Cape Town CBD surges ahead as confidence hits new high

• CCID reports record business confidence as Cape Town CBD outperforms a weak national economy.
• Retail, co-working, legal, medical and financial sectors drive sustained inner-city growth.
• Safety, cleanliness and strong management underpin the CBD’s thriving day- and night-time economy.

Cape Town’s Winning Formula: Confidence, growth and a well-run CBD

Cape Town’s CBD is delivering a rare South African success story. While the national economy limps along, the Central City keeps pulling ahead, thanks to a potent combination of strong management, sustained private-sector reinvestment, and the CCID’s disciplined on-the-ground work.

The latest Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID) Business Confidence Index shows a remarkable 96% of retailers satisfied with trading conditions, the highest level recorded since the survey began. This sentiment is backed by the CCID’s State of Cape Town Central City Report 2024, which confirms the CBD’s position as the Western Cape’s economic engine.

The numbers are telling: Cape Town contributes 72% of the province’s GDP, and within the CCID’s 1.6 km² footprint alone, 3 290 businesses operate — with 11 of the 17 tracked sectors expanding in 2024.

Growing sectors powering the CBD

‍The CBD’s growth is broad-based, but several sectors stand out:
Retail

Retail is the heartbeat of the Central City. The sector has grown for three consecutive years to a record 1 323 retail entities, with 45 new venues opening in 2024. Owner-led restaurants, coffee shops, and niche fashion stores continue to transform the urban fabric, drawing locals and tourists into a vibrant, walkable district.

Professional Services

‍The legal and medical sectors, long-time anchors of the CBD - expanded further in 2024 as firms continued consolidating operations into well-managed, centralised locations.

Financial Services

‍The financial sector strengthened its presence, supporting the CBD’s status as a strategic decision-making hub for major corporates.

Co-working & hybrid work economy

‍Co-working surged with five new spaces added in 2024/25, bringing the total to 22 shared office hubs. These spaces now attract entrepreneurs, freelancers, remote workers, and international digital nomads capitalising on South Africa’s remote-working visas. Mixed-use developments are increasingly incorporating co-working into their design, signalling even stronger future growth.

A safe, stable and well-managed CBD

The CCID’s real competitive edge remains its consistent delivery on the basics: safety, cleaning, maintenance, and social outreach.

With dedicated public safety officers, visible policing partnerships, clean streets, and responsive urban management, the CBD has solidified its reputation as one of the safest and best-run inner cities in South Africa. This foundation gives businesses the confidence to invest, expand, and innovate.

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As CCID CEO Tasso Evangelinos puts it:
“The CBD is a safe, attractive and vibrant environment where people come to live, work, shop and play. It offers fertile ground for innovation and opportunity, allowing businesses to grow from strength to strength.”

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Cape Town’s CBD isn’t surviving, it’s accelerating. With confidence at record highs, sector growth broad-based, and urban management unmatched, the Central City is proving exactly what can be achieved when public and private partners stay focused on delivery and long-term value creation.

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