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Growthpoint celebrates 2025 SACSC Footprint Marketing Awards

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Growthpoint celebrates 19 awards at the 2025 SACSC Footprint Marketing Awards

Eight Growthpoint shopping centres across four provinces recognised for marketing excellence

Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT) has been recognised with 19 awards across eight retail centres at this year’s South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) Footprint Marketing Awards, which honour excellence and innovation in retail property marketing.

 The SACSC Footprint Marketing Awards acknowledge campaigns that demonstrate creativity, strategic insight and measurable impact within the shopping-centre industry. They recognise marketing that drives real business results across twelve award categories – from community engagement and retailer productivity to digital innovation and sustainability.

This year’s programme attracted 276 entries, with 135 awards presented to campaigns that set new benchmarks for success. For Growthpoint, the results underscore both the strength of its marketing talent and the consistency of its national retail strategy.

“While some of our centres regularly entered the awards in the past, this year we actively encouraged every retail marketing team in our portfolio, whether in-house or agency, to enter the Footprint Awards across a full range of our centres,” says Gavin Jones, Head of Retail Asset Management at Growthpoint Properties.

Jones adds, “We wanted to showcase the innovation and impact that our amazing teams deliver every day at centre level. We chose the SACSC Footprint Marketing Awards as a respected forum that honours excellence and raises retail property marketing to new heights. Seeing so many of our centres and their teams recognised on a national stage reinforces that decision and highlights the strategy and creativity that runs across our portfolio.”

The judging process is both rigorous and industry-led, involving a panel of more than 30 experts from across the retail, marketing and property sectors in South Africa and abroad. Judges include marketing directors, asset managers, agency leaders and international retail specialists who evaluate each entry for its creativity, execution, strategic alignment and measurable results. This multi-disciplinary approach ensures that the Footprint Awards recognise marketing excellence that genuinely advances retail performance and community engagement.

Diverse campaigns, national recognition

 Growthpoint’s awards span shopping centres in four South African provinces and multiple marketing disciplines, celebrating initiatives that go beyond traditional retail promotion to foster community engagement, local enterprise development and experiential retail.

Among the highlights:

  • Brooklyn Mall (Pretoria) achieved nine awards across multiple categories for its Ballet & Bubbles, Curated Collection – 67 Blankets and Denim by Design Welcomes Levi’s campaigns. Brooklyn Mall led the achievements with nine awards, making it one of the most decorated centres in this year’s programme.
  • Festival Mall (Kempton Park) was recognised for its Retail Academy community initiative.
  • Waterfall Mall (Rustenburg) received Silver and Bronze awards for Grow Your Small Business, promoting local entrepreneurship.
  • Northgate Shopping Centre (Johannesburg), Longbeach Mall (Cape Town) and Musgrave Centre (Durban) were all honoured for campaigns that strengthened community ties and revitalised their retail environments.
  • Alberton City Shopping Centre earned a Bronze award for A Queen Taking Her Throne, celebrating local talent and creativity.
  • Co-owned Vaal Mall (Vanderbijlpark) secured three Bronze awards for its “All White” themed lifestyle event and campaign.

 Together, these results demonstrate the depth and diversity of Growthpoint’s marketing excellence across South Africa’s retail landscape.

“These results reflect great marketing but also show how our centres create experiences that connect people, support retailers and contribute positively to local communities,” adds Jones. “We’re proud to see our teams driving initiatives that combine commercial success with genuine social impact.”

 

Growthpoint’s pioneering renewable energy certificates for tenants

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Nedbank to decarbonise 26 branches with Growthpoint’s pioneering renewable energy certificates for tenants

Nedbank Group Limited has become one of the first businesses in South Africa to offset its carbon emissions by taking up Growthpoint Properties Limited’s (JSE: GRT) renewable energy certificates (RECs) in a groundbreaking initiative enabling tenants to offset electricity emissions in leased buildings.

 Nedbank leads on Scope 2 carbon emissions reduction

Setting a new benchmark for corporate decarbonisation in South Africa, Nedbank will offset its Scope 2 emissions across 26 branches located in Growthpoint-owned shopping malls and offices in five provinces — from La Lucia Mall in KwaZulu-Natal to Waterfall Mall in North West, and Woodmead Retail Park in Gauteng to Walmer Park in the Eastern Cape, as well as The Constantia Village in the Western Cape. Together, the branches span over 8,200 square metres of retail space.

Growthpoint solves the challenge of leased-property emissions for businesses

Scope 2 emissions, which stem from purchased electricity, are typically the hardest – if not impossible – for businesses to reduce in multi-tenanted leased premises without support from the landlord. Tenants can reduce their consumption but can’t control the electricity supply at these buildings, and the vast majority of South Africa’s national electricity is coal-fired.

Growthpoint’s REC initiative addresses these gaps for the first time in South Africa by certifying the clean solar power generated at its properties and offering verified RECs to tenants. At the same time, it paves the way for wider use of certified, blockchain-tracked green attributes by businesses in South Africa.

A scalable model for corporate decarbonisation

Nedbank has welcomed the solution as a major step forward on its well-established sustainability journey.

Charl de Kock, Nedbank Executive Head of Group Business Services, says that Nedbank is delighted to partner with Growthpoint in this pioneering initiative.  

 “Access to RECs through Growthpoint gives us an immediate, auditable way to reduce Scope 2 emissions for our branches in their buildings. This removes a big barrier and supports our long-term climate goals, especially where it is too complex to wheel or generate renewable electrons,” adds de Kock. 

 “Nedbank achieved a 30% energy reduction target two years ahead of schedule. In 2024, our electricity use stayed below 97,000 MWh, and renewable energy reached 10% of total consumption. We have been carbon-neutral since 2010, making us the only major bank with this track record.”

“Nedbank’s early adoption of RECs marks a pivotal shift for carbon offsetting and reporting in South Africa. Transparent carbon emission offsets are urgently needed, particularly for businesses in leased spaces, as they cannot tackle the challenge alone. Growthpoint is proud to support our tenants in decarbonising their operations,” says Werner van Antwerpen, Growthpoint Head of Corporate Advisory.

Growthpoint’s collaboration with Nedbank unlocks a new way to manage environmental risk while affirming leadership in driving global efforts toward a low-carbon economy.

Shared climate ambitions drive joint action

Nedbank and Growthpoint are naturally aligned on certified decarbonisation. Both are leaders in South Africa’s certified green building movement and catalysts for energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption. Both share ambitious climate targets: Growthpoint is aiming for carbon neutrality across its property portfolio (the largest for a REIT locally) by 2050, while Nedbank is targeting 100% of lending and investing supporting a net-zero carbon economy by the same year.

By taking these initial steps in the REC market together, Nedbank and Growthpoint are advancing their sustainability ambitions and opening the way for businesses of all sizes in South Africa to achieve credible Scope 2 emission offsets while stimulating the local green economy.

This transaction is expected to pave the way for broader integration of green attribute instruments and grow South Africa’s sustainable economy.

Growthpoint’s solar energy infrastructure

Underpinning the solution is Growthpoint’s unique renewable energy mix. The leading property company has grown one of South Africa’s largest Small Scale Embedded Generator (SSEG) renewable energy fleets and linked it to transparent certification frameworks. It has a solar fleet of 80 rooftop systems providing 61.2MWp capacity. Growthpoint plans to commission 7MWp of additional solar capacity by mid-2026.

So far, nearly half of its solar plants are already registered on the international Renewable Energy Certificate (I-REC) registry in partnership with Fuel Switch, Africa’s first blockchain-enabled REC exchange. The I-REC mechanism provides globally recognised certification for renewable energy generation and is increasingly being adopted by companies and institutions to meet sustainability targets.

e-co₂ wheeled green electricity is live

Alongside its on-site rooftop solar fleet, Growthpoint launched its wheeled renewable energy initiative, e-co₂, last month (October 2025). Supported by a landmark 195GWh power purchase agreement (PPA) with Etana Energy for a sustainable mix of renewable hydro, wind and solar electricity.

The first renewable energy generation project to come online as part of the PPA is Boston Hydroelectric Plant in Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme near Clarens, a new R390 million development by Serengeti Energy, with an operational lifetime of over 40 years. Growthpoint has acquired a 30% stake in the plant and secured exclusive access to all the approximately 30GWh of renewable electricity generated by the plant annually. The certified zero-carbon electricity from Boston Hydro is already being added to the national grid and supplying 20 Growthpoint buildings on Eskom’s direct grid and three on the City of Cape Town’s grid. This includes 10 e-co₂ office buildings in Sandton where, in addition to compounding cost-saving fixed escalations on green electricity, each unit of clean energy consumed by a tenant automatically generates a tradable digital REC for them, tracked via Fuel Switch’s blockchain-enabled platform.

A milestone for South Africa’s green economy

 “Growthpoint’s first-of-its-kind green electricity programme offers tenants a way to reduce their Scope 2 emissions and marks an important milestone in South Africa’s green energy market. It demonstrates how building owners and tenant businesses can work together to deliver real emissions reductions and build a low-carbon future,” adds van Antwerpen.

 

Growthpoint and Feenstra’s Noka Park sets new standard

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Growthpoint and Feenstra’s Noka Park sets new standard for Grade A logistics and industrial space in Gauteng

 New R700m speculative development responds to rising demand for sustainable, tech-enabled warehouses

Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT), in partnership with Feenstra Group, has launched Noka Park, a R700 million logistics and industrial development strategically located in Gauteng’s Riverfields logistics precinct, near OR Tambo International Airport. The park is 50/50 co-owned and co-developed by Growthpoint and Feenstra Group and will be managed by Growthpoint.

Construction begins in October 2025, with four buildings to be delivered in phases. The first warehouse is set for occupation from the final quarter of 2026, with the remainder rolled out on completion.

Noka Park tenants will benefit from direct access to transport and distribution corridors; scalable, future-proofed facilities; a professionally managed precinct; and an environment that integrates business performance with sustainability.

Answering demand in a shifting market

 Noka Park is a speculative development designed to meet strong and evolving tenant demand.

“The South African logistics market is currently being reshaped by a ‘flight to quality’ with tenants prioritising high-grade, sustainable and technologically enabled warehouses over more basic facilities,” says Errol Taylor, Head of Asset Management: Logistics & Industrial at Growthpoint Properties.

This trend reflects broader global shifts. Industrial occupiers are increasingly prioritising technology adoption, integrating IoT, AI and automation to streamline warehouse operations and enhance supply chain efficiency. At the same time, sustainability and ESG alignment have moved to the forefront, with tenants seeking energy-efficient buildings that are solar-ready, water-wise and aligned with green certification standards. Even with the recent suspension of load-shedding, energy security remains critical driving demand for logistics parks with reliable power infrastructure and backup systems. Flexibility is equally essential, as the market shows growing interest in mid-sized warehouses ranging from 10,000m² to 30,000m². This makes scalable, adaptable land parcels, like those offered within Noka Park, a significant competitive advantage.

“Noka Park speaks directly to these market dynamics,” notes Taylor. “This development with Feenstra Group demonstrates how considered partnerships and strategic site selection can deliver superior value for tenants. It provides immediate efficiency and resilience, but also long-term sustainability for tenants. We are confident that Noka Park will meet and exceed these requirements.”

Expanding a high-performing logistics portfolio

Growthpoint has steadily repositioned its logistics and industrial portfolio as one of its key growth platforms. Logistics and industrial assets have grown from 15% to 20% of its total South African portfolio value, with nearly half of these assets now concentrated in modern logistics warehouses located in high-performing nodes.

This portfolio transformation reflects a deliberate strategy to focus on quality, performance and sustainability, Taylor says, and this is set to continue with a pipeline of demand-driven speculative developments like Noka Park.

Future-ready facilities for modern industry

 With its combination of prime location, modern specifications and environmental integration, Noka Park is designed for a diverse tenant base ranging from e-commerce companies to international logistics operators and warehousing.

“Working alongside Growthpoint on Noka Park has allowed us to combine our strengths to develop this high-quality logistics asset,” says Johann du Plessis, CEO of Feenstra Group Developments. “From the outset, the focus has been on future-proofing the development through sustainable design, adaptability and efficiency. The result is a logistics park that not only serves the needs of tenants today but will remain relevant as this innovative sector evolves.”

Prime location in a strategic logistics hub

 Noka Park is strategically located within the Riverfields logistics hub in Kempton Park, a managed precinct known for its scale, smart infrastructure, and seamless connectivity. Reflecting its location, Noka means “river” in Sesotho.

Situated at the corner of Mulder Road and Blaauwklippen Avenue, the development offers easy access to the R21 freeway and lies only 3km from OR Tambo International Airport, positioning it as a prime node for both national and international distribution. Its proximity to key logistics and commercial assets, including major warehousing, industrial and retail nodes, including Isando, Jet Park and East Rand Mall all within 10kms, reinforces its role as a central access point within Gauteng’s high-performance logistics corridor.

The Riverfields precinct is also notable for its environmental setting within the Ekurhuleni ecological zone, where preserved grasslands, seasonal streams and indigenous landscaping form part of the development, underscoring its environmental credentials.

 Scale and specifications

Noka Park spans 105,000sqm and will deliver over 52,000sqm of high-performance industrial space across four state-of-the-art warehouses designed to accommodate high-volume warehousing, racking, and fast-moving logistics operations. Warehouse footprints range from mid-sized to large-scale facilities, offering flexibility to both blue-chip tenants and growing industrial operators.

Each warehouse is equipped with FM2-specification floors, 12m clear spring height and both dock and on-grade access to support efficient movement of goods, enhanced by built-in offices, with staff areas and ablutions.

Solar-ready roofing, LED lighting and generator-ready infrastructure reflect a focus on operational resilience and energy efficiency. Additional features such as low-e performance glazing further enhance sustainability and thermal performance.

Safety and security are reinforced through fire protection systems, a secure gatehouse with access control, a 2.4m perimeter wall and electric fencing.

“By combining scale, flexibility and modern specifications, Noka Park sets a new benchmark for industrial and light manufacturing facilities in Gauteng,” concludes Taylor.

Growthpoint acquires a 30% stake in Boston Hydroelectric Plant

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Growthpoint acquires a 30% stake in new R390m Boston Hydroelectric Plant

Strategic investment in the hydro plant that is powering the 24/7 clean energy being wheeled to 23 Growthpoint flagship properties

CLARENS, FREE STATE. Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT), South Africa’s leading Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), has acquired a 30% stake in the operational Boston Hydroelectric plant, a new R390 million development with an operational lifetime of over 40 years by leading independent power producer Serengeti Energy within the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme near Clarens. South Africa’s newest hydroelectric plant was certified for commercial operations by Eskom on Friday (17 October 2025) and has already started adding renewable energy to the national grid.

 As early as 2023, Growthpoint secured exclusive access to all the approximately 30GWh of renewable electricity generated by the plant annually, through its landmark 195GWh power purchase agreement (PPA) with licenced energy trader Etana Energy. Boston Hydro is the first project to come online in a mix of cost-saving, certified zero-carbon hydro, wind and solar electricity generation projects powering the PPA. The renewable electricity from Boston Hydro will supply 23 Growthpoint buildings, including 10 in Sandton Central and three in Cape Town.

Strategic investment advances energy security

 Growthpoint’s 30% stake in Boston Hydro continues its investment in renewable electricity sources and furthers its green energy transition which began more than a decade ago. The property group took its first steps into rooftop solar generation in 2011, from which is has grown a track record of practical, scalable, carbon reducing energy solutions for its business, tenants and South Africa.

Since its first installation, the property group has invested more than R1 billion in solar energy locally, grown one of South Africa’s largest Small Scale Embedded Generator (SSEG) renewable energy fleets and linked it to transparent certification frameworks. Growthpoint owns a fleet of 80 rooftop plants across its portfolio delivering 61.2MWp of capacity and generates a significant amount of clean electricity annually. A further 7MWp of solar installations are in the pipeline for commissioning by mid-2026.

Growthpoint now operates and procures one of South Africa’s most diversified private renewable energy portfolios, combining solar and hydro generation, with wind soon set to join its renewable energy mix as part of the PPA. Together with its rooftop solar, when its PPA with Etana Energy is fully operational, approximately 40% of Growthpoint’s total electricity demand will be supplied from renewable energy.

Powering up transparency too, Growthpoint verifies its renewable energy by registering the electricity generated on the International Renewable Energy Certificate (I-REC) registry via Fuel Switch, Africa’s first blockchain-enabled REC exchange. This ensures global transparency, traceability and accountability across its clean-energy portfolio.

Making renewable energy work for business

Bringing all this together is Growthpoint’s game-changing e-co₂ wheeled renewable energy initiative (which is short for electricity minus carbon dioxide and pronounced “eco two”). This solution is built around Growthpoint’s tenants — thousands of businesses, big and small, in all sectors of South Africa’s economy.

Growthpoint’s pioneering e-co₂ now officially delivers wheeled renewable electricity directly to 10 flagship office buildings in Sandton and their tenants, with the first electrons coming from the operational Boston Hydro over the national grid. e-co2 wheeled green electricity is stable and cost competitive for Growthpoint tenants, it has zero-carbon footprint and certified with tradable digital RECS.

Businesses can, for the first time in South Africa, cut their Scope 2 emissions from purchased electricity in select Growthpoint buildings. So, they can save money, advance their sustainability goals and report certified emissions reductions aligned with evolving IFRS sustainability reporting standards.

The launch of e-co2 positions Growthpoint as South Africa’s first provider of a commercial-scale wheeled renewable energy solution for multi-tenanted commercial properties, with building-level certification and benefits that are made available to tenants in a verified, auditable format.

Leading collaboration in South Africa’s private renewable energy market

Leading the way in bringing certified renewable energy into daily business use, e-co2 is built on unprecedented collaboration and leading-edge skills, cemented by deep environmental stewardship, that forms a connected ecosystem.

Together, Serengeti Energy’s independent power generation at Boston Hydro, Etana Energy’s wheeling offering and power purchase agreement, Growthpoint’s renewable energy offtake for its commercial properties and Fuel Switch’s digital REC registration have formed a pioneering collaboration advancing South Africa’s renewable energy transition.

Growthpoint sits at the centre of this transparent ecosystem, demonstrating how the property sector can lead the shift toward energy security and sustainability, while unlocking shared value for stakeholders.

 Estienne de Klerk, SA CEO of Growthpoint Properties, says: “We are incredibly proud of this innovative initiative, made possible by a visionary team, dedicated partners such as Etana Energy, Serengeti Energy, Fuel Switch and many passionate and talented people over a number of years. It not only benefits the immediate occupants of Growthpoint’s properties but helps to create a brighter and more sustainable future for South Africa.”

 Evan Rice, CEO, of Etana Energy, says: “Growthpoint and Etana’s clean energy partnership is accelerating renewable energy in a way that works for business, the country and the planet. Together, we’re making clean electricity accessible through the grid, securing long-term take-off for IPPs and enabling businesses to cut costs and carbon without complexity. It’s a scalable, transparent model for South Africa’s energy future.”

 Anton-Louis Olivier, CEO, Serengeti Energy, says: “Boston Hydro brings affordable, baseload renewable power to the grid reliably and around the clock. It’s the product of 15 years of operational experience across Africa. We’re proud to be the generation backbone of this ground-breaking clean energy partnership and powering a scalable solution for South African businesses through Growthpoint’s e-co₂.”

 Etana Energy: enabling renewable wheeling at scale, cost efficiently

 Etana Energy plays a pivotal role in bringing eco₂ to life for Growthpoint and its tenants. As a licensed electricity trader, Etana provides the platform that allows renewable electricity generated by independent power producers to reach Growthpoint’s buildings through South Africa’s electrical grid.

This is achieved through renewable electricity wheeling – the process that allows electricity users to buy electricity generated by private power projects located elsewhere in the country, like Boston Hydro, using existing transmission and distribution networks. For businesses in office nodes such as Sandton and the Cape Town Foreshore, this is a game-changer. In these areas, where building roof space is extremely limited, on-site solar generation is impractical, if not impossible.

Etana’s integrated trading platform provides a reliable and scalable mechanism for wheeling clean energy, opening access to affordable renewable energy for businesses across the country. Its collaboration with Growthpoint demonstrates how private-sector partnerships can drive meaningful progress towards a low-carbon, energy-secure future for South Africa.

Growthpoint’s long-term commitment to take up 195GWh of clean electricity annually from Etana Energy has already helped to unlock vital capital for the development of new renewable energy infrastructure for South Africa. In addition to the newly developed Boston Hydro plant, wind and solar generation from Etana’s growing renewable portfolio will be added to Growthpoint’s energy mix from 2026 onwards.

Serengeti Energy: powering progress sustainably

 At the generation end of the eco₂ collaboration, Serengeti Energy brings deep technical expertise and a proven track record in renewable power development across Africa. The company is the developer, constructor and operator of the Boston Hydro project, a 5MW run-of-river hydropower plant located on the Ash River within the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which is the major water transfer scheme linking Lesotho and Gauteng.

Boston Hydro is the largest of six hydropower facilities along the Ash River and represents Serengeti Energy’s fourth operational hydro plant in South Africa. As a third-generation project of this leading independent power producer, it incorporates insights gained from Serengeti’s nearly 15 years of operating experience across the continent, enhancing system availability, lowering maintenance requirements and improving overall plant performance.

The plant will generate approximately 30GWh of renewable electricity annually, providing reliable 24/7 baseload power to Growthpoint’s eco₂ network through Etana Energy’s wheeling framework. This makes Boston Hydro a cornerstone of Growthpoint’s renewable supply mix.

Growthpoint backs Winelands Airport with landmark partnership

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Growthpoint backs Cape Winelands Airport with landmark partnership

SA’s next generation aviation hub secures initial investment, development and managing partner 

Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT), South Africa’s leading Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), has made an initial investment with the right to co-invest and develop the new Cape Winelands Airport precinct, marking the start of a strategic partnership to deliver the Western Cape’s next-generation aviation, hospitality and industrial hub.

Growthpoint, which co-owns Cape Town’s signature V&A Waterfront and holds group property assets to the value of R155.8 billion across retail, office and logistics properties, brings deep experience in large-scale, mixed-use and tourism-led precincts to the development of Cape Winelands Airport precinct. The privately-owned airport, set to be developed on the site of the airfield previously known as Fisantekraal, is designed to strengthen the region’s logistics, trade and tourism infrastructure.

The property group’s initial investment is one of several pillars in a long-term partnership for the design, development, delivery and management of the properties within the Cape Winelands Airport precinct. Under the agreement, Growthpoint will assume long-term property and asset management responsibilities across the 450-hectare aviation precinct’s logistics, commercial and hospitality components which excludes the terminal buildings, with the right of first refusal to co-invest in future property developments. It will also oversee the development’s main contractor to ensure institutional standards in transparent governance, financial discipline, positive environmental and social impact integration and development delivery.  

Partnering for pioneering regional growth

Nicholas Ferguson, Managing Director of RSA Aero, the company that owns and operates Cape Winelands Airport, says, “This partnership represents a step-change for Cape Winelands Airport. Growthpoint’s partnership provides the institutional foundation and delivery capacity needed to build an airport precinct of global quality that will serve the region for generations to come.”

The uniquely qualified Cape Winelands Airport team will lead aviation strategy and master planning of the international aviation hub while Growthpoint contributes institutional capital, property expertise and sustainability leadership. Together, they aim to develop a commercially driven world-class airport precinct that meets rising aviation demand, strengthens regional trade and tourism connectivity while exemplifying sustainability.

Norbert Sasse, Group CEO of Growthpoint Properties, comments, “Cape Winelands Airport and its visionary partners have set in motion a powerful catalyst for long-term value creation and a legacy asset for the Western Cape that enhances South Africa’s broader growth story. We are pleased to take part in this opportunity and to contribute to Cape Town’s and South Africa’s sustainable growth.”

The success of the V&A Waterfront – one of Africa’s most visited destinations – provides Growthpoint with first-hand insight into how well-planned tourism infrastructure can drive inclusive economic growth.

“Tourism and foreign direct investment are powerful economic multipliers that go hand in hand and we as Growthpoint have the opportunity to influence the tourist experience at both the Cape Winelands Airport and the V&A Waterfront,” notes Werner van Antwerpen, Growthpoint Properties’ Head: Corporate Advisory. “When tourism infrastructure works sustainably and at scale, jobs follow, cities thrive and communities benefit.”

A new platform for sustainable aviation and development

The airport is expected to sustain approximately 35,000 direct and indirect jobs and could sustain just over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs during its initial 20 years of operation. The development represents an expected initial investment of approximately R8 billion in Cape Town, which will deliver the terminal buildings, runway and a 450-hectare developable estate.

Growthpoint’s initial and right to future investments aligns with its South African capital allocation strategy, which prioritises outperforming locations, precincts and property sectors, including Cape Town and modern logistics facilities, while driving sustainability initiatives towards the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.  

Cape Winelands Airport aims to be the greenest airport in the world, embedding sustainability at every phase of development. It will function largely with renewable energy and be supported by water reuse systems, driving a carbon-neutral agenda. Growthpoint’s established environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership will guide the project’s sustainability framework.

“Our commitment to Cape Winelands Airport aligns with Growthpoint’s purpose of creating space to thrive. The project is centred around aviation, but it’s also about unlocking inclusive growth, enabling enterprise and setting new standards for sustainable development,” notes Sasse.

Pending Environmental Impact Assessment approvals, construction of Cape Winelands Airport could begin in early 2026. The development will proceed in phases, starting with runway and safety infrastructure, followed by the terminal, cargo and industrial precincts. On this timeline, the airport is targeted for commissioning by 2028 with capacity for more than five million passengers annually by 2050. The full rollout will unfold over more than two decades, in step with the region’s evolving growth and infrastructure needs.

Infrastructure for the Western Cape’s future

Once operational, Cape Winelands Airport will serve as a second major aviation gateway for the province, easing pressure on existing infrastructure, reducing costs and carbon emissions for operators and welcoming local and international tourists to the Cape’s renowned winelands.

The new airport will also become a new hub for business, hospitality and tourism, supported by the area’s expanding population, dynamic economy and exceptional setting. It will anchor new investment along the Cape Winelands corridor and support Cape Town’s natural expansion northwards – its only viable growth route – with infrastructure necessary for the success of the city’s next chapter.  

“This partnership ensures the Cape Winelands Airport precinct is backed by South Africa’s most credible property investor. Together with Growthpoint, we’re not just building an airport – we’re building a long-term platform for investment, innovation and opportunity in the Western Cape,” concludes Ferguson.

Greenovate Awards of student innovation in Sustainability

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Greenovate Awards celebrate 10 years of student innovation in Sustainability

The Greenovate Awards are back for 2025 with more prizes, new categories and an important milestone to celebrate – ten years of inspiring young people to design practical sustainability solutions for South Africa’s built environment.

Entries are open for the prestigious competition, founded in 2015 by Growthpoint Properties in partnership with the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA). Since its launch, Greenovate has grown into the country’s leading platform for student sustainability innovation, giving honours and final year students the chance to see their ideas tested against real industry challenges.

A decade of positive impact

 Greenovate was created to bridge the gap between academia and industry. At the time, students were graduating with strong technical skills but little exposure to sustainability in practice. Growthpoint and the GBCSA set out to change that, giving students access to mentorship, real projects and the opportunity to present their research to senior leaders in the property and engineering sectors.

Over the past ten years, Greenovate has done more than launch careers. It has become a recognised talent pipeline for the industry, introducing new thinking and fresh energy into the conversation about sustainability. More than R1 million in prize money has been awarded to students from over nine universities nationwide, across property, engineering and proptech streams.

Winning ideas have gone on to influence the market, with Growthpoint piloting projects such as a smart energy management system developed by student winner Julian Banks. Alumni including Wardah Peters have returned to the programme as mentors, showing how Greenovate has built a community of sustainability professionals and thought leaders.

Mentors and judges say the standard and quality of work has grown steadily. Students are bolder, more practical and increasingly fluent in ESG principles and real-world implementation. For many participants, Greenovate has been a turning point in their careers, giving them confidence to pursue roles in sustainability and the built environment.

What’s new for 2025

 To celebrate its tenth anniversary, Greenovate has added two new awards, each worth R10,000 and sponsored by Growthpoint.

The Sustainability in Action Award will go to the engineering project with the best potential to be implemented within Growthpoint’s portfolio or systems. Judges will be looking for relevance to Growthpoint’s sustainability objectives, ease of implementation and measurable impact on resource efficiency, emissions reduction or operational cost savings.

The Transformative Impact Award will recognise the property, quantity surveying or construction project that demonstrates the strongest alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and overall ESG performance. Criteria include clear links to SDG targets, contribution to ESG indicators and measurable impact on global sustainability priorities.

These new prizes add to an already significant prize pool. The top three projects in both property and engineering will receive R40,000, R20,500 and R14,000 respectively. The competition also offers the coveted IFC prize linked to EDGE Expert Accreditation, and top students benefit from GBCSA Accredited Professional candidate courses.

Platform for a more sustainable future

 Finalists present their projects to an expert panel of judges, and winners are announced at the Greenovate Awards gala dinner. Top teams are also invited to participate at the Innovation Stage at the annual GBCSA Convention – a career-defining opportunity to showcase their work to business leaders and influencers.

“Reaching the ten-year mark with Greenovate is a proud moment for Growthpoint. This initiative has grown into a genuine talent pipeline for the property industry, bringing fresh thinking into how we manage and develop sustainable buildings. What excites us most is seeing student ideas translate into solutions that can be implemented in our world today. By investing in young innovators, we are investing in the future of the built environment and the resilience of our sector,” says Engelbert Binedell, Chief Operating Officer of Growthpoint Properties.

“Greenovate was created to give students a voice in the sustainability conversation, and ten years later it has become a powerful platform for the next generation of leaders. Every year we see young people tackling complex challenges with creativity and rigour, and that gives us real confidence in the future of green building. The competition has not only shifted student perspectives, it has also influenced the industry by embedding sustainability into education, research and professional practice,” says Lisa Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer of the Green Building Council South Africa.

Greenovate has always been about more than prize money. It is about giving students the confidence and tools to see themselves as future leaders in the built environment, and about creating a platform where students, mentors and senior industry figures engage as equals in shaping a more sustainable future.

Entries for the 2025 Greenovate Awards close on 10 November 2025. The competition’s mentoring day is 26 November, and the judging and gala dinner take place on 27 November. The competition is open to honours and final year students in property studies, construction, quantity surveying and engineering.

This year, as Greenovate celebrates its tenth anniversary, the call is not only to participate but to be part of the next decade of ideas, innovation and impact.

Students can register and find more information at www.greenovatecompetition.co.za/register.