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9. Moving to South Africa

South Africa at a Glance

Moving to South Africa

Pretoria is among the top destinations for expats in South Africa.

Moving to South Africa: Geography and Regions

The Republic of South Africa, located at the southern tip of the Black Continent, is divided into nine provinces extending over a total area of more than 1.2 million km². The nine provinces, namely Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, are highly diverse, so expats moving to South Africa will have to choose wisely where they want to relocate to.

Not only do the provinces differ in size and climatic characteristics, but also in terms of population and economic strength. Gauteng, the smallest of the provinces, is home to more than a quarter of the population and contributes a very respectable chunk of the nation’s GDP. Little wonder, as the province is home to the Pretoria-Johannesburg metro area, which is also one of the main magnets for expats moving to South Africa.

Move to South Africa: Climate

With the country being surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to the east, south, and west, expatriates moving to South Africa will enjoy a temperate climate in many regions of the country. Especially around the Cape and the western parts of the country in general, expats moving to South Africa might think they’ve relocated straight to the Mediterranean. If your move to South Africa takes you to the eastern part of the country, your experience will probably be a closer match to your mental image of sub-Saharan Africa.

Moving to South Africa: Expat Hotspots

Obviously, most expats moving to South Africa do so for economic or career reasons. As the nation’s economy is heavily localized, mainly in the areas in and around Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, and the Pretoria/Johannesburg metro area, the majority of expats moving to South Africa opt for one of those cities. If moving to South Africa sounds like a feasible career step to you, get further info on the national economy in our article on working in South Africa.

Move to South Africa: Accommodation

As anywhere in the world, prices for rental apartments and houses vary, depending on the city or region your move to South Africa takes you to. In general, most expats will probably be able to afford renting a middle- or upper-scale place in one of the many gated communities found throughout the nation. These communities are the preferred option of many well-to-do expats moving to South Africa, as they come with many added amenities such as a security service, shopping opportunities, and park areas.

Those are, however, not the only reasons for the popularity of gated communities, often called “estates”, among expats moving to South Africa: Many locals and foreigners moving to South Africa see the estates as a way of escaping, or at least avoiding, the high crime rate that unfortunately plagues many parts of the country. For more on crime and safety, please see our article on living in South Africa.

Of course, moving into a gated estate is not for everyone, and it is not the only option. But make sure you get a good idea of a neighborhood, preferably both during the day and at night, before making any decisions. As in any large city, there are certain parts of the big expat hotspots that should be out of bounds, or “no-go-areas”, for expats. However, as in the case of the Cape Town city center, there are also some very safe neighborhoods. If you stay vigilant and behave as you would in other cities of comparable size, there should not be much to worry about in such areas.

Moving to South Africa: Real Estate Agents

It is generally advisable not to try shopping around for apartments yourself. Hire an experienced, reputable real estate agent. Oftentimes, their services also include handling matters that make moving to South Africa less laborious; for example, arranging electricity and water connections. The Global Property Guide has a short list of respected realtors that might be a useful stepping stone for your upcoming move to South Africa. Another website you might want to visit is Only Rentals, an agency with franchises all over the country. Alternatively, ask your employer whether they know any reputable agents.