Property

Properties in a popular coastal area in South Africa get a major boost

Kirsten Minnaar • 22 March 2026

Upgrades to Durban’s port and strong logistics demand are boosting property activity on the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Coast, where rare industrial sites and improving infrastructure are supporting high-value property transactions.

Seeff South Coast licensee Michelle Harris explained that the region’s property sector has experienced a major boost, including industrial warehousing and logistics properties.

This has been driven by significant multi-year upgrades and modernisation of the Durban Port, along with other upgrades such as the N2 and general development.

The Durban Port is a significant economic gateway, connecting regional and local economies to international shipping routes and boosting the small towns of the KZN South Coast.

It supports trade in sectors such as automotive, manufacturing, and agriculture. A key beneficiary of the Port is the Durban South Basin (DSB).

The DSB includes areas such as Prospecton, Mobeni, and Jacobs in Amanzimtoti. These areas are in high demand, close to the N2 and about 15-minutes from the port.

Seeff Amanzimtoti property agent Camilla White said it is also an important and thriving industrial warehousing and logistics hub for the port.

In particular, it is well known for its major Toyota manufacturing plant, which produces several models, including the Hilux and Corolla Cross.

According to a recent report by economist John Loos, the industrial warehousing and logistics sector is doing particularly well, leading the three commercial property categories.

Industrial property boasts the shortest market turnaround, fuelled primarily by e-commerce growth and supply chain needs.

Consequently, White said, industrial vacancies in Durban’s core logistics nodes are now at a historic low of around 3.8%, based on a report from Paragon Steel Structures.

This declining vacancy rate makes it clear that industrial property is a top-performing asset class in the area.

Industrial properties on sale for over R200 million

Despite the improved performance, land is scarce in Prospecton. White said there are no new large freehold sites with high-end specifications in the pipeline, despite the high demand.

“We currently only have one rare opportunity, which has just come onto the market, to acquire one of the premier logistics and industrial assets in the area,” she explained.

This large, fully serviced 41,557 m² freehold site offers a total gross lettable area (GLA) of approximately 19,256 m².

It includes warehousing and specialised storage facilities. It is a high-spec, purpose-built, turnkey industrial asset with unparalleled scale and resilience for logistics, FMCG, or automotive giants.

It is under 15 minutes from Durban’s Pier 2 and features a 12.5 m clear height, providing 40% more storage than regional norms. It also boasts a rare, on-site SOLAS-accredited 40-ton scale to bypass port congestion.

White explained that the property is designed for high-velocity operations with 53 access doors, and a massive 1.5:1 yard-to-GLA ratio for seamless container staging.

It also boasts dual solar/generator power and a specialised 1,117 m² hazardous goods store.

It is available to let at just over R1.9 million per month, reflecting a prime-grade rate of R100/m² consistent with 2026 market growth.

Alternatively, it can be purchased at R225.8 million. White added that the property’s replacement value significantly exceeds its valuation.

Harris said overall, there is renewed energy and enthusiasm about the South Coast area, both from a commercial and residential property perspective.

Blue Flag beaches, good amenities and infrastructure, and initiatives such as “Tidy Towns” have been a major boost.

The area is rapidly evolving from a traditional tourism and retirement stronghold into one that attracts more families and semigration buyers, she said.

The planned Durban Port upgrades and development projects are underway, including residential and infrastructure, and are very positive for the area.

These also include a new shopping centre and a harbour for Port Shepstone, the first of its kind since 1994, aiming to revitalise the local economy and create a hub for tourism, fisheries, and maritime logistics.

There’s also the revival of the Margate Airport, adding further to the development and growth potential of the area, she concludes.