As economic activity continues to strengthen across South Africa, one of the most exciting developments this year is the official advance of ORTIA SEZ Precinct 2 – a major industrial expansion that positions the OR Tambo International Airport area as a global export and advanced manufacturing hub.
Strategic Expansion at OR Tambo
The OR Tambo Special Economic Zone (SEZ) – developed and operated by the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone (GIDZ) under the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) – launched its Precinct 2 development in late 2025. This follows the success of Precinct 1, which has attracted close to R1 billion in private investment and created over 2 500 operational jobs.
Located on a 29 ha land parcel just outside the airport precinct and accessed off Atlas Road in Kempton Park, Precinct 2 will feature around 265 000 m² of gross lettable space, offering competitively positioned industrial property ideal for export-oriented manufacturing and related businesses.
Targeted Industries & Cluster Strategy
Designed for high-value, light-weight products that benefit from fast access to air freight, ORTIA Precinct 2 is targeted at several key sectors:
• Pharmaceuticals and medical devices
• Agro-processing & fresh food production
• Electronics and advanced manufacturing
• Mineral beneficiation
This cluster-based approach will support shared infrastructure like cold-chain facilities and specialised labs — creating a collaborative ecosystem that boosts competitiveness and operational efficiency.
Economic Impact & Job Creation
Precinct 2 is projected to make a meaningful contribution to the regional economy:
• 6 000+ operational jobs once fully functional, boosting long-term employment opportunities, and
• Over 7 500 construction jobs during build-out, supporting short-term labour demand, while
• A significant contribution to national GDP through both manufacturing output and exports.
This aligns with broader goals to strengthen South Africa’s export capacity, attract foreign direct investment, and foster regional integration within the African Continental Free Trade Area, which values competitive supply chains and efficient logistics.
Investor Incentives & Ease of Doing Business
Investors locating within Precinct 2 benefit from the full suite of SEZ incentives — including VAT exemptions on exported goods, zero-rated VAT on eligible inputs, and access to employment tax incentives — enhancing the value proposition for investors planning regional or global export operations.
LinkedIn industry commentary underscores the strategic appeal of this development, highlighting how the airport-linked industrial push can catalyse clustering of suppliers, standardise customs workflows, and make adjacent land attractive for logistics and light manufacturing growth.
On the Ground: Construction & Market Interest
GIDZ reports that construction is well underway, with the land handed over in February 2025 and practical completion anticipated in mid-2027. To date, preliminary engagement has already identified 15 potential investors expressing interest in locating operations there — evidence of strong market uptake.
What This Means for Investors & Property Markets
For industrial property stakeholders like Marder Properties, ORTIA Precinct 2 represents both a significant signal of market confidence and a pipeline of future leasing and investment opportunities. Its proximity to OR Tambo International Airport and integration into a Special Economic Zone elevates its strategic standing for clients seeking logistics-optimised facilities and export-ready premises.
This development is not just a win for Gauteng — it’s a blueprint for industrial, export-driven growth that dovetails with broader economic imperatives: job creation, skills development, and strengthened global market participation.
