Regional Information - Foreign Ownership > South Africa, Africa

Feature Island

Regional Information

South Africa is a spectacular and complex country located at the extreme tip of Africa. The economy and infrastructure are among the best developed on the continent and constantly progressing. South Africa’s post apartheid identity is still evolving; AIDS, poverty and violence remain a problem in parts of the country. The country’s long coastline stretches more than 2500 kilometres across the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. South Africa has a variety of climates from the extreme desert of the Kalahari to the far southwest which has a climate very similar to the Mediterranean. The latter region produces much of South Africa’s wine. The famous wind of the same area, around the Cape of Good Hope, has been particularly treacherous for sailors, causing many shipwrecks over the years. Travellers are returning in earnest to enjoy South Africa’s unspoiled beaches, copious wildlife and fabulous wine.

South Africa, Africa

Foreign Ownership of Islands in South Africa, Africa

For generations, foreigners have been very active investors in South Africa’s real estate market because there no significant restrictions on foreign buyers. One exception of ownership is mineral rights, which belong to the people of South Africa. You may own the land in theory, but not the right to extract minerals from the land. Land may be owned on either a freehold, leasehold or sectional title basis.

Foreign investors have the option to purchase land in their own name or through a company or trust. An investor should discuss the best method of purchase with their lawyer, as taxation benefits will vary. You should secure a good lawyer to assist in the entire purchase process. You will want to conduct thorough title searches even though South Africa has one of the best deeds registration systems in the world. Real estate investments in South Africa are considered very safe.

Regional Statistics for South Africa, Africa

Location:: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Population:: 44,187,637
Languages:: IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, English, Setswana, Sesotho, Xitsonga
Capital:: Pretoria
Currency:: Rand
Climate:: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Temperature Range:: +5 to +40
Terrain:: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Natural Hazards:: prolonged droughts