Johannesburg stands resilient and vibrant, earning accolades for family life and economic potential, says the writer.
Image: Karen Sandison Independent Newspapers
The phrase “you can’t keep a good man down” could easily apply to Johannesburg. In many ways, you simply cannot keep Joburg down.
Few cities in the world are as vibrant, resilient, dynamic, controversial, loved, and, at times, criticised as Johannesburg. Yet despite the challenges it faces, the city continues to command the attention of millions of people across the globe.
Year after year, Johannesburg features prominently in international surveys and studies that measure the world’s most compelling urban centres. While the city often attracts scrutiny for its challenges, it simultaneously earns recognition for the opportunities it offers and the remarkable resilience of its people.
Most recently, Johannesburg was named the top South African destination for raising families in a new international study highlighted by Time Out.
The study, conducted by Compare the Market AU, ranked 50 global cities to determine the best places to raise a family in 2026. While cities such as Brisbane and Luxembourg dominated the top of the list, Johannesburg emerged as the highest-ranked South African city, placing 41st globally.
Importantly, Johannesburg outperformed local rivals Cape Town and Durban, earning the distinction of being the country’s leading city for family life in the study. The ranking recognised Johannesburg’s relative affordability and strong happiness index score, factors that remain important considerations for families when choosing where to live.
Like many global cities, Johannesburg faces infrastructure and safety challenges. However, the city’s affordability, economic opportunities, and vibrant culture continue to make it a magnet for people seeking a better future.
Johannesburg has long been recognised as a city of opportunity. Its relatively affordable property market, competitive municipal costs, and diverse economic sectors make it attractive to career seekers, entrepreneurs, and property investors.
Whether purchasing or renting property, paying for municipal services such as water, electricity, sanitation, and property rates, or managing everyday household expenses, Johannesburg continues to offer strong value for money compared with many other major cities.
Migration trends further reinforce this point. The 2025 South African Migration Report indicates that many people are moving to, or returning to, Gauteng — particularly Johannesburg — in search of improved economic opportunities and a more affordable cost of living.
Johannesburg has also received international recognition for housing affordability. In 2023, the city ranked first in a global study of major cities where buying property has become more affordable in recent years, strengthening its reputation as one of the most accessible property markets among major urban centres.
At a local government level, the City of Johannesburg has also taken deliberate steps to ensure that living costs remain manageable for residents.
For the 2025/2026 financial year, the city implemented a modest property rates increase of just 4.6%, one of the lowest increases among metropolitan municipalities in South Africa.
In addition, Johannesburg homeowners continue to benefit from significant rebates. All residential properties are exempt from paying property rates on the first R300 000 of their property value.
Qualifying pensioners can also receive property rates rebates ranging from 50% to 100%, depending on their income levels. These measures are designed to place real relief in residents’ pockets while ensuring that municipal services remain accessible and sustainable.
Johannesburg may face its fair share of challenges, but its resilience, affordability and enduring spirit continue to attract people from across South Africa and around the world.
For many, Johannesburg remains what it has always been — a city of opportunity, possibility and hope.
Johannesburg’s global recognition is not accidental; it reflects the city’s enduring economic strength and strategic importance. The City of Johannesburg alone contributes around 15% of South Africa’s total economic output, making it the single largest metropolitan contributor to the national economy. Its economy exceeded R1 trillion in 2023, accounting for roughly 44% of Gauteng’s GDP, while Gauteng itself produces more than one-third of South Africa’s entire GDP.
These figures confirm what many already know: Johannesburg remains the economic heartbeat of the country and one of the most influential city economies on the African continent.
Challenges will always exist in a city of this scale, but the numbers tell a compelling story — Johannesburg is not just surviving; it continues to power South Africa’s economy and attract people who believe in its promise as a city of opportunity.
Johannesburg’s story has never been one of perfection but of resilience — and time and again, the city proves that its greatest asset is its ability to rise, rebuild and continue leading Africa’s economic future.
As long as opportunity continues to flow through its streets and markets, Johannesburg will remain the economic heartbeat of South Africa.
Nkosana Lekotjolo, Media Specialist at Group Finance Department, City of Joburg.