By Jonews Reporter
THE revival of the Johannesburg central business district received a major boost on Monday 20 October with the announcement by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa that the provincial government would be establishing a government precinct in the city.
Shilowa made the announcement at the opening of the Blue IQ Means Business conference at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The Gauteng government has been renting around 120 000 square meters of office space in Johannesburg since 1995, when the city was designated as the seat of the provincial government.
Shilowa said the creation of the government precinct means the provincial government's status will shift from being just a tenant in Johannesburg into one of the biggest property owners within the Johannesburg CBD.
He added that the provincial government had already bought a number of buildings in the area earmarked for the precinct and that more buildings would be acquired.
The government precinct will further enhance efforts by provincial and local government to regenerate Johannesburg and turn it into a world-class African city.
"Our decision is an unequivocal expression of confidence in the future of Johannesburg. We hope this will encourage the private sector to invest more in the regeneration of the city," Shilowa added.
More details about the location of the precinct and the value of the investment will be announced next month.
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