Only 177-year-old town of its kind in South Africa voted among the best places to live in

·18 May 2026

Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape has been voted as one of South Africa’s best small towns to live in. The town has also been the only South African stop on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT).

Jeffreys Bay or Jeffreysbaai (nicknamed J-bay) is part of the Kouga municipality and is famous amongst surfers as a surf capital due to the right-hand point break at Supertubes Beach.

The town is situated just off the N2 Highway, about 75 kilometres southwest of Port Elizabeth.

Jeffreys Bay is named after and established by J.A. Jeffrey, a senior partner of the firm Jeffrey & Glendinnings, who opened a store in 1849 on the location where the town is today.

At the end of 2025, the Daily Maverick crowned J-bay one of its Small Towns of the Year after it achieved an impressive score of 90.3%.

This score is only 3.7% and 2.7% behind the first and second top-ranked towns on the list, which are Barrydale and White River, respectively.

The title and ranking of the best small towns followed a months-long selection process that began with readers nominating their favourite towns across the country.

A total of 2,069 nominations were submitted to nine writers—one representing each province—who researched the towns and narrowed them down to a final provincial winner.

Towns were evaluated across seven categories. These included cleanliness, municipal performance, community spirit, safety, natural environment, family friendliness and connectivity.

However, the publication stressed that a defining element, the “M-Factor”—the intangible energy that shapes a town’s character—played a decisive role.

The final stage required writers to visit each shortlisted town personally and compare their experiences before agreeing on the national winner.

Jeffreys Bay is known as South Africa’s surfing mecca, and surfers come from all over the world to ride its waves.

The town’s most famous surf spot is Supertubes, ranked among the top 10 surfing waves in the world.

For years, Jeffreys Bay was the only South African stop on the WSL Championship Tour. Unfortunately, it is not part of the 2026 Championship Tour schedule.

The WSL removed Jeffreys Bay from the 2026 circuit due to a lack of secured financial backing from the national government.

While it is off the top-tier circuit for now, South African surfing bodies are currently negotiating with the WSL to have J-Bay reinstated for future seasons.

One of the Eastern Cape’s semigration hotspots

Jeffreys Bay has had extensive growth over the past few years and is one of the fastest-expanding urban areas in the country.

According to Seeff Property Group chairman Samuel Seeff, the trend is being driven by a “flight to quality” as buyers prioritise lifestyle and long-term property value.

Seef noted that one standout destination is Jeffreys Bay, which has become increasingly popular with semigrants and retirees looking to escape city life while still enjoying access to essential amenities.

Seeff said the Eastern Cape offers some of the best weather with plenty of sunshine for healthy living, with top-class beaches, many of which have Blue Flag status.

He added that good schools and tertiary institutions, including Nelson Mandela University, mean residents will want for very little.

Smaller coastal towns such as Jeffreys Bay are benefiting from their close proximity to Gqeberha, while offering a quieter lifestyle and access to beaches and water-based activities.

Seeff licensee Desiree Ferreira said sustained inward migration and population growth have encouraged the development of new restaurants, shops and medical facilities in the area.

According to Seeff licensee Michelle Harris, Jeffreys Bay is particularly attractive for buyers who don’t want to live in a city, with the coastal lifestyle remaining a major drawcard.

The local property market has also remained active. Transactions in the area increased year-on-year in 2025, with strong demand in the R1.5 million to R2.5 million range.

Luxury homes, however, continue to command far higher prices, with top-end sales reaching R8.51 million in Marina Martinique and R11.58 million in Wavecrest.