Area guide · Cape Town
New developments in Southern Suburbs, Cape Town
The Southern Suburbs suit families, academics and professionals who want settled, leafy neighbourhoods close to schools, the University of Cape Town and the city centre. They run down the eastern side of Table Mountain from Rondebosch through Newlands, Claremont, Kenilworth and Wynberg to the wine farms of Constantia. Open land is scarce, so most new homes are apartments and townhouses on infill sites near Main Road and the railway.
By RealSoon editorial team·Last reviewed
Living in the Southern Suburbs
The Southern Suburbs are the older, greener side of Cape Town: big trees, sports fields, church halls and streets of houses that date back a century or more, under the eastern face of Table Mountain. Rondebosch is home to the University of Cape Town, whose upper campus sits on the mountainside above the M3. Newlands borders Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, set aside by the government in 1913, and Claremont is the area's busiest shopping and office node.
Further south, Kenilworth and Wynberg are more mixed, with older semi-detached houses, flats and busy commercial strips along Main Road. Constantia is a different world again: large plots, horses and wine farms. Groot Constantia, South Africa's oldest wine-producing farm, has made wine there without interruption since 1685.
Getting around: Southern Line, M3 and M5
The Metrorail Southern Line runs from Cape Town station through the area, stopping at Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont, Harfield Road, Kenilworth and Wynberg before carrying on to the False Bay coast. By rail, Rondebosch is 7.9 km from Cape Town station and Wynberg 13.0 km. Check current Metrorail timetables before you plan a commute around the train, as service levels change.
Most residents drive. The M3 links the City Bowl with Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont and Constantia and ends at Kirstenhof, while the M5 (Kromboom Parkway) runs north–south on the eastern edge of the area and meets the N2 near Mowbray, the main road to the airport. The old M4 Main Road ties the suburbs together and is where most shops, offices and taxis are.
Schools and the university
Schools are the main reason many families move here. The area has a dense cluster of long-established public and private schools, among them Bishops and Rondebosch Boys' High in Rondebosch, SACS in Newlands, Herschel in Claremont and the Wynberg boys' and girls' high schools. Popular public schools fill up quickly and set their own admission rules, so ask each school how it handles applications before you buy with a particular one in mind.
The University of Cape Town in Rondebosch brings a steady flow of students and staff looking for rentals within reach of campus. That supports demand for smaller units in Rondebosch, Rosebank and Claremont, but it also means some blocks have a high share of tenants, which is worth checking before you buy.
The property market and new developments
The Southern Suburbs are almost fully built up, so new supply comes from redevelopment: an old house or office block replaced by apartments, a large garden split into a cluster of townhouses, or a mixed-use building near a station or on Main Road. Expect sectional-title units with levies, secure parking and shared facilities rather than freestanding houses. Constantia and the upper parts of Newlands and Claremont see fewer, more expensive projects on larger plots.
Prices vary sharply from street to street, so compare a development's asking price per square metre with recent sales in the same suburb rather than across the whole area. Browse current projects on our developments page, and read our guide to buying off-plan in South Africa before you sign a reservation.
Who the Southern Suburbs suit
The Southern Suburbs suit families who want schools and parks nearby, university staff and students, parents buying a flat for a child at UCT, and professionals who work in Claremont, the CBD or Century City and want a shorter drive than from the northern suburbs. Downsizers who want to stay in a familiar area often look at new apartments here for security and less maintenance.
If you want sea views and a beach on your doorstep, look instead at the Atlantic Seaboard, False Bay or Blouberg. If you want to walk to work in town, compare the City Bowl.
New developments in Southern Suburbs
There are no developments listed here yet.
Quick answers
Which suburbs are in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town?
On RealSoon, the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town cover Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont, Kenilworth, Wynberg and Constantia, on the eastern side of Table Mountain along the Metrorail Southern Line.
Is there a train from the Southern Suburbs to Cape Town city centre?
Yes. The Metrorail Southern Line runs from Cape Town station through the Southern Suburbs, with stations at Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont, Harfield Road, Kenilworth and Wynberg. Rondebosch is 7.9 km from Cape Town station by rail and Wynberg 13.0 km. Check current timetables, as services change.
What kind of new developments are being built in the Southern Suburbs?
Because the Southern Suburbs are almost fully built up, most new developments there are apartment blocks, townhouse clusters and mixed-use buildings on redeveloped sites, often near Main Road or a railway station. Constantia sees fewer, larger projects on bigger plots.
Do I pay transfer duty on a new apartment in the Southern Suburbs?
If you buy a new apartment in the Southern Suburbs from a VAT-registered developer, VAT is included in the price and you do not pay transfer duty on top. You still pay transfer and bond registration costs, so ask the developer which of these are included.
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