Lufhereng is a mega housing project on 2 000Ha of land secured by the City of Johannesburg for the western expansion of Soweto.  The project has the capacity to accommodate over 30 000 households in a wide variety of housing typologies and land tenure options.  The main objective of the Lufhereng Project is to address the 1996/1997 waiting list of people living in the informal settlement and/or backyard shacks in Soweto.

In his address to the Joint Sitting of Parliament on 15 October 2020 on South Africa’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, the State President specifically referred to this project as a national priority:

“…. several projects are already in construction.  These include human settlements projects such as …. Lufhereng in Gauteng….  In total, we have gazetted 18 housing projects to the value of R130 billion which together will produce more than 190 000 housing units.”

The Lufhereng Project was designated as a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) with reference SIP 24 C in Gazette No. 43547 (No. 812) published on 2020/07/24.  The project has an estimated total project value of ± R22,3 billion and was prioritized as a SIP due to the far-reaching impact that it will have on poverty alleviation through job creation and vocational training, on creating quality basic services and to address social cohesion and a safe community.

Location: The Lufhereng integrated urban development is located to the West of Soweto, to the north of Protea Glen and to the south of Slovoville, forming the last natural western extension of Soweto. The development was planned to physically, economically and socially integrate with Soweto.

"Lufhereng" was derived from a Tshi'Venda word and Sotho words, 'Lufhera' and 'reng' respectively, were combined to a name that refers to a place where people come together with a united commitment.