A R750 Million Conference Centre and Hotel Is Coming to Waterfall

Johannesburg is getting a major new conference centre and hotel, and it is going up right next to Mall of Africa in the Waterfall precinct.

The development is worth R750 million and is expected to open in 2028. It will be called the Waterfall City Conference Centre and Hotel.

What Is Being Built

The conference centre will be able to hold up to 1,350 delegates in a single venue and up to 2,000 across 16 flexible event spaces. There will also be open-air venues for outdoor events.

The hotel next door will have 180 rooms and apartments. Guests will have access to an all-day restaurant, private dining spaces, a fully equipped gym, a spa with massage treatments, and a swimming pool.

Who Is Behind It

The project is a collaboration between Attacq Limited and Rabie Property Group. It falls under a new hospitality brand called African Rain Collection, created by Century City Hotels.

Century City Hotels has spent the past ten years building a strong reputation in Cape Town with properties like Bridgewater and Urban Square Hotels. The Waterfall development marks its expansion into Gauteng.

CEO Gary Koetser said the move is not about growing for the sake of it. "Our focus is not growth for growth’s sake, but thoughtful expansion where we can create real value for our clients, partners, and the precincts we operate in," he said.

Why Waterfall

The Waterfall precinct in Midrand has become one of the fastest-growing business and lifestyle hubs in Gauteng. Mall of Africa, one of the largest shopping centres on the continent, is already there. Adding a world-class conference facility and hotel makes the area even more attractive for business tourism and large-scale events.

Why This Matters

A R750 million investment in Joburg’s hospitality sector is a big deal. It signals confidence in the city at a time when new developments of this scale are not common. For anyone who works in events, conferencing or business travel, this is one to watch. And for Waterfall residents, the precinct just keeps getting bigger.