Launched in November 2009, the R28-billion Destiny Africa multi-purpose development in George heralds itself as a self-contained ecosphere which will give the Southern Cape a massive financial boost.
Destiny Africa will incorporate a business resort, hotel, conference and exhibition facilities, shopping centres, eco- tourism and housing elements, and an “intellectual knowledge city” with a university, research centre and hospital.
The developers say the model is being successfully deployed internationally to promote national and regional growth, but it has attracted controversy because George residents fear there is not enough water for its needs.
Singapore architect and designer Dr Jason Wong said Destiny Africa was designed on “green” environmental principles, with buildings featuring cascading roofs to harvest water, and dams to capture the run-off, along with facilities to purify “grey” water.
Destiny Africa executive director Thys Pretorius said the scale of the development made it possible to develop infrastructure to store water. “In fact, we could be in a position to supply George with water.”
Pretorius said the developers had provided George Municipality with financial assistance in the scoping and environmental impact processes needed to build the water recycling plant and pipeline from the Outeniqua waste-water treatment works to the Garden Route Dam.
The developers said the project had the potential of creating 50000 jobs, which Pretorius said had excited political and business leaders as well as international investors. Destiny Africa received its provincial Record of Decision (RoD) early this year and re-zoning was granted in May 2009.
The Destiny Africa development will roll out over the next 17 years. It will only add to the growth of George as an important economic and tourism city for South Africa.