How much it costs to live in the best-run municipality in South Africa

The West Coast municipality is the best-run in the country, and the average price to buy a home in the area is approximately R1.4 million. However, this can change depending on which town you choose. 

The office of the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) has published its annual review of local municipalities, covering audit results for the 2023/24 financial year, revealing the West Coast as the best-run in the country.

The review reflected an overall decline in the financial health of South Africa’s municipalities, with the vast majority not receiving a clean audit.

Of the 257 municipalities, only 41 managed to get a clean audit for the period in review, with Cape Town standing alone among the major metros.

A clean audit requires municipalities to provide financial statements that are free from material misstatements (in other words, a financially unqualified audit opinion), and there are no material findings on reporting on performance objectives or non-compliance with legislation.

According to AGSA, municipalities that consistently achieve clean audits over the years tend to exhibit strong financial and performance management practices.

These entities also operate in compliance with relevant legislation, ensuring accountability and transparency in their functions.

These municipalities show what can be in South Africa and serve as a shining example to others.

The AGSA lists 25 municipalities in the country that have achieved consecutive clean audits. Most of these municipalities are in the Western Cape, which accounts for 17, more than all the other provinces combined (8).

The North-West, Limpopo, and Free State have no ranked municipalities. The best-run municipality in the country is the West Coast District Municipality, which has achieved a clean audit for 14 years in a row.

“Clean audits provide residents, oversight bodies, and other stakeholders with a credible account of a municipality’s performance, where the gaps lie, and what can be done to address them,” the AGSA said.

How much it costs to buy a house in West Coast DM

The West Coast District Municipality (WCDM) has become an increasingly desirable region for property buyers, offering a peaceful alternative to major cities like Cape Town. 

The West Coast stretches from the northern edge of the Cape Town Metropole to the border of the Northern Cape.

According to the latest Census, the WCDM spans over 31,000 square kilometres and is home to just under half a million people.

“The small towns of the West Coast have become increasingly popular since the Covid-19 pandemic,” Pierre Germishuys, a licensee for Seeff West Coast, told BusinessTech.  

“Where they were mostly seen as holiday villages, an increasing number of people are now moving there permanently and investing in second or holiday homes.”

Germishuys noted that between 2021 and 2023, the West Coast experienced a property boom, with Langebaan standing out as a consistent top performer. 

Although rising interest rates and a weaker economy have slowed sales volumes since then, demand remains steady. 

“We’re definitely seeing more people moving to West Coast towns as part of a desire to get away from the busy cities,” Germishuys explained.

Buyers in the area tend to be older, with first-time homebuyers making up only about 17% to 20% of transactions. 

“Most of our permanent residents and existing homeowners are over 50,” Germishuys said. In some smaller towns, this age group accounts for over 80% of property ownership.

There’s also some international interest, primarily from European buyers, especially in towns like Yzerfontein and Langebaan, though this remains a small segment of the market.

“Due to the high demand and boom in sales volumes, there was notable price growth over the five-year period from 2019 to 2024,” added Germishuys. 

“The average property price in the broader West Coast and Swartland area rose from around R836,000 to R1.4 million—an increase of about 67%.”

Popular towns include Yzerfontein, Paternoster, Langebaan, Saldanha Bay, Saint Helena Bay, and inland centres like Malmesbury.

West Coast towns