Durban - It seems that Cape Town is the place to be, with people from across the country moving to the scenic city that is known for its sandy beaches and majestic landscapes.
According to Statistics South Africa, many of these people are KwaZulu-Natal locals, who relocated for family, employment or just in pursuit of a better life.
Kevin Parry, of Statistics SA, said: “During our latest community survey, the number of Indian or Asians, who moved away from KZN was 93 499.
“About 7 074 of these individuals moved to Cape Town, making it the second-most preferred city in South Africa, with Johannesburg taking first prize.”
Cape Town is home to iconic landmarks, including Table Mountain, Robben Island, District Six Museum and the Green Point Urban Park.
These landmarks and the lifestyle have captivated the hearts of not only locals, but people from across the globe.
Last year, Cape Town was voted the best city in the world by the UK Telegraph and the best food city in the world by Conde Nast.
It is also renowned for its exquisite selection of fine wines, with the Cape winelands producing dozens of internationally-acclaimed and award-winning wines.
Steenberg Vineyards, De Grendel Wine Estate and Hout Bay Vineyards are arguably the best in the country.
Jyothi Naidoo, a senior media liaison officer at the Communication Department of the City of Cape Town, said the city was world-class in every way.
This was one of the main reasons, she said, that people preferred living there.
“Cape Point topped the charts in 2016 as the most popular place to visit, with 24.5 million visitors. Locals and tourists can also enjoy, at no cost, the city’s own nature reserves at False Bay, Helderberg, Durbanville, Rondevlei and Blaauwberg, to mention a few. In addition, the city has 10 blue flag beaches, as well as museums that showcase the rich cultural history.”
She said the popular Iziko museums, Castle of Good Hope, the Planetarium and the iconic Table Mountain are major attractions and they hoped to partner with other major cities to bring in more people.
While the cost of living is noticeably higher, the average household income is on par.
ExpatCape Town.com showed that people don’t really mind the cost of living with other factors playing a more important role in relocation decisions.
The friendly people, mild temperatures, outdoor lifestyle, prestigious private schools, entertainment variety, first-class healthcare, great shopping facilities and exquisite eateries are some of the drawcards.
The top three fine dining restaurants in Cape Town, according to SA’s recognised chefs, were Chefs Warehouse, Canteen Greenhouse and La Colombe.
This, while pickled fish, the gatsby (a footlong sandwich) and fresh fish and chips were known as traditional favourites of the province.
Surfing is also a huge pastime for locals, with an abundance of surf spots along its coast - despite its icy Cape Peninsula water temperatures. Muizenberg, Long Beach, Scarborough Beach and Big Bay boast some of the best swells for local wave riders.
Due to raving reviews from locals and tourists, Cape Town has become a hub for international and local investment. “Many African cities are enjoying growth in a number of sectors and are eager to expand their offering to the rest of the world.
“Cape Town has long been a strategic meeting point between east and west, and is therefore ideal for new markets.”
The latest State of the Central City Report by the Central City Improvement District revealed that investor confidence had grown over the past five years and Cape Town was the second biggest contributor to the national GDP.
“About R16 232 billion of investment has been pumped into Cape Town since 2012 and just under R4 486 billion in property investment was completed.”
Naidoo said infrastructure, fast internet, energy security and clean governance are some of the things investors looked for when buying into the city.