Property

One suburb in South Africa’s richest city where some houses sell for over R45 million

Kirsten Minnaar • 7 June 2025

Bryanston is one of South Africa’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, and with the Johannesburg property market bouncing back, it offers opportunities for investors and luxury buyers.

Pam Golding CEO, Dr Andrew Golding, said that the group has noticed several key trends in 2025, including a rise in demand for property in Johannesburg.

“A recent assessment of web searches on our website reveals some notable trends regarding locations attracting high interest,” Golding said.

“While Cape Town retains top spot for searches on the Pam Golding Properties website, Gauteng locations such as Bryanston and Sandton overall account for an increasing number of web searches.”

For the six months of August 2024 to January 2025, seven of the top 20 searches were for suburbs in Gauteng, with Bryanston and Sandton in second and third place behind Cape Town.

Cobus Odendaal, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in Johannesburg, Randburg and Craighall, said that Bryanston has the golden thread of northern suburb living.

It offers investors and homeowners access to premium amenities, including excellent schools and great commuter options. “That’s the beauty of Joburg’s northern suburbs,” Odendaal said.

He explained that the elite area provides residents with access to numerous amenities that make this part of the city so attractive to homebuyers.

Bryanston properties regularly command prices between R12 million and R45 million or more. These homes typically sit on generous stands of 1,200m² to approximately 3,000m².

These homes feature high-end finishes, sweeping gardens and resort-style amenities. However, while the suburb offers many luxury properties, full-title home prices start from around R3 million.

Bryanston has also seen a notable increase in estate living, with residences in the price band between R3.5 million and R30 million and sectional-title townhouses ranging from R900,000 to R8 million.

An investment haven

“Bryanston estates can run significantly larger, though, but these properties are getting rarer by the day as denser housing is encouraged by the authorities,” Odendaal said.

Currently, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s has a property on the market with a land area of more than 10,000 m², featuring a 2,150 m² home.

The house, which is on the market for R45 million, offers seven bedrooms and bathrooms, four reception rooms, two studies and six garages.

It also boasts several other luxury amenities. “Bryanston represents blue-chip property investment in Johannesburg,” Odendaal said.

“We’re seeing consistent annual appreciation as buyers are drawn to its established prestige, beautiful green spaces and proximity to both Sandton’s corporate hub and top private schools.”

According to Lightstone data, in the past 12 months ending April 2025, property worth a staggering R2.53 billion changed hands in Bryanston.

Adding to the appeal, Bryanston is accessible to many of Johannesburg’s premium amenities. It is dissected by Winnie Mandela Drive, one of Johannesburg’s busiest arterial roads, which effectively separates east from west Bryanston.

It offers easy access to the highway for commuters travelling to Pretoria and is conveniently located near Fourways, Sandton, and the expanding city of Midrand.

As such, locals are a quick drive away from Sandton’s business district, top shopping destinations like the Mall of Africa and Fourways Mall, and excellent schooling options.

Recreational facilities like Wanderers Golf Club, Bryanston Country Club and Delta Park are also accessible to residents in the area.

Security in the area benefits from active neighbourhood watches and reliable armed response services, with ongoing infrastructure improvements enhancing liveability.

Odendaal explained that the area has seen consistent growth, and if Bryanston retains its current number of estates, it will maintain its exclusivity and reap the benefits in property appreciation.

“Speak to local experts who understand these micro-markets intimately,” Odendaal recommended. The right property can deliver excellent returns for investors.