Luxury penthouses pop up across South Africa
Luxury penthouses have begun to emerge across South Africa, becoming highly sought after by high-end buyers.
Seeff Property Group stated that this trend has been developing over the past decade, with these properties offering some of the most spectacular views and luxury living experiences.
“From Cape Town to Sandton, and now also in the Menlyn Maine precinct in Pretoria, these are now sought-after by high-end buyers,” Seeff Pretoria East licensee Ronel van der Linde said.
She explained that penthouse living follows a global trend of high demand from wealthy buyers for these “homes in the sky”. They are typically located in major metropolitan areas, especially in coastal and upscale urban settings.
“Aside from the status aspect, location, exclusivity, views, and bespoke design and finishes are among the reasons why penthouse purchasers are prepared to pay a premium for these properties,” Van der Linde explained.
She said prices for penthouses vary, but typically, they carry a premium of around 40% to 50% higher than other apartments in the same building.
For example, high-end penthouses in Cape Town have sold for upwards of R50 million to R110 million.
Umhlanga penthouses have sold for up to R50 million, while Sandton/Joburg penthouses have reportedly sold for up to R75 million.
In the Pretoria East area, the high-end penthouses around the Menlyn Maine Precinct typically range in the upper millions, averaging around R7 million to R17 million.
One of these exclusive properties is the Trilogy Menlyn Maine Penthouse, which has its own lap pool, landscaped garden, and sophisticated security and is on the market for R9.9 million.
Van der Linde said this location is prime. The Menlyn Maine Precinct features a business hub and provides access to major arterials, top schools, the University of Pretoria, and Menlyn Mall.
High-net-worth buyers
Ronel said typical buyers of penthouses are high-net-worth individuals who either purchase them for their own use or for investment purposes.
Despite the exclusivity, these properties offer quite a broad appeal, including being in high demand as Airbnb investments.
“Penthouses appeal to top-level professionals and executives, and businesses which need to host visiting executives or guests,” she said.
They also appeal to international buyers from abroad, or increasingly from other African countries with business interests in the city.
“These exclusive residences are also popular with buyers looking to downgrade from a big home and responsibilities to enjoy more free time and an exclusive lifestyle,” she added.
Van der Linde explained that they offer the convenience of a lock-up-and-leave lifestyle while reflecting exclusivity and status for those who have achieved significant success.
These types of properties are not within most South Africans’ reach. Earlier in April, Standard Bank revealed that South Africans are increasingly interested in affordable housing.
The bank noted that demand for properties priced between R350,000 and R700,000 surged in the past few years. It noted a double-digit increase in activity in this market segment in the past four years.
The bank explained that this surge is primarily due to increased urbanisation, which drives demand for more accessible housing in major metropolitan areas.
“This segment continues to show resilience, particularly in Gauteng and the Western Cape, where demand remains strong despite economic pressures,” said Standard Bank home services head Toni Anderson.
This segment is dominated by households earning up to R30,000 a month, and these properties are typically their first.
Geographically, while provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and the North West have also seen rapid growth in home loan uptake for affordable housing, Gauteng leads the market.
In the four years up to February 2025, Gauteng accounted for 47% of all affordable housing loans issued by Standard Bank.
“When you look at the Western Cape and Gauteng, you see significant private sector investment in affordable housing projects and urban development,” Anderson said.
“This has spurred growth and created more opportunities for first-time home buyers who typically look at this price range.”
Penthouse photos
The new Trilogy Menlyn Maine Penthouse boasts its own lap pool, landscaped garden, bespoke finishes and features, and sophisticated security. It is currently on the market for R9.9 million.
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