Gauteng commercial property remains attractive

Reverse semigration fuels uptick in demand for premium office space

- KEKE KHOJANE

AN EMERGING 'reverse semigration' trend is beginning to reshape Gauteng's commercial property landscape, as jobseekers and professionals increasingly return to South Africa's economic heart in pursuit of opportunity.

While the Western Cape continues to attract residents with its lifestyle offering, new data points to this growing inland movement that's reigniting demand for well-positioned rental office space across Johannesburg and Pretoria.

According to the Wise Move Migration Report 2025, nearly a quarter of Western Cape movers are returning to Gauteng or trying their luck in Gqeberha. Despite a net outflow in 2024, Gauteng still leads in internal migration, accounting for over 60% of all intra-provincial moves.

Employment remains the key driver, with 22.9% of respondents citing job opportunities as their primary reason for relocating to the province. Family connections follow at 15.5%, signalling a broader re-engagement with Gauteng's core urban centres.

The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey from Stats SA further reinforces this sentiment, highlighting a net employment gain of 9 000 jobs in Gauteng. This is in sharp contrast to substantial losses in KwaZulu-Natal (down 104 000), the Eastern Cape (down 83 000), and the North West (down 57 000).

These stats speak to Gauteng's continued status as South Africa's employment engine. Job creation remains concentrated in Johannesburg and Pretoria, which translates into renewed demand for quality, strategically located commercial office space.

Office market enters recovery phase

The latest data from the Rode Report Q1 2025 reaffirms South Africa's office market's modest yet steady recovery. Vacancy rates have begun to decline from 2024's highs, with weighted gross market rentals for decentralised grade-A office space climbing 4.8% year-on-year.