The iconic Carlton Centre in Johannesburg remains the tallest building in Africa, standing at 223 meters and housing the famous “Top of Africa” observation deck, shopping mall, and commercial office space[3]. In recent years, the complex has faced significant changes and challenges. The once-luxurious Carlton Hotel, which forms part of the Centre, has been abandoned since 1998, with numerous failed attempts to revive or sell the property[2].
Transnet, the state-owned company that owns the Carlton Centre, placed the property on the market in 2023 for about R900 million, but the sale fell through after prospective buyers failed to provide proof of funds[1][4]. Following the collapse of the sale, Transnet announced new plans to refurbish the entire Centre, including the derelict hotel. The proposed redevelopment aims to convert the upper sections into affordable housing while expanding the retail footprint on the ground floor. Notably, 3,000 square meters have been earmarked for a new Shoprite supermarket and liquor store[2][4].
Shoprite opened its 150th store in Gauteng at the Carlton Centre, marking an important milestone for the retail giant and creating 41 new jobs. The new 2,883m² Shoprite store offers fresh food departments, a bakery, deli, and a wide range of financial services at its Money Market counter[5]. The expansion is part of a broader effort to revitalize the precinct, with additional retail and affordable housing developments planned and The Foschini Group’s Jet and Skipper Bar stores already established in the Centre[2].
On a larger scale, Gauteng’s government has committed R460 million to revive both the Carlton Centre and other neglected buildings in Johannesburg’s CBD. The revitalization program is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs under the Expanded Public Works Programme and add urgently needed residential units to the city[6].
Despite its faded glamour, the Carlton Centre remains a central landmark in Johannesburg’s urban landscape, with ongoing efforts by the public and private sectors to restore its former prominence and adapt it to contemporary needs[8].
References
- [1] End of an era as the Carlton Centre is up for sale – The Star
- [2] From Glamour To Gloom: South Africa’s Top Luxury Hotel Now An Abandoned Relic
- [3] Carlton Centre Johannesburg – Visit the Top of Africa
- [4] South Africa’s top luxury hotel became a deserted and dilapidated building
- [5] Shoprite opens 150th store in Gauteng at Carlton Centre
- [6] Re-igniting Gauteng’s economy by revitalising CBDs
- [8] The fab Carlton Centre has fallen – The Mail & Guardian