In a move set to transform the region’s infrastructure landscape, Growthpoint Properties, 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. This marks 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, brings its extensive experience in large-scale, mixed-use precincts to the 450-hectare development.
The airport will be developed on the site previously known as Fisantekraal, designed to strengthen the region’s logistics, trade and tourism infrastructure.
The agreement establishes a long-term partnership where Growthpoint , a JSE-listed group, will assume property and asset management responsibilities for the precinct’s logistics, commercial, and hospitality components, with a right of first refusal on future developments.
The REIT will also oversee the main contractor to ensure institutional standards in governance, financial discipline, and environmental and social impact.
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 partnership will see the Cape Winelands Airport team lead aviation strategy, while Growthpoint contributes capital, property expertise, and sustainability leadership.
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.”
Werner van Antwerpen, Growthpoint Properties’ Head: Corporate Advisory, highlighted the economic multiplier effect, noting, <ins>“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.”</ins>
A Sustainable Development Platform
The development is projected to sustain approximately 35,000 direct and indirect jobs, potentially growing to over 100,000 during its first 20 years. The project represents an expected initial investment of approximately R8 billion.
Cape Winelands Airport aims to be the world’s greenest airport, largely operating on renewable energy with water reuse systems. Growthpoint’s ESG leadership will guide this 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 regulatory approvals, construction could begin in early 2026, with the airport targeted for commissioning by 2028.
The full rollout will unfold over more than two decades.
Infrastructure for the Future
Once operational, the airport will serve as a second major aviation gateway for the Western Cape, easing pressure on existing infrastructure and anchoring new investment along the Cape Winelands corridor.
Concluding on the partnership’s significance, Ferguson says, “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.”
