Johannesburg isn’t trying to be Cape Town - it’s awakening, smart money moving in early

• Johannesburg surges back as G20 puts global attention on Africa’s economic epicentre.
• Developers unlock high-end projects as demand rebounds near major business nodes.
• Renewed confidence fuels buyer activity despite Cape Town’s continued outperformance.

Market confidence returning

For years, Johannesburg has trailed Cape Town’s relentless momentum. The Mother City has dominated sentiment, investment flows and development pipelines, while Joburg wrestled with confidence headwinds, municipal instability and capital flight.

But 2025 is the mark of a turning point.

The G20 spotlight has thrust Johannesburg back onto the global stage. Thousands of executives, diplomats, investors and media have poured into the city, rediscovering the scale of its economy, its unmatched corporate infrastructure, and its position as Africa’s premier business gateway. International visibility has a profound impact on long-term investment psychology — and we're seeing it unfold in real time.

Rory O’Hagan, principal of the Chas Everitt International operations covering Sandton, Waterfall and Bedfordview, says that developers are responding to the demand. Developers who closed the taps during the slowdown are building again. Buyers who sat on the sidelines are acting decisively a the appetite for modern, secure, lifestyle-driven living is surging.

StatsSA numbers tell the story: 2,900 new units completed since January and a further 2,300 approved, clear signs of early-cycle acceleration. While Cape Town still leads the pack by a wide margin, Johannesburg’s renewed momentum is no longer theoretical; it’s visible in cranes, construction activity and rapid-fire sales in premium nodes.

Driving this renewed confidence is

• Executives back at the office and prioritising proximity to Sandton, Rosebank, Melrose and Bryanston.
• Returning expats and foreign investors choosing Joburg’s opportunity-rich environment.
• “Empty nesters” trading large homes for luxury apartments with security, amenities and reduced overheads.
• Tourism-driven visibility as G20 delegates experience Joburg’s lifestyle, hospitality and business potential firsthand.

Johannesburg isn’t trying to be Cape Town, but it is finally recalibrating, rebuilding confidence, and reclaiming its position as the country’s economic heartbeat.

Summation

Johannesburg’s development pipeline is nowhere near Cape Town’s scale yet and that’s exactly why savvy investors are stepping in now. Limited new stock, rising demand, and renewed global visibility mean upward price pressure ahead, not oversupply.

The G20 has given the City of Gold something it has desperately needed: confidence, credibility and international attention. Construction is rising, sales are accelerating, and early movers are locking in prime assets before the next wave of growth unfolds.

Johannesburg may have lagged Cape Town for years, but the narrative is shifting fast. The city is not just catching up; it’s awakening. And the smart money has already started positioning itself for the next cycle.

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