Determining the “whitest” cities in South Africa requires nuance, as official census data typically reports statistics by municipality rather than by individual city. Furthermore, racial demographics are a sensitive and complex topic in South Africa due to the legacy of apartheid.
South Africa’s white population has been declining as a percentage of the total population over recent decades. According to a recent Census, the white population group accounts for approximately 7.3% of the country’s total population, a decline from 8.9% in 2011. Based on available demographic data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) and historical censuses, here are the ten areas with the highest concentrations of white residents.
Top 10 Whitest Cities In South Africa (Current Data)
1. Orania (Northern Cape)
Location: Northern Cape province, situated on the banks of the Orange River in the Karoo region, approximately 680 kilometres from Cape Town and 850 kilometres from Johannesburg.
White Population Percentage: Approximately 100% (nearly exclusively white). The town has a total population of roughly 2,500 residents.
Historical and Cultural Significance: Orania is the most famous and controversial exclusively white town in South Africa. Founded in 1991 during the transition away from apartheid, Orania is a private town that only admits Afrikaners (white South Africans of Dutch, French Huguenot, and German descent). The town operates on a principle of Afrikaner self-determination, managing its own affairs, currency (the Ora), and local services. It has its own flag, anthem, and even its own local government structures.
Notable Suburbs or Areas: The town is relatively small and uniform, consisting of residential areas, agricultural land, and the Orania Spa and Resort. Most residents live in freestanding houses with large plots.
Economic Activities: The local economy is based on agriculture (pecan nuts, cotton, and livestock), tourism, and various small businesses that serve the community.
2. Cape Town (Western Cape)
Location: Western Cape province, situated on the southwestern coast of South Africa at the base of Table Mountain, approximately 1,450 kilometres from Johannesburg and 770 kilometres from Port Elizabeth.
White Population Percentage: Approximately 16.2% of the City of Cape Town metro population, which represents roughly 800,000 white residents out of a total metro population of approximately 4.8 million people.
Historical and Cultural Significance: Cape Town has the largest absolute number of white residents of any city in South Africa. It is also the city with the most visible white economic and political influence, being the only major metro where the official opposition (Democratic Alliance) has held power for many years. The city is South Africa’s oldest urban area, founded by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, and retains strong European architectural and cultural influences.
Notable Suburbs or Areas: The white population is concentrated in the well-established Southern Suburbs (Constantia, Newlands, Bishopscourt, Rondebosch) and the Atlantic Seaboard (Camps Bay, Clifton, Bakoven, Llandudno). The Northern Suburbs (Durbanville, Bellville, Brackenfell) also have significant white populations.
Economic Activities: Finance, real estate, tourism, technology, retail, and the wine industry are major employment sectors. The city is also a hub for film production and creative industries.
3. Swartland Municipality (Western Cape)
Location: Western Cape province, located north of Cape Town in the Swartland region, approximately 70 to 100 kilometres from the city centre. The municipality includes towns such as Malmesbury, Darling, Moorreesburg, and Yzerfontein.
White Population Percentage: Approximately 15.6% of the municipal population. The total municipal population is approximately 135,000 residents, with roughly 21,000 white residents.
Historical and Cultural Significance: The Swartland region is historically an agricultural heartland known for wheat, wine, and sheep farming. The area has deep Afrikaner roots, and many of the towns were established in the 18th and 19th centuries. Darling is famous for its annual Darling Wildflower Show and its association with satirical performer Pieter-Dirk Uys. Yzerfontein is a popular coastal holiday destination.
Notable Suburbs or Areas: Malmesbury is the administrative centre of the municipality. Darling is known for its arts and culture scene. Moorreesburg is the centre of the wheat industry. Yzerfontein is a coastal town with many holiday homes.
Economic Activities: Agriculture (wheat, wine, vegetables, livestock), tourism, and light manufacturing are the primary economic drivers. Many residents commute to Cape Town for work.
4. Stellenbosch (Western Cape)
Location: Western Cape province, approximately 50 kilometres east of Cape Town, nestled in the Cape Winelands region at the foot of the Jonkershoek Mountains.
White Population Percentage: Approximately 15% to 18% of the municipal population. The Stellenbosch Local Municipality has a total population of approximately 180,000 residents, with roughly 28,000 to 32,000 white residents.
Historical and Cultural Significance: Stellenbosch is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, founded in 1679. It is a historical centre of Afrikaner culture, language, and identity. The town is home to Stellenbosch University, one of the most prestigious universities in Africa and historically a stronghold of Afrikaans academic life. The surrounding region is world-famous for its wine estates, many of which have been owned by the same families for centuries.
Notable Suburbs or Areas: The historic town centre with its Cape Dutch architecture, the university campus, the residential areas of Dalsig, Paradyskloof, and Die Boord, as well as the surrounding wine estates such as Spier, Lanzerac, and Rust en Vrede.
Economic Activities: Higher education, wine production, tourism, and hospitality are the dominant industries. Research and technology sectors are growing, supported by the university’s innovation hub.
5. George & Garden Route (Western Cape)
Location: Western Cape province, along the Garden Route coastal belt, approximately 450 kilometres east of Cape Town and 330 kilometres west of Port Elizabeth. George is the largest city in the region.
White Population Percentage: Approximately 14% to 16% of the municipal populations in the Garden Route district. The George Local Municipality has a total population of approximately 260,000, with roughly 36,000 to 42,000 white residents. Surrounding towns like Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, and Mossel Bay have similar or slightly higher proportions.
Historical and Cultural Significance: The Garden Route is known as a retirement and holiday destination, attracting many white South Africans who relocate from Gauteng and other provinces. George was founded in 1811 and is the sixth oldest town in South Africa. The region is famous for its temperate forests, lagoons, beaches, and the Outeniqua Mountains.
Notable Suburbs or Areas: In George, the suburbs of Denneoord, Heather Park, Loerie Park, and Glen Barrie have higher white concentrations. In Knysna, the suburbs of Thesen Island, Brenton-on-Sea, and Belvidere are predominantly white. Plettenberg Bay’s residential areas of The Crags, River Club, and Whale Rock are also notable.
Economic Activities: Tourism, retail, healthcare, and construction are major employers. The region also has a growing retirement and aged-care industry. George is a regional administrative and commercial hub.
6. Pretoria (Tshwane) (Gauteng)
Location: Gauteng province, in the northeastern part of the country, approximately 60 kilometres north of Johannesburg. Pretoria is the administrative capital of South Africa.
White Population Percentage: Approximately 16% to 18% of the City of Tshwane metro population. The metro has a total population of approximately 3.5 million residents, with roughly 560,000 to 630,000 white residents.
Historical and Cultural Significance: Pretoria is known as the “Jacaranda City” because of the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets. It was founded in 1855 and named after Andries Pretorius, a Voortrekker leader. The city is home to the Voortrekker Monument, the Union Buildings (seat of the national government), and the University of Pretoria. Historically, Pretoria had a much larger white population than Johannesburg and remains a stronghold of Afrikaner cultural institutions.
Notable Suburbs or Areas: The white population is concentrated in the eastern suburbs, including Menlyn, Garsfontein, Waterkloof, Brooklyn, Lynnwood, Faerie Glen, and Moreleta Park. The historic Arcadia and Sunnyside areas have become more diverse but retain some white residents.
Economic Activities: Government administration, higher education, research institutions (CSIR, Onderstepoort), automotive manufacturing (BMW, Nissan, Ford have plants in the region), and retail are major sectors.
7. Kleinfontein (Gauteng)
Location: Gauteng province, approximately 40 kilometres northeast of Pretoria, near the town of Rayton in the Bronkhorstspruit area.
White Population Percentage: Approximately 100% (exclusively white). The settlement has a total population of approximately 500 to 1,000 residents.
Historical and Cultural Significance: Kleinfontein is a private town (or cultural settlement) that, similarly to Orania, maintains a whites-only admission policy to preserve Afrikaner culture. It was established in the early 1990s and functions as a private property owners’ association. The settlement has its own school, church, and agricultural cooperative. Unlike Orania, Kleinfontein is not a formally proclaimed town but operates under a private title deed restriction that limits ownership to white Afrikaners.
Notable Suburbs or Areas: The settlement is small and consists primarily of smallholdings and agricultural plots. There is a central area with a community hall, school, and church.
Economic Activities: Agriculture (small-scale farming), home-based businesses, and some residents commute to Pretoria for employment.
8. Durbanville (Western Cape)
Location: Western Cape province, approximately 25 kilometres northeast of Cape Town city centre, within the greater Cape Town metropolitan area but functioning as a distinct town with its own historical identity.
White Population Percentage: Approximately 18% to 22% of the suburban area. Durbanville falls within the City of Cape Town metro, but its individual suburb demographic is significantly higher than the metro average. The greater Durbanville area has a population of approximately 80,000 to 100,000 residents.
Historical and Cultural Significance: Durbanville is known as a “dormitory suburb” for the surrounding winelands and the expanding tech industry in the nearby Tygerberg and Bellville areas. It was established in the early 19th century as a farming community. The town retains a distinct Afrikaans cultural character and is known for its wine estates, particularly Durbanville Hills. It is considered one of the whitest suburban areas within the greater Cape Town metro.
Notable Suburbs or Areas: The main residential areas include Durbanville Central, D’Urbanvale, Eversdal, Sonstraal, Vierlanden, and Kenridge. The suburb of Pinehurst is a newer development with a predominantly white demographic.
Economic Activities: Retail, wine production, education (several private schools are located here), healthcare, and many residents commute to nearby Bellville (commercial hub) and Cape Town for work.
9. Hartbeespoort (North West)
Location: North West province, approximately 40 to 50 kilometres west of Pretoria, situated around the Hartbeespoort Dam. The town is easily accessible from Gauteng via the R511 and N4 highways.
White Population Percentage: Approximately 12% to 15% of the municipal area. The town itself has a much higher concentration within specific residential estates. The total population of the Hartbeespoort area is approximately 50,000 to 70,000 residents depending on the boundaries used.
Historical and Cultural Significance: Hartbeespoort (often called “Harties”) is a resort town built around the Hartbeespoort Dam, which was completed in 1923. It became a popular weekend getaway destination for white families from Pretoria and Johannesburg, and this character has persisted. The area is known for its cable car, crocodile farms, and water sports. The high-end residential estates (such as Pecanwood, Kosmos, and The Islands) have very high concentrations of white residents compared to the surrounding rural areas.
Notable Suburbs or Areas: Pecanwood (a golf and residential estate), Kosmos (lakeside villas), The Islands (estate with water channels), and Ifafi have the highest white concentrations. The town centre and surrounding villages are more diverse.
Economic Activities: Tourism, hospitality, property management, retirement services, and recreation are the dominant industries. Many residents are retirees or commute to Pretoria for work.
10. Mossel Bay (Western Cape)
Location: Western Cape province, along the Garden Route coastline, approximately 400 kilometres east of Cape Town and 70 kilometres west of George.
White Population Percentage: Approximately 12% to 14% of the Mossel Bay Local Municipality population. The municipal population is approximately 150,000 to 170,000 residents, with roughly 18,000 to 24,000 white residents.
Historical and Cultural Significance: Mossel Bay is a coastal town with a long maritime history. The Bartolomeu Dias Museum complex commemorates the Portuguese explorer who landed there in 1488. The town has become a popular retirement destination, attracting white South Africans from inland provinces seeking a coastal lifestyle. The famous Point area offers some of the best wave-watching opportunities in the country.
Notable Suburbs or Areas: The white population is concentrated in the coastal suburbs of Dias Beach, Pinnacle Point (a golf and residential estate), Boggomsbaai, Vleesbaai, and the older residential areas near the Point. The town centre and the KwaNonqaba township have much lower white proportions.
Economic Activities: Tourism, retail, healthcare (retirement and aged care), fishing, and the gas industry (offshore natural gas fields) are major employers.
Key Context: Demographics of Major Cities
To understand the broader picture, here is the estimated racial breakdown of South Africa’s largest metros compared to the national average:
– National Average: Approximately 81% Black African, 8% Coloured, 7% White, 3% Indian/Asian.
– Cape Town: Approximately 16% White, 42% Coloured, 39% Black African, 2% Indian/Asian.
– Pretoria (Tshwane): Approximately 16-18% White, 75-78% Black African, 3% Coloured, 2% Indian/Asian.
– Johannesburg: Approximately 12% White, 80%+ Black African, 4% Coloured, 5% Indian/Asian.
– Durban (eThekwini): Approximately 9% White, 51% Black African, 24% Indian/Asian, 9% Coloured.
Conclusion
The areas with the highest concentrations of white residents in South Africa are overwhelmingly located in the Western Cape province, with Cape Town having the largest absolute number of white residents. However, when measured by percentage, the private towns of Orania (Northern Cape) and Kleinfontein (Gauteng) are exclusively white by design.
If you are looking strictly at percentages, Orania and Kleinfontein top the list. If you are looking at major cities where the white population is most visible and has significant economic and political influence, Cape Town is the primary answer, followed by Pretoria and the Garden Route towns of George, Mossel Bay, and Knysna.
The demographic reality of South Africa is that no major city has a white majority. Even in Cape Town, which has the largest white population in absolute numbers, white residents make up only approximately 16% of the metro population. The national white population continues to decline as a percentage, driven by low birth rates and emigration.