The Great Escape: Is Lack Of Governance Driving People Out Of South African Cities?

South Africa’s major cities have long sold a familiar ideal; the hum of opportunity, the promise of progress, and the convenience of being close to transportation networks, corporate headquarters, and the buzz of city life.

But in recent years, a quieter counter-narrative has taken root:

People are leaving many of South Africa’s major cities in search of an answer to the question, “What if life is better elsewhere?”

• Click here to learn more about Cape Removals, one of the biggest moving companies in Cape Town.

The factors pushing people out of cities are multifaceted, but the lack of municipal governance is the predominant cause of this mass departure.

South Africa’s major cities are blessed with infinite potential, however we continue to regress due to financial mismanagement and poor planning.

The result is failing infrastructure, a disturbing lack of service delivery, and a plague of safety concerns.

In this article we’ll examine (1) the extent of governance failures in South Africa’s major metropolises; (2) which towns and secondary cities are seeing meaningful inflows; (3) the long-run implications for investors, municipalities, and towns; (4) and how lifestyle factors such as remote work and affordability help shape relocation decisions.

The Role of Urban Governance

The backbone of a successful city is good governance, consistent service delivery, and public safety.

Only then can the private sector and consumer interact in ways that allow shared prosperity and a flourishing city.

Unfortunately this is not the case for the many municipalities across South Africa.

In the most recent Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) report, Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke expresses that inaction and lack of fiscal discipline is causing a continued regression of South Africa’s metropolitan municipalities.

Metropolitan Highlights from the 2023-24 MFMA Report include:

• 7 out of South Africa’s 8 metros lack compliance with legislation which ensures officials behave ethically and act in the metro’s best interest. This resulted in R33,29 billion in irregular expenditure since 2021-22.
• Most metros did not have adequate assessments for solid waste and wastewater infrastructure, 5 of which did not have valid operating licenses for water treatment works and landfill sites. The threat to public health and safety is alarming.
• The financial health of most metros is bleak. 3 metros have a questionable fiscal status, while 4’s budgets are in a dire state.
• The City of Cape Town is the only metro with a clean audit.
• The City of Tshwane and Manguang metros have concerns about their ability to continue fully operating.

While the results from this audit is not a direct reflection of these metros’ performance, the evidence around deteriorating infrastructure and wasteful expenditure paints the picture of the cities’ disrepair.

In addition, South Africa’s crime rates are steadily increasing, with 5 of major cities rated among the top 10 with the highest crime rate worldwide.

A 2023 report by the World Bank estimated that crime drains around 10% of the GDP yearly through stolen assets, the high cost of security and insurance, and the loss of economic opportunities.

The combination of misgovernance and crime in major cities is stunting economic growth.

Residents are losing confidence in long-term livability and scepticism from businesses and investors leads to limited developments and fewer job opportunities.

Economic Opportunity Beyond the Metros

Currently the only city that is growing in cultural activities and property development is Cape Town.

The local government is increasing security personnel by the 1000’s every year to keep the city safe.

There is such a big spike in demand in Cape Town City Centre, that corporate and commercial tenants are spreading out to nearby developing hotspots.

According to a local moving company in Cape Town, areas such as Kraaifontein and others in the Northern suburbs are seeing exponential growth.

Unfortunately this rate of economic advancement does not ring as true for the majority of SA’s metros.

Smaller cities and towns are proving they can deliver similar upward mobility without metropolitan stress.

A March 2025 Econ3x3 paper found that intercity migrants who moved to non-metro urban areas experienced wage increases of up to 75% comparable to the 64–75% gains recorded by movers to major metropolitan hubs.

This is more than lifestyle-driven movement; it’s an economically rational migration.

The shift is also reshaping inland regions.

A February 2025 Wits/GCRO study notes unexpected “urbanisation pockets” emerging far from the coast.

Most striking is Bushbuckridge (Mpumalanga), which moved from population decline to 3.6% annual growth, accompanied by rising construction, new malls, and housing developments.

This signals decentralised economic dynamism, not just an exodus from metros, but growth within provinces.

Remote Work and the Human Element Behind the Shift

The pandemic forced South Africans to interrogate the relationship between work, home, and wellbeing in ways we hadn’t before.

It revealed how deeply our lives had been shaped by commutes, rigid office hours, and the assumption that productivity required physical presence.

Suddenly, people were working from dining-room tables, farm cottages, coastal towns, and inland villages, and performing just as well.

The lesson lingered: Environment matters. Time matters. And once people experienced slower, more intentional living, the big-city bargain became harder to justify.

Although companies are tightening office expectations, the remote work model remains firmly in play.

CareerJunction’s Q4 2024 data shows remote-friendly roles dropping from 4.3% to 3.7% year-on-year, still far above 2019’s 0.2%.

BusinessTech calls this a pushback, but the IT sector remains the exception.

Remote IT roles grew from 2.3% of listings in 2019 to about 11.5% in 2024 and now make up roughly 57% of all remote jobs.

After a 13% slide in 2023–2024, remote postings ticked up again in 2025 to around 3.6%.

Globally, companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, Dell, Citigroup and The Washington Post have tightened office mandates.

A recent corporate study found over half of 68 firms now require regular office attendance, with 28% increasing required days in the past two years.

The takeaway for South Africa’s small towns: remote work isn’t disappearing, it’s normalising into hybrid. And for most professionals, hybrid is enough.

A once- or twice-weekly commute makes small-town living entirely viable.

This is supported by data from JHB Removals, a trusted Johannesburg moving company, who says even in Gauteng there are more removal enquiries to suburbs further away from City Center as well smaller towns like Hartbeespoort.

Reverse Semigration: A More Nuanced Picture

The Western Cape’s reputation for stronger governance helped fuel its dominance in lifestyle-driven relocation.

Cape Removals, one of the biggest moving companies in Cape Town, reports a continued distinction in the number of furniture removals from Johannesburg to the Western Cape versus the other way around.

But volume has consequences and 2025 data reflects a subtle counter-current.

Property commentary in 2025 highlights that rapid population inflow is now straining infrastructure: pressure on roads, sanitation systems, healthcare services and schools is rising.

Analysts warn that even well-managed cities are “crumbling under the weight of deteriorating infrastructure and services” as inflows outpace planning capacity.

In October 2025, consultant Chris Goosen of Meridian Realty also noted a return of some high-net-worth individuals and executives to Gauteng, driven by proximity to corporate headquarters, international travel routes, and leadership visibility.

This indicates the work-from-home revolution isn’t a universal fit: some careers still tether people to major economic centres.

This reverse semigration remains niche however, and small towns continue gaining residents who value balance over pure corporate convenience.

Where South Africans Are Going

With strong governance, functioning utilities, and fibre, small towns are emerging as viable economic and lifestyle hubs.

Econ3x3 and GCRO data confirms that regional towns are now matching and even outpacing metro-level gains in income and employment.

Biggles Removals, a top moving company, supports this data with an increased number of moves to George, St Francis Bay, Nottingham Road and Swellendam.

The appeal is diverse, but a handful of towns consistently rise to the top as relocation favourites:

Hermanus – Lifestyle amenities, strong healthcare, schools, and coastal access.

Mossel Bay – Infrastructure strength and more moderate pricing than Cape Town (Everything Property & Mossel Bay Furniture Movers).

Knysna – Lagoon living, forested estates, high growth driven by semigration.

Langebaan – R1.5–3m band strength; over R1.3bn in recent transactions; reliable services within reach of Cape Town.

Swellendam – Quiet country-town living with excellent schools and rapid sales cycles.

Ladismith – Strong value (R850k–R1.5m), scenic and uncrowded.

Ballito – Coastal convenience with urban infrastructure, popular among hybrid workers, as reported by a Durban moving company.

George – Airport access, strong healthcare and schooling, balanced lifestyle.

Together, they reflect a spectrum of budgets and lifestyles from lagoon towns and inland villages to country hubs and secondary coastal centres.

Outlook for 2026: The Small-Town Moment Continues

Indicators for 2026 point to sustained momentum.

Governance will be the defining differentiator and towns with reliable service delivery should grow sustainably; those without capacity risk cracking under the weight of new arrivals.

In addition, hybrid work is stable, lifestyle-led moves remain strong, and secondary-market pricing continues to outperform.

Coastal and inland hubs with solid infrastructure including Langebaan, Swellendam, George, St Francis Bay, Nottingham Road, Ladismith, Yzerfontein, Franschhoek, Ballito and Kenton-on-Sea, rank among the top destinations for both lifestyle movers and investors.

For investors, the opportunities fall into two clear categories:

1. Residential property in upward-trending towns with improving infrastructure.
2. Support-service investments such as fibre rollout, healthcare, education, boutique tourism, retirement living that follow relocation growth curves.

Due diligence remains essential: municipal performance, service stability, and realistic infrastructure plans will separate the truly resilient towns from the merely fashionable.

Small towns are no longer on the margins of South African life.

They are becoming active centres of economic, social, and lifestyle opportunity; evidence that the great escape from the city is less a trend, and more the beginning of a long-term rethink of how South Africans want to live.

Click here to learn more about Cape Removals, one of the biggest moving companies in Cape Town.