List of tallest buildings and structures in South Africa

Hillbrow Tower and Ponte City Apartments

Pearl Dawn

South Africa is one of 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 five areas: Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Sandton. Beyond these five 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.

There are currently 2 buildings over 150 m under construction. The tallest building under construction in South Africa is planned to be completed in 2017. It will be called The Leonardo and will the tallest building in Sandton and possibly South Africa. This building is poised to be over 223 m, 50 floors. It will be Africa's tallest residential building. The other construction is "Pearl Sky" which will also be a residential building. It will reach 180 metres.

There are also many other buildings that are proposed which are proposed or visions such as the "'Durban Point Development Tower"', which, if built will reach 300 meters and will be the 118th tallest in the world and the tallest in South Africa.

Many buildings in some cities are more beautiful than they are tall, as with the Edwardian and Victorian-styled buildings in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town (surrounded by the taller and more modern buildings).

Tallest buildings

The Southern Life Centre.

Michelangelo Tower

Sandton City Office Tower

Sandton skyline

This list ranks South African skyscrapers that stand at least 150 m (492 ft) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details. There are currently 5 buildings in this list.

Rank	Name	Height (architectural)	Floors	Built	City	Use	Notes	Source
1	Carlton Centre	223 m (732 ft)	50	1973	Johannesburg	Office	Tallest building in South Africa and on the Continent of Africa	[1][2]
2	Ponte City Apartments	173 m (568 ft)	54	1975	Johannesburg	Residential	Tallest residential building in Africa.	[3][4]
3	Marble Towers	152 m (499 ft)	32	1973	Johannesburg	Office		[5][6]
	Pearl Dawn	152 m (499 ft)	31	2010	Durban	Residential	Tallest building outside a downtown CBD and tallest in Durban. Part of the Pearls of Umhlanga Development.	[7][8]
5	South African Reserve Bank Building	150 m (490 ft)	38	1988	Pretoria	Office	Tallest building in Pretoria	[9][10]

Tallest structures

Tallest structures in South Africa over or equal to 250 m (820 ft). Excludes all buildings and demolished or destroyed structures. There are currently 15 structures in this list.

Rank	Type	Name	Pinnacle Height	Floors	Built	City
1	Smoke stack	SASOL III Synthetic Fuel Production Plant	301 m (988 ft)	N/A	1979	Secunda
2	Smoke stack	Duvha Power Station	300 m (984 ft)	N/A	1980	Duvha
	Smoke Stack	Komati Power Station	300 m (984 ft)	N/A	1979	Komati
4	Smoke Stack	Lethabo Power Station	275 m (902 ft)	N/A	1988	Vereeniging
	Smoke Stack	Tutuka Power Station	275 m (902 ft)	N/A	1988	Standerton
	Smoke Stack	Kendal Power Station	275 m (902 ft)	N/A	1991	Kendal
	Smoke Stack	Matla Power Station	275 m (902 ft)	N/A	1984	Kriel
	Smoke stack	Lethabo Power Station	275 m (902 ft)	N/A	1985	Lethabo
9	Transmission Tower	Hillbrow Tower	269 m (883 ft)	6	1971	Johannesburg
10	Mast	Mpumalanga TV Mast	265 m (870 ft)	N/A		Bethal
	Mast	Piet Retief TV Mast	265 m (870 ft)	N/A		Piet Retief
	Mast	Theunissen TV Mast	265 m (870 ft)	N/A		Virginia
13	Mast	Hartbeesfontein TV Mast	265 m (870 ft)	N/A		Klerksdorp
14	Smoke stack	Majuba Power Station	250 m (820 ft)	N/A	2000	Volksrust
	Smoke stack	Matimba Power Station	250 m (820 ft)	N/A	1990	Ellisras

Timeline of tallest building and structures in South Africa

Timeline of tallest structures over 150 m (492 ft). Includes all structures and buildings. Excludes all demolished or destroyed structures.

Name	Type	City	Years as tallest	Meters	Feet	Floors	Photo
SASOL III Synthetic Fuel Production Plant	Smoke Stack	Secunda	1979–Present	301	988	N/A
Hillbrow Tower	Transmission Tower	Johannesburg	1971–1979	269	883	6

Timeline of tallest buildings in South Africa

Timeline of tallest buildings over 150 m (492 ft). Includes all buildings.

Name	City	Years as tallest	Meters	Feet	Floors	Photo
Carlton Centre	Johannesburg	1973–Present	223	732	50
Marble Towers	Johannesburg	1973-1973	152	499	32

Timeline of tallest structures in South Africa

Timeline of tallest structures (that are not buildings) over 250 m (820 ft) and buildings over 150 m (492 ft). Includes all structures.

Name	Type	City	Years as tallest	Meters	Feet	Floors	Photo
SASOL III Synthetic Fuel Production Plant	Smoke Stack	Secunda	1979–Present	301	988	N/A
Hillbrow Tower	Transmission Tower	Johannesburg	1971–1979	269	883	6

Tallest buildings under construction or proposed

This lists skyscrapers that are under construction, approved or proposed in South Africa and planned to rise over 150 m (492 ft) tall, but are not yet completed structures.

Status:

Topped Out

Under Construction

Approved

Proposed

Vision

Name	Height	Floors	Use	City	Completion
Durban Iconic Tower	363 metres (1,191 ft)	88	Mixed-use	Durban	2022
The Leonardo	188 metres (617 ft)	48	Residential	Sandton	2020
Pearl Sky	~150 metres (490 ft)	32	Residential	Durban	2018
zero2one	148 metres (486 ft)	43	Residential	Cape Town	2020

Tallest destroyed or demolished structures

This lists buildings that were over 150 m (492 ft) tall or other structures over 250 m (820 ft) and were destroyed or demolished.

Name	Type	City	Height	Floors
Matla Power Station	Chimney	Kriel	276 m (906 ft)	N/A

See also

• List of tallest buildings in South Africa
• List of tallest structures in South Africa
• List of tallest structures in the world by country
• List of World Heritage Sites in Africa
• List of tallest buildings in Africa

References

1. "Johannesburg Landmarks". www.amethyst.co.za. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
2. "Carlton Centre". The Skyscraper Center. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
3. "Ponte's fourth coming: An urban icon reborn". The M&G Online. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
4. "Ponte Tower". The Skyscraper Center. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
5. "3. MARBLE TOWERS | SA9.co.za". Retrieved 2015-11-23.
6. "Marble Towers". The Skyscraper Center. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
7. "4. PEARL DAWN | SA9.co.za". Retrieved 2015-11-23.
8. "Pearl Dawn". The Skyscraper Center. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
9. "5. SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK BUILDING | SA9.co.za". Retrieved 2015-11-23.
10. "Reserve Bank Building". The Skyscraper Center. Retrieved 2015-11-23.