Growthpoint backs Cape Winelands Airport in landmark deal

• Growthpoint partners with RSA Aero to develop Cape Winelands Airport precinct.
• R8 billion investment to anchor Western Cape’s next aviation hub.
• Aiming to become the world’s greenest, most sustainable airport.

Growthpoint takes flight with Cape Winelands Airport partnership

‍South Africa’s largest Real Estate Investment Trust, Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT), has announced a landmark partnership with RSA Aero to co-develop and manage the Cape Winelands Airport precinct, a next-generation aviation, logistics, hospitality, and industrial hub set to transform the Western Cape’s economic landscape.

‍The project marks Growthpoint’s first direct investment in a private aviation precinct and aligns with its long-term strategy to invest in outperforming nodes, sustainable infrastructure, and precinct-based development.

The privately owned Cape Winelands Airport, previously known as Fisantekraal Airfield, will be expanded into a 450-hectare mixed-use aviation estate north of Durbanville. It is designed to strengthen the province’s trade, tourism, and transport network, while supporting sustainable regional growth.

Strategic investment and shared vision

‍Under the agreement, Growthpoint will serve as long-term property and asset manager for the airport’s logistics, commercial, and hospitality components, excluding the terminal buildings and will have first right of refusal to co-invest in future developments.

The partnership also ensures institutional oversight and adherence to international governance, financial, and environmental standards throughout the development process.

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“This partnership represents a step-change for Cape Winelands Airport,” says Nicholas Ferguson, Managing Director of RSA Aero. “Growthpoint’s involvement provides the institutional foundation and delivery capacity needed to build an airport precinct of global quality that will serve the region for generations to come.”

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Growthpoint’s vision for sustainable growth

‍Norbert Sasse, Group CEO of Growthpoint Properties, says the project aligns perfectly with Growthpoint’s purpose and sustainability agenda:

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“Cape Winelands Airport and its visionary partners have set in motion a powerful catalyst for long-term value creation and a legacy asset for the Western Cape that enhances South Africa’s broader growth story. We are proud to play a part in building a platform for inclusive, sustainable development.”

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Growthpoint brings proven expertise from its successful co-ownership of the V&A Waterfront, one of Africa’s most visited destinations. The company’s ability to integrate tourism, hospitality, and property infrastructure gives the project a major institutional advantage.

R8 Billion investment and job creation

‍The initial R8 billion investment will deliver new terminal buildings, runways, and the broader 450-hectare estate. Construction is projected to begin in early 2026, pending environmental approvals, with commissioning expected by 2028.

The airport is expected to sustain around 35 000 direct and indirect jobs, growing to over 100 000 within its first 20 years of operation, a major economic boost for the province.

The new airport platform

‍Cape Winelands Airport aims to be the greenest airport in the world, embedding renewable energy, water reuse systems, and carbon-neutral design throughout. The development will serve as both a commercial and logistical anchor for Cape Town’s northern corridor, enabling smarter regional growth and connectivity.

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“Tourism and foreign direct investment are powerful economic multipliers that go hand in hand,” says Werner van Antwerpen, Growthpoint’s Head of Corporate Advisory. “With both the V&A Waterfront and the new airport, Growthpoint can influence how visitors experience the Cape, from arrival to exploration.”

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Infrastructure for the Western Cape’s future

‍Once operational, the new airport will serve as the province’s second major gateway, relieving pressure on Cape Town International Airport, reducing logistics costs, and enhancing trade competitiveness.

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“This partnership ensures the Cape Winelands Airport precinct is backed by South Africa’s most credible property investor,” concludes Ferguson. “Together with Growthpoint, we’re not just building an airport, we’re building a long-term platform for investment, innovation, and opportunity in the Western Cape.”

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Bottom Line

‍The Cape Winelands Airport partnership between Growthpoint and RSA Aero is more than an infrastructure project, it’s a defining investment in the Western Cape’s future. A catalyst for sustainable growth, global connectivity, and new opportunity, this is South African property innovation at altitude.

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