15 cities South Africans are dumping – including Durban, Pretoria, and even Sandton

A growing trend has emerged in South Africa’s real estate market, as homeowners, particularly those in Gauteng towns, are increasingly choosing to relocate to other provinces.

According to a 2024 report by Lightstone Property, one in four homeowners who sell their current homes and purchase new ones are opting to move to a different province.

This marks a significant rise from 2019 when only 16% of homeowners were making interprovincial moves.

In 2024, this figure reached 27%, signalling a shift in migration patterns within the country.

The data highlights that this movement is particularly prevalent among repeat buyers—homeowners who sell their existing homes and purchase new properties.

First-time buyers, homes owned by multiple individuals, and those selling without purchasing again were excluded from the analysis.

Despite this, the report reveals that around 50,000 homeowners have been active participants in this sell-to-buy market in recent years.

Gauteng and the Western Cape have emerged as the two dominant regions involved in these transactions.

Gauteng alone accounts for 48% of the sell-to-buy market, while the Western Cape holds a 23% share.

Together, these two provinces make up more than 70% of the market segment, leaving the other seven provinces to divide the remaining share.

One of the report’s most striking findings is the noticeable contrast between the Western Cape and Gauteng when it comes to homeowner retention.

The Western Cape has managed to maintain a relatively stable proportion of homeowners staying within the province, dipping only slightly from 89% to 87%.

In contrast, Gauteng has experienced a substantial 10% drop in repeat buyers choosing to remain in the province.

This decline reflects a broader trend of dissatisfaction among Gauteng residents, many of whom are looking for better living conditions elsewhere.

The reasons behind this migration away from Gauteng are multifaceted.

Many people cite crime, overpopulation, and deteriorating service delivery as significant factors pushing them to seek greener pastures.

In contrast, provinces like the Western Cape offer better safety, more stable local governance, and a higher quality of life.

The Western Cape, particularly Cape Town, has long been known for its scenic beauty, robust public services, and investment in infrastructure.

These attributes make it a prime destination for those leaving Gauteng in search of a better lifestyle.

The data also reveals that 12 towns in Gauteng have experienced the highest number of residents leaving.

Pretoria tops the list, with more than 800 homeowners relocating to other provinces.

Johannesburg and Roodepoort follow closely, with 669 and 478 homeowners, respectively, making the move.

Sandton and Centurion are also among the top five, each losing over 400 residents.

This exodus from major urban centres within Gauteng underscores the growing desire for people to escape the congestion and challenges that come with living in densely populated areas.

Notably, the Western Cape is the primary beneficiary of this migration, with 3,500 homeowners from Gauteng making the move to the province.

Other provinces like KwaZulu-Natal are also seeing some of their residents relocate, though on a smaller scale.

Around 870 homeowners from KwaZulu-Natal have made the journey to the Western Cape.

In contrast, the flow of homeowners moving into Gauteng from other provinces is far smaller, with only 1,600 individuals relocating from the remaining six provinces combined.

This imbalance further solidifies the narrative that Gauteng is losing its appeal as a place to live while the Western Cape, despite its own challenges, continues to attract those in search of a higher quality of life.

The data paints a clear picture: Gauteng is seeing a marked decline in residents, many of whom are choosing to relocate to other provinces, with the Western Cape being the most popular destination.

The shift is indicative of deeper issues at play in Gauteng and a growing preference for the perceived stability and quality of life offered by other regions in South Africa.

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