STEYN CITY - The highly anticipated launch of the multi-billion rand Steyn City Lifestyle Resort took place on 10 March leaving the estate's gargantuan gates open for business.
CHEERS: David Makhura, Carolyn Steyn, Graca Machel, Giuseppe Plumari and Josina Z Machel toast to the opening of Steyn City and the memory of Nelson Mandela.
The launch played host to Gauteng premier David Makhura and former first lady and wife of the late Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel.
As explained by Machel, Douw Steyn and Mandela had a strong bond. Steyn and Mandela were introduced by members of the ANC after Mandela’s release from prison. Mandela lived in Steyn’s home, which subsequently became the Saxon Boutique Hotel, while he edited his novel A Long Walk to Freedom and drafted South Africa’s interim constitution.
Speaking at the launch Makhura praised public/private partnerships and said Steyn City was an example of this type of partnership in action.
When the previous inhabitants of the property, on which Steyn City is built, were relocated to Cosmo City and Diepsloot more than 10 years ago, provisions were put in place for job creation for those former residents and others. Since construction began on Steyn City, more than 11 500 people from neighbouring communities have been employed for the development.
Phase 2 of the development will inject in excess of R50 billion into the Gauteng economy.
At the launch, Machel commemorated the newly-named Mandela Park inside the development, by planting saplings that originated from the river bushwillow seeds that Madiba planted eight years ago at the official Steyn City groundbreaking ceremony.
Now that the resort has been launched, the public are invited to visit Steyn City by means of scheduled tours that can be booked on their website. The first tours will take place on 14 and 15 March.
STRONG BOND: Carolyn Steyn and Graca Machel embrace.
JOB CREATION: Bafana Mokwena, head of skills development at Steyn City.
SELLING THE DREAM: Head of Steyn City sales and marketing, Kent Gush and Michele White.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE: Graca Machel plants a sapling grown from the original seeds Nelsom Mandela planted in Steyn City in 2007.
CHEERS: David Makhura, Carolyn Steyn, Graca Machel, Giuseppe Plumari and Josina Z Machel toast to the opening of Steyn City and the memory of Nelson Mandela.
WARM WELCOME: Graca Machel, CEO of Steyn City Properties Giuseppe Plumari and Carolyn Steyn.
PLANTING A SEED: Gauteng premier David Makhura plants a sapling in the Mandela Park.
MINGLING: Meryn Robins and Irene de Wet.
FORTUNATE MEETING: Stanley Maapole, Beth Nomavuka, David Makhura and Brighton Mudau.
TAKE A REST: David Makhura, Graca Machel, Carolyn Steyn and Giuseppe Plumari take a rest on a bench dedicated to Mandela in the Mandela Park.
BEAUTIFUL VOICES: Pupils of Muzomuhle School in Diepsloot entertain guests.
BIG ENTRANCE: Graca Machel and Carolyn Steyn arrive at the launch venue.
CITY LIFE: Steyn City’s golf course with Douw Steyn’s house in the background.
WHAT A VIEW: A view of the 2000 acre property that makes up Steyn City.
TEENAGE DREAM: The Steyn City skate park.
FACE TO FACE: The face of a giant sculpture in the Steyn City parkland.
BEAUTIFUL: An artwork created by artists from Cosmo City and Diepsloot.
PLAYTIME: One of the many playgrounds in Steyn City. This one is designed specifically for toddlers.
UNCOVERED: A sculpture of a sleeping giant buried in the ground.
HE’S A WINNER: Donald Nxumalo shows off the Steyn City apartment he decorated during the Steyn City Four D Design reality TV competition.
MEETING PLACE: An artwork created by Charles Gotthard and three artists from Cosmo City and Diepsloot entitled ‘Ubuntu’.
HARD AT WORK: Artists at work alongisde one of the Steyn City pedestrian walkways.
HOME SWEET HOME: A two-bedroom show apartment designed by Donald Nxumalo.