Gauteng Property Information

Better known for its fast-paced buzz of activity, business opportunities, mineral treasures and cosmopolitan population, Gauteng is not called the ‘City of Gold’ without cause. Because this is South Africa’s smallest yet richest province, bringing in over 40% of South Africa’s wealth, Gauteng property remains popular and more affordable than Cape Town as it is priced more to suit the South African property market than the international one.

Gauteng is the hub of the country’s industrial, commercial, administrative and financial dealings and boasts the trendiest, most glam shopping malls and hangouts in Johannesburg, plus the South African government headquarters in Pretoria.

While urban Gauteng may not have the natural beauty offered by the Western Cape and other parts of South Africa, it is not without its unique attractions. It has over 60 museums exhibiting the country’s art, its military and mineral history, exemplary botanical gardens and bird sanctuaries, the Cradle of Humankind and well kept zoos. Vibrant Johannesburg is also the pulse of South Africa’s local shows and nightlife.

Central Johannesburg

High-rise apartments are the offerings in this area, generally occupied by business executives.

Eastern Suburbs

Forming a buffer zone between the overflowing inner-city ghetto’s of Hillbrow and Berea and the comfortable middle-class residences of Observatory and Bruma is Yeoville.

Northern Suburbs

Melville is a thriving residential area for younger families seeking family homes - the most pleasant, popular and trendy of the northern suburbs. Parktown, Rosebank, Hyde Park and Dunkeld West are the more affluent suburbs, offering sound investments and relatively safe areas. Rosebank is the most prosperous of these suburbs, and is increasingly being inhabited by Jo’burg’s nouveau-riche.

Southern & Western Suburbs

West of the city are working-class residential areas, and south of these is mine country. The township of Soweto also falls under this region, which is a mostly industrial and mining area.

Midrand

Halfway between the Witwatersrand and Pretoria, Midrand (previously Halfway House) is the economic center of the Gauteng province, close to major highway links, making it an attractive relocation option for many businesses. Growth trends predict that by 2015 most of the Gauteng province will be city, as there is already little distance between the borders of Midrand and those of Johannesburg and Pretoria. This will make Midrand a very popular place for up-and-coming business executives looking for bachelor flats and to avoid commuting.

Pretoria

Purple Jacaranda-peppered Pretoria/Tshwane is the capital of South Africa, housing the Union Buildings. This peaceful city has a rich history, such as the Cullinan Diamond Mine where the largest diamond in the world was found. More peaceful than its southern counterpart, Johannesburg, this city is ideal for raising children, with more than 100 parks to choose from and a Premier Game Reserve that enhances its serene environment.

Represented by every nationality, Gauteng is a kaleidoscope of culture and has the highest population count in South Africa, while only taking up 1.5% of the country’s land space. From motor sports and hot-air ballooning to local shebeen experiences to ultramodern sybaritic living, investing in Gauteng property is an attractive option for a cosmopolitan province.