Through OR Tambo Special Economic Zone, infrastructure becomes a catalyst for real change. From job creation to small business growth, this initiative is not just building structures—it’s building lives in the heart of Gauteng.
Explore their Stories
Explore
their Stories
Thato Tchaku, UI/UX Designer, Pulego Technologies
The Innovation Hub and OR Tambo SEZ are subsidiaries of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), mandated to drive sustainable job creation and inclusive economic growth. Thato’s journey began as a two-person startup incubated at The Innovation Hub, and has now grown into a 15-member technology company.
Assa Blanket, Managing Director, Blanket Corp Civils – OR Tambo SEZ Precinct 2
Assa’s construction career grew through opportunities offered by organisations such as the OR Tambo SEZ. From stormwater projects to overseeing teams, this became her company’s biggest project. “We’re not just building infrastructure—we’re building confidence and futures,” she says. Locals are gaining skills, learning on the job, and experiencing the pride of turning earth into opportunity.
Bakang Moeng, Manager, GBCSA
To Bakang, OR Tambo SEZ is more than a developer—it’s a partner in transformation. Through their collaboration, she sees the development of sustainable, job-creating infrastructure. “We’re not just building green spaces—we’re restoring dignity,” she says. Every material, every plan, is a step toward a future where communities and the environment both thrive.
Masechaba Mthobeni, Hospitality Coordinator, OR Tambo SEZ
Masechaba’s role started with a simple task— ensuring cleanliness within the office spaces. Today, she runs and coordinates the hospitality function with joy. “I wanted to cry with happiness,” she recalls. OR Tambo SEZ gave her more than a job—they saw her potential and gave her the chance to lead with pride.
Pinky Mohlala, Canteen Manager, Jewel Café – OR Tambo SEZ
From street-side sales to managing Jewel Café, Pinky’s culinary journey grew through the OR Tambo SEZ. “Good food made with love tastes better,” she beams. With a full team and a thriving business, she’s serving more than meals—she’s serving inspiration to women like her who dream of building something real.
Ruhan Le Roux, Project Manager, Lonerock Construction – OR Tambo SEZ Precinct 2
Ruhan arrived to find only trees and grass. Today, under his leadership, Precinct two is alive with machinery, infrastructure, and opportunity. Tasked by OR Tambo SEZ to deliver bulk infrastructure services, he’s created real jobs, empowered SMMEs, and built skills in nearby communities—all while laying the groundwork for long-term transformation.
Saki Zamxaka, Acting Group CEO, GGDA
Saki sees the OR Tambo SEZ as Gauteng’s engine for growth. “We’re not just laying roads,” he says, “we’re paving futures.” By connecting infrastructure with opportunity, his team is bringing life to communities. It’s a vision where exports thrive, but so do local skills, small businesses, and family incomes.
Thandiwe Ngqobe, CEO, OR Tambo SEZ
Thandiwe’s passion is breaking ground—not just physically, but socially. “We build with purpose,” she says. The OR Tambo SEZ’s Precinct 2 brings jobs, skills, and hope to South Africa’s youth. From agro-processing to jewellery manufacturing, her mission is to make investors stay—and communities grow—with every square metre developed.
Dr. Bangani Mpangalasane, CEO, The Innovation Hub
Dr. Bangani watches ideas become global businesses. “One came in with just a concept—now they’re exporting,” he smiles. Through The Innovation Hub, 280+ entrepreneurs have taken flight. His pride? Seeing futures forged in code, green science, and bold ambition—all nurtured where innovation meets purpose.
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Building South Africa’s Future Through the O.R. Tambo Special Economic Zone
Gauteng remains the beating heart of South Africa’s economy, generating a third of the country’s GDP and standing as the most industrialised region on the continent. But for this growth to be sustained and shared, it requires more than industry alone—it needs ecosystems where infrastructure, innovation, and people intersect.
At the centre of this vision is the O.R. Tambo International Airport Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a flagship initiative of the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone (GIDZ), part of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA). The GGDA’s mandate is to drive inclusive socio-economic progress across the province by developing strategic economic infrastructure, promoting investment, and supporting enterprise and innovation. Through entities like GIDZ and The Innovation Hub, the GGDA is building the foundations for a future-focused provincial economy that is competitive, sustainable, and inclusive.
Strategically positioned within Gauteng’s logistical network, the O.R. Tambo International Airport SEZ connects directly to South Africa’s largest airport, the Gautrain, and major cargo corridors. Its proximity to O.R. Tambo International Airport provides seamless access to domestic and global markets—making it a natural base for investors seeking both efficiency and opportunity. With government incentives and coordinated infrastructure support, the SEZ offers an environment where business can thrive.
Airports Company South Africa facilitates this advantage – as the Operator of Africa’s busiest airport. Functioning as an Aerotropolis, O.R. Tambo International is an economic hub employing more than 30,000 people and facilitating the flow of goods, passengers, and services daily. Through its collaboration with the GIDZ, ACSA’s synergies extend beyond the Airport precinct, fuelling new waves of industrialisation and job creation across Ekurhuleni.
Yet the O.R. Tambo SEZ is not only about trade and investment—it’s about transforming local economies. The development of Precinct Two is unlocking opportunities for small businesses, contractors, and residents in surrounding communities. From general workers gaining new skills on construction sites to SMMEs delivering core services such as earthworks, drainage, and electrical infrastructure, the project is cultivating practical expertise that extends well beyond its boundaries.
Sustainability lies at the core of this development model. In partnership with the Green Building Council of South Africa, new facilities are being designed to meet national green standards—ensuring efficient energy and water use, responsible materials sourcing, and improved access to public transport. This integrated approach demonstrates that infrastructure can be both economically enabling and environmentally responsible.
At the same time, the GGDA’s broader innovation ecosystem reinforces this vision. At The Innovation Hub, entrepreneurs like those at Pulego Technologies are turning ideas into export-ready enterprises, designing digital tools that respond to real community needs. Here, economic infrastructure meets intellectual capital, showing that industrialisation is as much about people and ideas as it is about physical construction.
Ultimately, the O.R. Tambo SEZ exemplifies the GGDA’s mission to drive inclusive growth through infrastructure, innovation, and collaboration. It is not just reshaping the skyline of Ekurhuleni—it is reshaping opportunity itself. By connecting government, business, and communities, Gauteng is building an economy designed to endure—one that creates value, advances skills, and positions South Africa as a leading player on the African and global stage.
