Cape Town and Durban have emerged as two of Africa’s most investable logistics and industrial markets due to their resilience, adaptability and strong investor appeal, according to Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL.
Cape Town continues to outperform, with rising rents and declining vacancies underpinned by a period of semigration, operational stability and constrained industrial land.
“Demand is being driven by a flight to quality, semigration from other provinces and growing e-commerce,” said Shane Howe, the head of Western Cape Industrial Broking at Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL.
Strong governance and functioning infrastructure position the city as a low-risk node compared to Gauteng.
“The Cape market is supported by limited stock availability and escalating demand, especially for modern industrial parks,” said Howe. Development hotspots such as Brackengate and Richmond Park are expanding, while gentrification in older nodes like Epping and Parow unlock additional opportunity.
“Against this backdrop, investors and occupiers must thoroughly align busines
s strategy with location and asset selection to ensure long-term sustainability,” he said.
In Durban, chronic land shortages and rising operational costs have created a landlord-favoured market.
Anthon van Weers, Full Status Property Practitioner at Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL, said, “There has been no meaningful release of flat, flood-free land in over a decade. Most viable land is tied up in Tongaat Hulett’s portfolio and development remains stalled by topography and financial constraints.”
Vacancy rates are at historic lows.
“Units, especially mini-units and large distribution centres (DCs) are snapped up almost immediately,” said Van Weers. Triple net rentals for A-grade DCs currently range between R105/m²–R110/m² with further rental escalation likely if supply remains constrained. However, high municipal rates double that of Cape Town or Johannesburg deter some tenants.
Still, Durban remains attractive to owners. “Despite high costs, Durban is a low-risk investment market because of stable demand and long-term leases from logistics operators near the port. Proximity to port infrastructure offers a decisive cost advantage,” said Van Weers.
Cushman & Wakefield’s global data shows a 43% surge in logistics investment over the past decade, driven by urbanisation, e-commerce and supply chain reconfiguration. Globally, more than half of logistics markets are projected to experience rental growth through 2027, driven by strong occupier demand.
South Africa is on the same path but with an added urgency due to land scarcity around key Cape Town nodes and the Durban port. Rental growth is accelerating in both cities, particularly in high-demand, low-supply zones, signalling a unique opportunity for climate-conscious and future-proof investment.
According to Cushman & Wakefield’s Climate Risk report, climate-resilient assets are now achieving stronger lease uptake and longer tenures, with facilities in lower-risk zones commanding higher rentals and lower incentives. Yet, many markets have ignored climate risk, leaving assets exposed and underscoring the need for smarter development.
In addition, climate risk is now central to asset valuation and investment due diligence. From capital expenditure planning to leaseability and compliance, assets that embed mitigation strategies early attract stronger investor interest and pricing premiums.
This is mirrored locally, with tenants, especially multinationals factoring in resilience, water security and energy independence when selecting sites. South Africa’s Western Cape corridors and select Durban nodes are emerging as premium options, according to Cushman & Wakefield | BROLL.
Global trends point to e-commerce, 3PLs (third-party logistics) and last-mile delivery as major sector drivers. E-commerce alone has surged 289% globally in the past decade and is now the leading demand driver in the Americas and EMEA regions (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa).
Locally, the Western Cape’s infrastructure, lifestyle appeal and political stability are reinforcing this trend. In Durban, mini-units and small-format warehouses measuring 100sqm to 500sqm are in high demand as small businesses shift from traditional retail to fulfilment-based industrial space.
“Some retailers are closing stores and shifting to warehouse models to meet online demand,” said Van Weers. “Decentralised nodes like Cato Ridge, Shongweni and Tongaat, however, have struggled to gain traction due to high logistics costs.”
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