Construction has officially begun on the R750 million Waterfall City Conference Centre and Hotel, a landmark development set to transform Johannesburg’s business events landscape and further strengthen Waterfall City’s position as one of South Africa’s leading mixed-use destinations. The project represents a significant investment in the region’s hospitality and conferencing sector and marks another major milestone in the ongoing evolution of Waterfall City as a premier destination for business, leisure and lifestyle.
A sod turning ceremony at the Waterfall City Conference Centre and Hotel marked the commencement of the project and the start of a collaboration between Attacq Limited and Rabie Property Group.
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The groundbreaking was met with enthusiasm from the partners, contractors and stakeholders and follows months of planning and design work.
“This has been a long time coming – five years in the making – and it’s exciting to finally see it out of the ground,” says David Oosthuizen, Development Executive at Attacq. “This development is a natural evolution of where our management team has wanted to take Waterfall City, alongside our work on Gateway East and Aspire. The conference centre and hotel are going to be a real trigger for the rest of the precinct – Waterfall City is going to look very different in the next 18 months, and our clients are just as excited about that as we are. We’re grateful for the partnership with Rabie Property Group in bringing this to life, and we look forward to watching it take shape.”
That confidence in the project was shared by Attacq’s development partner, Rabie Property Group.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone for everyone who has contributed to bringing this vision to life,” says Gary Koetser, CEO of African Rain Collection. We’re incredibly proud of what our teams and partners have achieved together.
The response since announcing the project has reinforced our confidence that we have the right product, in the right place, at the right time. Enquiries are already coming through, and the market, the media and the travel trade are all telling us the same thing: this is exactly what Johannesburg needs.”
Once complete, the conference centre will accommodate up to 1,350 delegates in a single venue and 2,000 guests across 16 flexible event spaces, complemented by outdoor venues for open-air events. The adjoining hotel will feature 180 rooms and apartments, an all-day dining restaurant, private dining facilities, wellness amenities including a gym and spa, and a swimming pool.
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The development will be operated by the team behind Cape Town’s Century City Conference Centre and Hotels, bringing more than a decade of operational expertise in business events and hospitality, under the African Rain Collection hospitality portfolio that has been created to oversee the group’s conference and hotel assets across Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Designed as part of the broader Waterfall City masterplan, the development aligns with Attacq’s integrated approach to sustainability and long-term precinct development and reinforces Waterfall City’s position as one of South Africa’s most connected mixed-use destinations.
Expected to be fully operational by Q1 2028, Waterfall City Conference Centre and Hotel represents another significant milestone in the continued growth of Waterfall City. By combining world-class conferencing, premium hospitality and integrated mixed-use development in one connected precinct, the project will further enhance Johannesburg’s appeal as a leading destination for business events while supporting the long-term vision of Waterfall City as a place where business, community and lifestyle seamlessly come together. Bookings for conferences and events are already open.