For years, the Western Cape has been the go-to destination for South Africans seeking lifestyle upgrades—the sun, the beaches, the relaxed pace of life made it the poster child of “semigration.”
But recent trends suggest the balance might be shifting.
While coastal living still has its appeal, a different factor is drawing people inland, and it’s not the scenery: it’s jobs.
Job Growth Pulling People Back
The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey from Stats SA shows Gauteng leading the country in job creation, adding 95 000 positions in the most recent quarter.
That’s a stark contrast to the Western Cape, which, despite having the lowest official unemployment rate of 21.1%, actually lost 117 000 jobs—more than any other province.
According to Keke Khojane, Head of Office at Galetti Corporate Real Estate, these employment opportunities are the main reason people are heading back to Gauteng.
Offices Are Reopening
Return-to-office mandates and hybrid working models are breathing new life into Gauteng’s commercial and office property markets. Big
employers like Vodacom, Nedbank, and Arena Holdings have dropped remote-first policies, requiring staff to work from the office five days a week.
This push is steadily reducing remote work options, encouraging more professionals to move back to Gauteng—the province that still hosts most of South Africa’s corporate headquarters.
