Andrew Stegmann
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2019 State of Cape Town Central City Report Launched

Published recently, by the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID), the report noted that the Central City “held its own quite remarkably” in the year under review, despite 2019 being “incredibly difficult”, according to CCID board chairperson Rob Kane.

Says Kane: “Stakeholders and investors in the CBD have had to cope with the aftermath of the 2018 drought and subsequent water crisis, ongoing load shedding and a tough economic climate.”

Five-part section on on ‘Surviving Covid-19’

Though the coronavirus pandemic falls beyond the ambit of the SCCR report, a five-part section of the report is devoted to reflections on “Surviving Covid-19” by Wesgro CEO Tim Harris, Economic Development Partnership CEO Andrew Boraine, HTI Consulting CEO Wayne Troughton and economist Brian Kantor of Investec Wealth and Investment and Arthur Kamp, chief economist, Sanlam Investments.

Kane acknowledges the “global devastation” Covid-19 has caused, noting that it “has damaged the Central City’s economy”, but its economic performance means the Central City is well-placed to navigate a path to recovery.

Property evaluation

The SCCR report shows that, according to the City of Cape Town’s 2018/2019 property evaluation, the value of Central City property stands at R44.124bn, and that the total value of property investments in the Central City – recently completed, under construction, proposed or planned – is R13.83bn.

This is broken down into:

  • R1,045,000,000 – A conservative estimate of the value of property completed in the Central City during 2019 but which still has to be officially assessed by the City of Cape Town (seven projects);
  • R3,730,000,000 – The value of property, conservatively estimated, that is under construction (14 projects);
  • R5,196,000,000 – The value of property, conservatively estimated, that is currently in the planning phase (11 projects); and
  • R3,860,000,000 – The value of property, conservatively estimated, that is currently proposed and is expected to begin construction within the next two years (six projects).

The Foreshore precinct has emerged as a key property investment node which is due, in part, to the expansion in 2018 of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), which achieved a turnover of R277m in 2018/2019. “This world-class venue, which contributed R4.5bn to the Western Cape GGP, was a key driver in 2019 of the Central City’s visitor economy as well as its knowledge and eventing economy, all of which continued to expand in 2019.”

The eighth edition of the SCCR reflects on the bigger picture of the economy of the Central City, looking at property trends, occupancy rates of commercial and residential buildings, retail vacancies, the prominent economies of the Central City and trends in commercial and residential markets.

Among other key findings in the report are that:

For the third consecutive year, Cape Town had the lowest overall vacancy rate of 7. % of the country’s five largest metros. According to the SAPOA Office Vacancy Report (Q4 2019), the city’s vacancy rate compares very favourably to that of Johannesburg (12.5%) and is well below the national office vacancy rate of 11%.

The Central City vacancy rate has continued its gradual decline from a peak of 11.8% at the end of 2018 to 10.8% at the end of 2019 – a decline of 15,127m2 of space available for rent. This is at least partially attributable to the reduction in office space due to redevelopment during 2019.

A new urbanism trend gained traction in South Africa in 2019 in spite of a sluggish housing market, increasing demand for downtown living in the Central City. This has prompted the re-imagining of precincts in the Central City by developers into spaces where homeowners can live, work and play in areas that provide a safe and secure environment with easy access to work. With affordability a major issue for many young professionals, developers are responding with a growing number of studio apartments and co-living units within mixed-use developments. In 2019, small apartments with shared amenities officially became hot property, giving first-time buyers the opportunity to enter the housing market in a desirable city centre.

In 2019, the Central City residential market finally felt the effects of the economic and political headwinds which have dampened activity in the national and regional housing markets in recent years. The distribution of sales across the various price bands was similar to that seen in 2018, with the largest number of sales recorded in the R30,000 – R39,000/m2 category. No sales were recorded in the top price bracket (more than R60,000/m2) last year, while two sales were recorded in 2018.

The report includes separate sections providing a detailed look at key elements of the Central City economy, including:

  • The Art Economy: With Cape Town firmly established as the art capital of Africa, the financial contribution of the creative sector to the Central City economy is undeniable;
  • The Visitor Economy: With three new hotels opening in the Central City in 2019, several mixed-use developments and aparthotels either being constructed or in the pipeline, the CBD’s multi-layered visitor economy continued to expand in spite of a tight economy;
  • The Night-time Economy: There is growing awareness of the potential of the Central City’s night-time economy, but it remains an unexplored resource. A recent research partnership between the City of Cape Town, the CCID and the University of Cape Town will provide a better understanding of the night-time economy of the Central City and how to better use the night as a resource for social and economic development; and
  • The Knowledge and Eventing Economy: The Central City’s knowledge and eventing economy continues to expand every year, driving business into the region as local and international visitors and business tourists stream into the CBD to attend official events and conventions in and around the public spaces in downtown Cape Town.

The report also features a detailed analysis of residential and commercial rentals, and highlights from the CCID’s residential and retail surveys.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

New Tanzanian SIM Card Regulations In Effect

This information is courtesy of FB Attorneys (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania).

In a bid to ensure proper regulation, monitoring and identification of SIM card users in Tanzania, the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications has issued detailed procedures for registration of SIM cards via the Electronic and Postal Communications (SIM card Registration) Regulations 2020 (SIM card Registration Regulations) which came into force on 7 February 2020.

Regulation 4 of the SIM card Registration Regulations lists a number of requirements to be complied with by owners and people who intend to use detachable SIM cards in Tanzania. The Regulations require all users and owners of SIM cards to register bio-metrically with their respective licensees (mobile network operators) or authorized distributors, agents or dealers. It should be noted that the bio-metric registration will be conducted by using a National Identity Card (NIDA card) or a National Identity Number (NIN). Also, the Regulations prohibit persons to register any SIM card by using any other person’s NIDA card.

Further, the Regulations recognize bio-metric SIM card registration for minors as well. In doing the said registration, a parent or a guardian is required to present a minor’s certified copy of birth certificate or adoption document or valid passport with valid visa and minor’s portrait photo. Moreover, the parent/guardian will be required to present their NIDA card for finger print verification of the parent. However, after attaining the age of majority, the minor shall be required to re-register using his or her NIDA card, failure of which will result in the deactivation of the SIM card.

Apart from minors, the Regulations prescribe different registration procedures for visitors, foreigners, refugees and diplomats as follows:

  • For visitors, a passport with a valid visa will be required then other normal registration procedures will be observed
  • For foreigners and refugees, NIDA identity will be required followed by normal registration procedures
  • For diplomats, a passport and diplomatic identity will be required with no fingerprints to be taken during registration.

Furthermore, the Regulations stipulate an alternative registration procedure for persons with defaced fingerprint or have no fingers at all. The alternative registration demands a customer to obtain NIDA’s approval for such kind of registration. In doing so, NIDA is supposed to generate verification questions in their system in the form of questions, and these will be used by the operator to verify and register a customer with physical challenges.

Also, the Regulations oblige users and owners of SIM cards to report any change of ownership or possession of a registered SIM card. Regulation 12 makes it clear that any change of information submitted for the purposes of registering a SIM card, should be reported within 15 days from the date of occurrence of any such change.

Furthermore, the Regulations make it mandatory for owners of registered SIM cards to report loss or theft of SIM card and obtain a loss report or preliminary investigation report within 7 days from the date of loss or theft. The loss report shall be submitted to the service provider when requesting for a replacement of a SIM card.

It is worth noting that individuals are prohibited from owning/using more than 1 SIM card from the same operator for use on voice, short message and data services. On the other hand, an individual is allowed to own/use a maximum of 4 SIM cards from different operators for use on machine to machine communication. In case of a company or an institution, the Regulations prohibits owning of more than 30 SIM cards from the same operator and not more than 50 SIM cards from different operators for use on machine to machine communication. However, a customer may be allowed to register/own more than the maximum specified number of SIM cards upon being granted an approval from Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority.

Additionally, the Regulations impose punishment for contravening the above requirements. In case of individuals, the punishment is a fine of not less than TZS 5M or imprisonment for a term of not less than 12 months or to both, and plus a fine of not less than TZS 75,000 for every day during which the SIM card was used or possessed. For companies or institutions, the punishment is a fine of not less than TZS 50M, plus additional fine of not less than TZS 175,000 for everyday during which the SIM card was used or possessed.

It is also important to note that the Regulations provide a grace period up to 30 June 2020 for customers who own more than the required number of SIM cards to accordingly choose SIM cards that are to remain active and abide by the Regulations. Lastly, unused SIM cards for 90 consecutive days will be deactivated.

To read the SIM card Registration Regulations, 2020, click here.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
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South African Expat Tax Amendment Countdown Begins

Compiled by Carin Smith.

An amendment to the Income Tax Act will bring considerable change to the expat landscape as from March 1, 2020.

Jean du Toit and Jonty Leon are the technical editors of the publication “Expatriate Tax – South African Citizens Working Abroad and Foreigners in South Africa”.

Amendments to the Income Tax Act are due to come into effect from March and, among other things, South Africans working overseas will only be exempt from paying tax on the first R1m they earn elsewhere.

The exemption was discussed in the 2019 Budget Review and has been the subject of some controversy in South Africa, Fin24 previously reported.

Du Toit and Leon say that in the 2017 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill, it was announced by National Treasury that the expat exemption would be repealed in its entirety – meaning that the totality of an expat’s income earned abroad would be subject to tax in South Africa.

“This perturbed the expat community, their employers and other stakeholders.

“Following presentations to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance and many submissions and workshops later, expats were begrudgingly handed a R1 million per annum exemption, and an extension to the effective date of the amendment to March 1, 2020,” explains Du Toit.

“It must be understood that expats’ entire remuneration will be taken into account. What this means is that, if they remain tax resident, they will be taxed fully on any allowances and benefits, as if they were just a normal employee working in South Africa.”

Leon foresees that the R1 million exemption will, in some case, likely be exhausted “somewhat rapidly”.

This will especially be the case where the employer pays for “benefits” such as security costs or drivers, international school fees, medical insurance or housing, even though these may not provide any economic benefit to the expat.

One of the unforeseen consequences, in the view of Du Toit, could be that expats may simply decide to sever their ties with South Africa and cease their tax residency.

“Unfortunately, the solutions for the expat in relation to this amendment are now becoming very limited. The expat exemption only relates to South Africans who are tax resident, so the obvious answer would be to cease tax residency of South Africa,” says Leon.

“However, doing this isn’t as simple as one might think. There are different options when doing this, but by far the cleanest and most direct approach would be to financially emigrate, provided this is done correctly.”

He cautions that ceasing tax residency, however, comes with certain tax implications, which must be understood fully before one embarks on this path.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

Cape Town is the SA Metro with the Highest Prices Paid for Residential Property This Past Year

For the 12-month period to end November, Cape Town topped R21.75bn in residential property transactions at an average transaction value of R2.2m. The metro also scooped the highest prices paid for residential property in the country this year according to Ross Levin, managing director for Seeff Atlantic Seaboard and City Bowl.

Comparatively, Pretoria metro reached around R17bn (with an average of R1.2m), Sandton R13.4bn (with an average of R2.3m), Johannesburg R13bn (with an average of R1.483m) and Durban R6.4bn (with an average of just over R1m).

The wealthy might not be buying as much as they used to, but Cape Town still tops their list of most desirable property, says Levin. Atlantic Seaboard and City Bowl sales amount to R4.3bn including 30 of the highest prices paid.

The rental market has also performed exceptionally despite the headwinds. Seeff has concluded rentals of up to R170,000 per month in Fresnaye, R130,000 at the Waterfront, R120,000 in Bantry Bay and R60,000 permonth in Tamboerskloof in the City Bowl. Holiday rentals this summer is expected to reach R100,000-R250,000 per night in Clifton.

Semigration buyers back

Semigration buyers are back and Levin says that sales are often delayed only by the slow sales cycles in Gauteng and other inland provinces. Foreign buyers too have invested over R500m in property with the highest demand from German, UK and US buyers.

Cape Town achieved about 50 high-value sales priced from R20m-R60m compared to just two in the upper end of Sandton/Johannesburg and a highest price of R23m.

The highest prices paid include: R60m in Fresnaye, R58.5m in Bantry Bay, R47m in Bishopscourt, R45m in Clifton, R39m in Higgovale, R36.5m in Llandudno, R36m in Camps Bay, R34m in Constantia Upper and R32m in Mouille Point. We are likely to see a few more high value sales over the summer, says Levin further.

Notable too, is that nine of the top 10 suburbs in the country are now in Cape Town, up from seven about three years ago. These all now boast a median price of over R10m and over R20m for Clifton, says Levin. Only Sandhurst in Sandton/Johannesburg is included in the top 10 ranking:

Southern Suburbs

The Southern Suburbs enjoyed an active year and is not just home to two of the top suburbs in the country but offers a high concentration of top performing schools which drives demand, says James Lewis, managing director for Seeff Southern Suburbs, Hout Bay and Llandudno.

Total sales of almost R4.5bn has been achieved including six high-value properties ranging to R34m in Constantia and R47.5m in Bishopscourt. Although the sub-R10m price band dominated, the ‘Uppers’ such as Claremont and Kenilworth have attracted prices of up to R20m (Claremont) while Newlands achieved eight sales above R10m, and Rondebosch achieved a further six.

The Southern Suburbs rental market has been a top achieving sector this year, says Lewis. Student rentals and young professionals kept the sectional title rental agents busy while upper-end family tenants paid up to R80,000-R100,000 per month in top-end areas such as Constantia.

Crowning another year of top accolades, Cape Town was voted best city in the world for the seventh successive year by the UK’s Telegraph Newspaper. The Cape has lost none of its sparkle says Mr Levin. It is the second wealthiest city in the country and upper-end buyers will spend 100%-200% on average more on real estate purchases on the Atlantic Seaboard compared to anywhere elsewhere.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].