Cape Town's housing gap widens as Tafelberg court ruling puts land use in spotlight

The Constitutional Court overturned the sale of the Tafelberg site in Sea Point to a private school for R135 million, ordering the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government to report on their affordable housing plans. The average property price in the Western Cape in Q1 2026 was R3.36 million, 72% above the national average. To qualify for a bond on a R2.5 million home, a household needs a net income of about R55,000 to R60,000 per month. Developers focus on high-end stock due to high construction costs, expensive land, and slow planning approvals, leaving the middle market underserved.