These small South African towns are absolutely booming

 ·4 Nov 2023

Despite high interest rates and a weak economy, several towns in South Africa are seeing far higher sales volumes than even pre-2019.

According to Lightstone, the Western Cape has grown its share of residential sales since pre-2019, while Gauteng has been the biggest loser.

Across the country, smaller towns are benefiting rather than large metros, Lightstone said.

The most active municipalities in the Western Cape are Overstrand, Stellenbosch and Hessequa, followed by Knysna, Prince Albert, Saldanha Bay, Kannaland, Swellendam, Bergrivier and Cape Agulhas, with Cape Town seeing its share of activity rise from 15% to 17%.

Although the City of Johannesburg dropped from 16% to 15%, the smaller municipalities experienced the most significant falls.

KwaZulu-Natal’s share fell from 12% to 11%, with eThekweni and Msunduzi the biggest losers, whilst Umngeni, KwaDukuza and south coast municipalities picked up in comparable activity.

The Eastern Cape saw a slight increase, with smaller towns, including Jeffreys Bay, St Francis, Port Alfred, Kenton-on-Sea and Mthatha, showing positive results, whilst Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City saw declines.

Across the country, there was a relative increase in sales activity in 170 towns, with 77 (45) in the Western Cape, 22 (13%) in KwaZulu-Natal and 20 (12%) in the Eastern Cape. Gauteng was last, with just 3 (2%) areas seeing a relative increase in activity.

In all, there was a relative increase in sales activity in 170 towns across the country, with 77 (45%) in the Western Cape, 22 (13%) in KwaZulu-Natal and 20 (12%) in the Eastern Cape. Gauteng was last in the provincial table, with just 3 (2%) of towns showing a relative increase in activity.

“The most increased town activity (as opposed to municipality) has been around Stellenbosch, and then along the West Coast (Langebaan, Yzerfontein and St Helena Bay), inland around Darling, Riebeeck Kasteel and Barrydale, in Cape Town (Scarborough, Hout Bay, Noordhoek) and then heading east along the south coast, in towns such as Gansbaai, Stillbaai, Mossel Bay and Knysna,” Lightstone said.,

In the Eastern Cape, coastal towns saw the highest sales activity, with Jeffreys Bay, Kenton-on-Sea, Port Alfred, St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Cintsa all seeing growth.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Ballito, various coastal towns, Howick and smaller towns in the Midlands saw growth.

“Parys made the cut in Free State, Dullstroom and Hazyview in Mpumalanga, and Cullinan in Gauteng,” Lightstone said.

Below are several properties from South African towns that are seeing strong growth:


  • 8 Bedroom House in Mostertsdrift, Stellenbosch
  • Price: R20,000,000

  • 5 Bedroom House in Canals, St Francis Bay
  • Price: R14,500,000

  • 5 Bedroom House in Ballito Central
  • Price: R5,995,000

  • 8 Bedroom House in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga
  • Price: R4,950,000

  • 2 Bedroom House in Cullinan Golf Estate
  • Price: R1,195,000

Read: New residential investment hotspots in South Africa

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