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Healthier work-life balance fuels P-Grade property demand in SA

Staff Writer
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Coworking spaces have been growing in popularity in South Africa, especially in major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. This trend is driven by the rise of remote work and the need for flexible office solutions.

Many coworking spaces in South Africa offer a range of amenities, including high-speed internet, meeting rooms, event spaces, and networking opportunities.

They cater to freelancers, startups, and even larger companies looking for flexible office arrangements. It’s the convenience of the ‘plug and play’ that drives interest.

Many spaces host events, workshops, and networking sessions to help members connect and collaborate.

WeWork, a leading global flexible space provider, published a survey of business leaders in the US and UK, revealing that most remote, hybrid, and fully in-office companies plan to increase their office space in the next two years, favouring flexible workspaces.

Key findings include:

John Santora, CEO of WeWork, said the move towards flexible workspaces is due to their adaptability, cost efficiency, and ability to enhance productivity and employee engagement.

The survey also showed that 83% of leaders see the office as more crucial to profitability now than five years ago.

Companies with in-office strategies report higher productivity and cultural benefits, while 72% of companies plan to expand their office space, with a significant preference for flexible workspaces.

The survey, conducted by Vanson Bourne, included 500 business decision-makers from the US and UK, covering various company sizes and work arrangements.

The South African Workspace Landscape

As 2025 approaches, the South African workspace landscape is fast-evolving, with an increasing demand for P-grade (prime grade) serviced coworking spaces in the Western Cape.

“This year, there has been a noticeable shift towards higher quality workspaces with professionals showing greater desire for environments where collaboration and business-building thrive,” said Venture Workspace founder, Louis Fourie.

This sentiment is reflected in the January 2025 debut of the Venture Workspace Riverlands branch at the R4.5 billion Riverlands precinct spearheaded by mega property developer Zenprop.

“Coworking is no longer only synonymous with smaller start-ups, bottomless coffee and a ‘vibe’. The sector is levelling up with premium workspace solutions that elevate high-performance operations.”

Corporates transitioning from start-up to scale-up take note. He further highlighted the beginning of an era for sophisticated serviced solutions in the local business ecosystem.

“This shift is particularly apparent in the Western Cape, which is increasingly becoming a magnet for foreign direct investments and corporate giants like Amazon,” he said.

As it stands, the Western Cape province is a world-class investment destination, offering businesses and investors prime locations and modern infrastructure. Between 2021 and 2023, it secured R7.3 billion in 35 foreign direct investments from EU countries.

“Our new 2,000m² space sits at the heart of this urban oasis, offering everything from private boardrooms to fully serviced and semi-serviced options for larger operations. To ensure we’re hitting the mark, we’re taking great care to provide an efficient and flexible workspace without compromising warmth and congeniality.”

In terms of location, Riverlands offers an accessible link to the M5 highway and is within a 10-minute drive of Cape Town’s CBD.

Top Coworking Spaces in South Africa include the following:

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