Key points made by President Ramaphosa’s 10th annual State of the Nation address, may have some impact in the residential property space. For example, the water crisis across a number of municipalities, particularly parts of Gauteng, may benefit from co-ordinated action and an injection of R156 billion to fix water and sanitation infrastructure over the next three years. If successful, this will definitely improve negative perceptions of currently impacted suburbs.
Taking an overall view of SONA, and impacts on the property sector are industry spokespeople…
Stephan Potgieter, CEO of BetterBond:
“The President’s reference to an improved credit outlook, a stronger currency and lower interest rates signals growing investor confidence and a stabilising economic environment. His assurance that South Africa is “on a clear path to stabilising national debt” reinforces the message that the country remains open for investment.
Lower inflation and improved growth create room for further interest rate relief, which directly improves bond affordability and expands access to property ownership. This is positive for the housing market’s continued recovery.
The government's commitment to strengthening housing delivery, including the proposed State Property Company aimed at unlocking underutilised public land and buildings, creates an opportunity for meaningful public-private partnerships and urban regeneration.
The shift from state-built homes to subsidy-supported private ownership and rental is particularly significant. It will create much-needed opportunities for more aspirant buyers to enter the market, and meet the growing need for well-located, mixed-use developments that serve a rapidly urbanising population.”
Fritz Swanepoel, CEO of Leapfrog Property Group:
"President Ramaphosa’s address reinforces the green shoots already emerging in the property sector. The confirmation of four consecutive quarters of GDP growth and a stabilising fiscal outlook sends a clear signal to the market that confidence is returning.
For Leapfrog, this represents a constructive environment for the mid-to-upper market segments, where sentiment and stability are key drivers of activity. While infrastructure reform is critical, the real catalyst for homeowners will be the continued stability of the Government of National Unity (GNU). Sustained political certainty creates the foundation for further interest rate relief and renewed market momentum.
A stable political and economic environment remains the bedrock of a thriving real estate market.”
Chante Venter, CEO of Wise Move:
"The R156 billion commitment to water infrastructure is a massive relief for the property sector, particularly in high-demand areas like Johannesburg and the coastal metros that have been under strain.
At Wise Move, we’ve seen how semigration patterns are increasingly influenced by service delivery and infrastructure reliability. The President’s acknowledgment of local government failures is an honest starting point, but the follow-through on these reforms will be what determines property value growth in the next two years. If the government can successfully turn policy into running water and reliable electricity, it will sustain the movement of South Africans seeking a higher quality of life in well-managed municipalities.”
Yael Geffen, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty:
“The 2026 SONA struck a familiar tone, recycling key themes that have echoed through every Cyril Ramaphosa SONA since 2019: tackling corruption, reducing crime, reviving infrastructure, reducing unemployment and addressing entrenched social challenges. Yet the sense of déjà vu is unmistakable – the same aspirations delivered year after year have offered measurable progress that has for the most part fallen far short of promises made to the nation. My overall impression of SONA 2026 was ‘Groundhog Day’, which is probably more polite than ‘Twilight Zone’. The government can’t keep making the same promises year after year, dropping the ball and expecting citizens and foreign investors to maintain faith in their leadership. What this year’s SONA reinforces yet again is that it’s up to us – the people and private sector of our amazing country – to create the future we want to see. One good thing is the reminder in SONA that we are a democracy, and this is an election year. Vote with your conscience, not unrequited loyalty, and there’s a good chance of a prosperous future for us and our economy.”
Adriaan Grové, CEO of MyProperty and Entegral:
"The President's commitment to tackling the water and logistics crises is a critical step, especially for the property sector more broadly but for the industry to truly modernise, we need to see this same urgency applied to the digital ‘pipes' of the economy.
While SONA 2026 touched on infrastructure, we are looking for more aggressive movement on the digitisation of the Deeds Office and the removal of municipal red tape. Efficiency in these areas is what will unlock developer investment and speed up the time-to-sale.
At MyProperty and Entegral, we believe that integrating infrastructure reform with AI-driven and data-centric property systems is the most practical way to ensure a competitive, efficient, and transparent property market."
Samuel Seeff, chairman of the Seeff Property Group:
“The President’s assurance that the governing coalition is stable and remains focused on economic growth and job creation provides the political and policy certainty necessary to sustain local and foreign investor confidence. Key positives for the real estate sector include:
Energy resilience and cost containment. The stabilisation of the electricity supply, and the proposed focus on expanding the energy mix and reducing costs to boost economic growth, is a major win for the economy and property market.
Infrastructure repairs and development. The massive R1 trillion allocation for public infrastructure over the next three years is essential to unlock growth and development.
Municipal reform and service delivery. Property values are inextricably linked to working infrastructure and services. Urgent reforms are, therefore, necessary, and should focus on metros such as Johannesburg and Tshwane to entice investment and growth.
Digitalisation and red tape. Fully digitising the Deeds Office and accelerating zoning and approvals will drive construction investment and growth.
Governance and anti-corruption. A firm stance against crime, corruption and "construction mafias" is fundamentally vital to any well-functioning municipality, economy and residents.
Title Deeds and housing expansion. Clearing Title Deed backlogs, expanding First Home subsidies, repurposing buildings, and revitalising urban areas are welcomed to meet housing needs, and to create “tradeable” household assets.
The focus must now be on implementation as fast as possible to take advantage of the current positive economic momentum.”
Stephen Whitcombe, MD of FIRZT Realty:
“For the property industry, improved logistics, efficient ports, reliable rail and affordable electricity are not abstract policy goals. They directly affect land values, development viability and the competitiveness of South African cities.
The government’s commitment to establish the long-awaited State Property Company to professionally manage the state’s extensive portfolio of 88 000 buildings and at least five million ha of land could be really transformative for the country if implemented effectively, because professional asset management of public property has the potential to unlock underutilised land for development, catalyse urban renewal projects and create new mixed-use precincts that integrate affordable housing, commercial activity and public services.
The mention of a new housing subsidy model that will enable people to access financial help to rent affordable homes and not only to buy or build them, recognises changing household structures and labour mobility patterns, particularly among young people entering the workforce. A more flexible subsidy framework could stimulate private-sector delivery of more affordable rental housing and help address the spatial legacy that keeps many working families in SA far from economic opportunity.”
