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City of Ekurhuleni
South Africa
ABOUT
Member summary
As one of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities, the City of Ekurhuleni—meaning “place of peace” in Tsonga—is a dynamic urban and industrial hub in Gauteng Province. Known as Africa’s “aerotropolis,” it hosts the O.R. Tambo International Airport, the busiest airport on the continent, positioning Ekurhuleni as a key gateway for trade, logistics, and investment in Africa.
Home to over 3 million people, the metro spans a diverse landscape of urban centres, townships, industrial zones, and peri-urban areas. Ekurhuleni has a rich cultural and political history, playing a significant role in South Africa’s liberation struggle, while today standing as a beacon of innovation, resilience, and inclusive urban growth.
The city is actively pursuing sustainability and climate resilience, with commitments to renewable energy, circular economy approaches, biodiversity protection, and integrated public transport systems. Its vision is to become a smart, sustainable, and equitable city that balances economic dynamism with environmental stewardship.
Details
Population:
~3.8 million
Member since:
2003
Ekurhuleni plans to reduce reliance on Eskom by 27% via Independent Power Producers
The City is preparing PPPs to enable IPPs to generate electricity, freeing up land (e.g., Zestfontein farm) for this purpose.
Powering Progress – Ekurhuleni’s Vision for Sustainable Energy
A strategic roadmap by the Energy Department to expand renewable energy uptake, improve access in informal settlements, and make electricity distribution more efficient and equitable.
Waste-to-Energy Project
A plan to establish South Africa’s first large-scale waste-to-energy plant in Ekurhuleni, using pyrolysis and incineration technologies. This is expected to generate significant MW capacity and create jobs.
Clean-up Campaign: “Clean Your Kasi, Manje Namhlanje”
2023
Public Consultation on Independent Power Producers Contracts
The City opened up a public participation phase to involve stakeholders in the plans to appoint IPPs for ~1,500 MW of generation capacity spanning various technologies.
