The ground was officially broken on Suzuki Auto South Africa’s new head office and distribution centre to be located at the Longlake Logistics Park in the Gauteng Province.
Fortress, a real estate company in South Africa and with operations in Central and Eastern Europe, has said that the sod-turning ceremony held this week marked a major milestone in a partnership built on growth, ambition and a shared vision for the future.
The new development was said to reflect Suzuki’s strategic expansion and confidence in Fortress’s ability to deliver flexible, client-centric logistics solutions.
Marguerite Oosthuizen, leasing consultant at Fortress, said they set out to deliver more than just warehouse space for Suzuki, as they were about creating a tailored, future-focused facility that embodies Suzuki’s brand, supports its people, and enables bold, sustainable growth.
“At Fortress, our focus goes beyond logistics developments, we create opportunities that unlock long-term value for our clients. This development reflects our commitment to strategic partnerships, innovative design, and delivering tailored solutions that drive growth and operational excellence,” Oosthuizen said.
Suzuki will be relocating from its current facility at Linbro Business Park into a purpose-designed 24,507m² facility inLonglake, tailored to support its growing operational and workforce needs. Construction is set to be completed by June 2026.
The state-of-the-art facility will feature 2,900m² of modern office space and 19,100m² of warehousing, with advanced amenities including training facilities, boardrooms, a workshop, and a spacious 100-seater canteen.
The warehouse will feature a clear height of 15 metres, enabling maximum vertical space utilisation, along with large yards and easy vehicular access for streamlined logistics operations.
Berto van der Lith, vice president and CFO for Suzuki Auto South Africa, said this move marks a significant chapter in the company’s journey.
“Our new headquarters will allow for further improvements in our current operations and support the growth we foresee in the coming years. We are proud to partner with Fortress, whose team has demonstrated deep insight and commitment to our needs,” Van der Lith said.
The Suzuki facility is being developed concurrently with the second speculative building within the park. The second spec building of approximately 19,000m² can be split into two units, offering prospective tenants flexibility.
The speculative building is being developed on the last remaining stand within the park, and completion is expected by October 2026.
Longlake Logistics Park will also have a further offering, namely spec building 1, which is available from October 2025 when Liquor Runners exits to transition into its new state of the art facility at Eastport Logistics Park, developed by Fortress.
Steven Brown, CEO of Fortress Real Estate Investments Limited, says that investor confidence in Fortress is increasing, thanks to strong results and a clear strategy focused on high-growth logistics and defensive retail.
Over the past year, they said it delivered a 37% total return with the company still trading at a 25% discount to its intrinsic value, making it a standout in the listed real estate sector.
Fortress holds a 16.3% interest valued at c.R16 billion in NEPI Rockcastle, the largest listed real estate company on the JSE, and has logistics assets in CEE.
Mahir Hamdulay, Equity Research Analyst at Absa CIB said South Africa’s commercial property market delivered another robust performance in 2024, posting a third consecutive year of capital growth and its best total returns since 2015.
According to the MSCI South Africa Property Index, sponsored by Absa, the sector achieved a total return of 11.9% for the 12 months ending December 2024-the highest total return across the 24 countries in their global index.
“The sustained recovery of commercial property in South Africa reflects strengthening property fundamentals, and fewer local headwinds from political uncertainty following the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), the easing of loadshedding, and the onset of a local interest rate cutting cycle,” Hamdulay said.
He said the industrial outlook remains resilient, with the supply of available space constrained by tight vacancies and elevated construction costs, while demand is underpinned by geopolitical factors driving increased inventory requirements.
However, Hamdulay said outperformance will be significantly influenced by key macroeconomic factors, including South Africa’s economic growth trajectory, political stability, interest rate environment, and global trade dynamics.
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