Gauteng hasn't lost its allure as South Africans begin to trickle back

Cheaper housing and stronger job prospects in especially Johannesburg are reversing the 'semigration' trend of moving to Cape Town.

- Lisakanya Venna

The Wise Move 2025 Migration Report shows that 70% of South Africans prefer to move within their own provinces, and Gauteng is leading internal relocations. Most movers choose homes similar in size, though upsizing is quietly on the rise.

Although the Western Cape continues to shine as a migration magnet, Gauteng is quietly staging a property market comeback. Where just three years ago masses of Gautengers were relocating to the Western Cape, at least 25% are now making the trek back north. December and school holidays remain the peak moving season.

Wise Move's report, based on more than 15,000 moves in 2024, reveals that more than half of cross-country relocations are young professionals and those with growing families (aged 25 to 44), with women making up 57% of the demographic.

What's driving all this packing and unpacking? Chasing paid work (22.9%) tops the list, followed by the desire to be closer to family or a spouse (15.5%). Crime, divorce and political instability barely register, cited by less than 1% of movers, challenging some of South Africa’s most persistent assumptions. In short, South Africans aren’t running away — they're seeking better jobs, stronger family ties and new beginnings.

“Behind every relocation lies a wider economic ripple that reaches far beyond the four walls of a new house,” said Chante Venter, Wise Move’s co-founder and CEO.

She explained that each new resident influences property markets, local businesses and infrastructure development. These moves offer a window into where jobs are emerging and how neighbourhoods adapt.