Working in Cape Town

Cape Town follows an 8-hour per day, 5-day working week. The city does not have the aggressive work culture of Johannesburg for example, and many expats enjoy the more balanced lifestyle afforded by the many outdoor activities and natural attractions available in close proximity to the city.

A work visa is required before taking up employment; apply for this at the South African consulate in your country of origin. You are at a big advantage if you are being relocated to Cape Town by your company as it will demonstrate that you have key skills – a prime requisite for being granted a work visa.

Commercially, Cape Town is tiny compared to Johannesburg and other international cities, but the media and advertising industry, IT sector and asset management businesses are well represented here and a relatively high-proportion of expats work in these sectors. Cape Town is also becoming a hub for the west African oil industry and hosts big employers such as BAT and De Beers.