Tech tackles urban decay
BY CityLIfe Arts Writer
Tech philanthropists David and Tracey Frankel have donated a 10-storey skyscraper to the Maharishi Invincibility Institute (MII), a move signalling a calculated attempt by the private sector to arrest the decline of the Johannesburg central business district through a specialised “Education Town” precinct.
The 10,065 m² facility at 56 Main Street, Marshalltown, serves as the anchor for the newly launched Maharishi NextUp Institute of Technology (MNIT). The initiative is a core component of a broader urban renewal strategy designed to stabilise sections of the CBD by converting derelict or under-utilised spaces into a secure hub for vocational training and high-end digital education.
“This is more than a building; it is a promise to our youth that they will not be left behind by the AI revolution,” said Dr Taddy Blecher, CEO of MII.
“For 20 years, we have proven that if you unlock the genius in a young person, they can compete at the highest levels. David and Tracey’s incredible generosity has provided the MNIT with the most exciting home inside Education Town.”
The MNIT model operates on a demand-driven curriculum where corporate partners co-design coursework to address specific “scarce skills” in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering. The facility also houses specialised academies for the banking and insurance sectors, developed in collaboration with industry leaders to facilitate direct job placement for graduates.
The donors, David and Tracey Frankel, are prominent figures in the international tech and medical sectors. David Frankel, a co-founder of the US-based venture capital firm Founder Collective and an early investor in Uber, joined with Tracey Frankel, a neurologist trained at Baragwanath Hospital, to provide the permanent infrastructure.
“We believe in a future where Johannesburg becomes one of the pre-eminent tech capitals on the continent,” the Frankels said.
“By providing this permanent infrastructure and nurturing the set of cutting-edge programmes coming in here, we are confident we will see youth trained as future tech leaders who will drive forward South Africa’s digital economy.”
The project is a lead element of Jozi My Jozi, a coalition including Anglo American, Standard Bank, ABSA, and Wits University. The partnership aims to restore economic functionality to the inner city through localised infrastructure and security upgrades that operate independently of broader municipal challenges.
To date, the initiative has funded the installation of solar-driven street lighting around the campus and the construction of the “Field of Dreams,” the first full-size football pitch in the CBD in a century. It also supports a Security Mastery Academy, which provides accredited training to young adults who provide oversight and security for the immediate precinct.
MII, established in 2007, reports having placed over 22,000 graduates into the formal economy. The institute expects the 56 Main Street facility to reach its full operating capacity of 3,000 daily students within five years, serving as a potential blueprint for private-sector-led urban regeneration.