Inside Clifton’s Nettleton Road: who lives on Africa’s most expensive street

Clifton’s showpiece strip: what makes Nettleton Road so coveted?

Nettleton Road in Clifton, Cape Town, is widely described by property agents as Africa’s most expensive street. With fewer than 30 properties, the road’s rarity and spectacular outlook have pushed asking and sale prices into the tens and hundreds of millions.

Views, privacy and prestige

Real estate agents point to the combination of sweeping Atlantic Ocean views, proximity to Clifton beaches and a sense of seclusion as central to the road’s appeal. The address carries social prestige for buyers, and luxury, privacy and exclusivity are repeatedly cited as selling points.

Recent arrivals and notable neighbours

Nettleton Road has seen a number of high-profile transactions in recent months and years. DJ Black Coffee is among the new residents, having bought a five-bedroom villa for R157 million. Another recent buyer is businessman MySol known off-stage as Solly Soka Madibela who reportedly paid over R200 million for a seven-storey, seven-bedroom villa and has hosted a housewarming at the property.

Other well-known names linked to properties on the street include:

• Clare Wiese, daughter of Shoprite billionaire Christo Wiese, who purchased a home in 2016 for R90 million.
• Architect Stefan Antoni, who has designed several homes on Nettleton Road and owns one there.
• Property developer Stuart Chait, who bought a home for R150 million in 2020.
• Publishing tycoon Dennis Hotz, who demolished a home on the street to build a new one.
• Art dealer Hugo Jankowitz, who owns the 21 Nettleton Boutique Hotel.

Why prices run so high

Agents attribute the high values to a mix of unmatched panoramic scenery and the prestige attached to the address. With so few properties available, competition for homes on Nettleton Road can push prices to unusually high levels for the South African market.

What residents buy into

Beyond the physical homes, buyers are acquiring lifestyle: privacy, sweeping sea and mountain views and a location on the Atlantic Seaboard that places landmarks like the Twelve Apostles, Lion’s Head and Table Mountain within sight. Those factors, agents say, help explain why buyers are willing to pay premium prices.