Hong Kong property firm Shanghai Zendai took its first venture into the African market with a deal worth $104 million to develop land in Johannesburg, South Africa’s commercial hub.
On Tuesday Shanghai Zendai purchased a 1 600-hectare parcel of land in the eastern Johannesburg suburb of Modderfontein and plans to redevelop it over the next 15 years into a commercial, residential and light industry hub.
The firm said it selected the plot due to its strategic location between the city’s airport and Sandton City financial district, known as the richest square mile in Africa.
“We’re looking forward to being part of Africa’s emerging success story for many years to come,” said Shanghai Zendai’s chairman Dai Zhikang in a statement.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed firm purchased the property from South Africa’s AECI Ltd. The area currently houses an explosives factory that opened in the late 1890s to support the gold mines around the city.
The company’s investment is a “strong expression of confidence in the local real estate”, it said, pledging to stay true to South African architectural aesthetics while embracing the latest green technology.
“It’s also a stepping stone should we choose to grow our footprint in South Africa and the rest of Africa,” added Dai.
Founded 20 years ago, Shanghai Zendai is a private conglomerate involved in equity investment, asset management and real-estate.
It has developed hotels, offices and houses in 12 Chinese cities. Its first overseas project was in 2011 near Auckland in New Zealand.
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