South Africa is the most structurally and economically developed nation on the African Continent. As such, its major cities have experienced construction booms that most other cities of similar size in Africa have not. Advanced development is significantly localised around four areas: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Pretoria/Johannesburg. Beyond these four economic centres, development is marginal and poverty is still prevalent despite government efforts. Consequently the vast majority of South Africans are poor. However, key marginal areas have experienced rapid growth recently. Such areas include Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay; Rustenburg area; Nelspruit area; Bloemfontein; Cape West Coast; and the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.
The tallest building currently under construction is 'Portside' in Cape Town, at 139 m (456 ft) tall. This new development will be the tallest built in South Africa since the end of the apartheid era. Many other construction proposals are currently on the table such as the possibly supertall "Sandton City Tower 1" which could potentially between 230 and 310 meters tall. The city of Johannesburg is presently looking into high density highrise village projects which, if approved, could transform the skyline of Johannesburg in coming years.
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This list ranks South African skyscrapers that stand at least 100 m (328 ft) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts.
| Type | Name | Pinnacle height | Floors | Built | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke stack | SASOL III Synthetic Fuel Production Plant | 301 m (988 ft) | Secunda | |||
| Smoke stack | Duvha Power Station | 300 m (984 ft) | Witbank | |||
| Smoke stack | Lethabo Power Station | 275 m (902 ft) | Sasolburg | |||
| Transmission tower | Hillbrow Tower | 269 m (883 ft) | 6 | 1971 | Johannesburg | Tallest structure in South Africa and on the Continent of Africa |
| Transmission Tower | Sentech Tower | 239 m (784 ft) | 1962 | Johannesburg | ||
| Building | Carlton Centre | 223 m (732 ft) | 50 | 1973 | Johannesburg | Tallest building in South Africa and on the Continent of Africa |
| Transmission Tower | Telkom Tower | 198 m (650 ft) | 1978 | Pretoria | Tallest structure in Pretoria | |
| Building | Ponte City Apartments | 173 m (568 ft) | 54 | 1975 | Johannesburg | Tallest residential building in Africa. |
| Building | Marble Towers | 152 m (499 ft) | 32 | 1973 | Johannesburg | |
| Building | Pearl Dawn | 152 m (499 ft) | 31 | 2010 | Umhlanga | [1] Tallest building outside a downtown CBD are in South Africa. Part of the Pearls of Umhlanga Development. |
| Building | South African Reserve Bank Building | 150 m (490 ft) | 38 | 1988 | Pretoria | [2] Tallest building in Pretoria |
| Building | Metlife Centre | 150 m (490 ft) | 28 | 1993 | Cape Town | [3] Currently the tallest building in Cape Town. |
| Building | 88 on Field | 147 m (482 ft) | 26 | 1985 | Durban | [4] Currently the tallest building in Durban. |
| Building | KwaDukuza eGoli Hotel Tower 1 | 140 m (460 ft) | 40 | 1970 | Johannesburg | [5] Mothballed since 1998 |
| Building | Michelangelo Towers | 140 m (460 ft) | 34 | 2005 | Sandton | [6] |
| Building | Trust Bank Building | 140 m (460 ft) | 34 | 1970 | Johannesburg | [7] |
| Building | Standard Bank Building | 139 m (456 ft) | 34 | 1968 | Johannesburg | [8] |
| Building | Southern Life Center | 138 m (453 ft) | 30 | 1973 | Johannesburg | [9] |
| Building | Monte Blanc | 133 m (436 ft) | 40 | 1985 | Durban | [10] |
| Building | ABSA Tower Pretoria | 132 m (433 ft) | 38 | 1976 | Pretoria | [11] |
| Building | Old Mutual Centre | 130 m (430 ft) | 33 | 1995 | Durban | [12] |
| Building | Pearl Breeze | 128 m (420 ft) | 25 | 2010 | Umhlanga | [13] Part of the Pearls of Umhlanga Development. |
| Building | UCS Building | 128 m (420 ft) | 29 | 1976 | Johannesburg | [14] |
| Building | 1 Thibault Square | 127 m (417 ft) | 31 | 1972 | Cape Town | [15] |
| Building | Kine Center | 123 m (404 ft) | 27 | 1974 | Johannesburg | [16] |
| Building | Embassy Building | 120 m (390 ft) | 28 | 1991 | Durban | [17] |
| Building | Atterbury House | 119 m (390 ft) | 29 | 1976 | Cape Town | [18] |
| Building | Carlton Hotel | 119 m (390 ft) | 30 | 1973 | Johannesburg | [19] Mothballed since 1997 |
| Building | Southern Sun Garden Court Marine Parade | 118 m (387 ft) | 28 | 1985 | Durban | [20] Currently the tallest hotel in South Africa. |
| Building | Southern Sun Garden Court North Beach | 118 m (387 ft) | 33 | 1978 | Durban | [21] |
| Building | ABSA Centre Cape Town | 117 m (384 ft) | 33 | 1970 | Durban | [22] |
| Building | The Spinnaker | 117 m (384 ft) | 27 | 2007 | Durban | [23] |
| Building | 320 West Street | 111 m (364 ft) | 30 | 1973 | Durban | [24] |
| Building | Poyntons Centre | 110 m (360 ft) | 30 | 1968 | Pretoria | [25] |
| Building | Schlesinger Building | 110 m (360 ft) | 21 | 1965 | Johannesburg | [26] |
| Building | Golden Acre | 110 m (360 ft) | 28 | 1979 | Cape Town | [27] |
| Building | Protea Hotel Landmark Lodge | 110 m (360 ft) | 31 | 1976 | Durban | [28] |
| Building | The Parade | 110 m (360 ft) | 30 | 1986 | Durban | [29] |
| Building | Southern Sun Cape Sun | 105 m (344 ft) | 32 | 1982 | Cape Town | [30] |
| Building | Highpoint Hillbrow | 105 m (344 ft) | 25 | 1972 | Johannesburg | [31] |
| Building | Deneys Reitz | 100 m (330 ft) | 24 | 2010 | Johannesburg | [32] |
This lists skyscrapers that are under construction, approved or proposed in South Africa and planned to rise over 100 m (328 ft) tall, but are not yet completed structures. As of January 2011[update] there is 1 building under construction and 20 high-rises planned.
Under construction, approved, and proposed
| Name | Height m / ft |
Floors | Year | City | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandton City Tower 1 | ~290 m (950 ft) | 80 | ?? | Sandton | Proposed | Upon completion, this building would become the tallest residential building in Africa. Part of the Sandton City redevelopment project. [33] |
| Sandton City Tower 2 | ~180 m (590 ft) | 50 | ?? | Sandton | Proposed | [33] Part of the Sandton City redevelopment project. |
| Portside Tower | 139 m (456 ft) | 32 | 2014 | Cape Town | Under construction | Upon completion, this building will become the tallest in Cape Town. First major skyscraper to be constructed in the post-apartheid era. [34] |