises the bar for urban development,” Vos added at the announcement on Monday.

Some previous New Cities Summits have been held in Kigali (Rwanda) in 2023 and Nairobi (Kenya) in 2025.

These, according to organisers, unveiled major projects and accelerated real-world implementation of bold ideas.

This year, the summit will bring together more than 600 leaders.

Michael Holstein, summit producer and Head of Communications for CCI, said the summit offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect, collaborate and move projects forward.

“The summit’s growth and impact have been extraordinary, and we are proud to partner with Waterfall City to build on this success and showcase to our global community a world-class development and shining example of the new cities movement,” he said.

– CAJ News