Orania Mandla Mandela Raja Casablanca

Things are moving quickly in Orania, as its population continues to grow – Photo: Orania / Facebook

House prices in ORANIA are now ‘rising drastically’ – here’s why…

Like it or lump it, Orania has become one of the fastest growing hot-spots in South Africa – and its housing market is feeling the strain.

Orania Mandla Mandela Raja Casablanca

Things are moving quickly in Orania, as its population continues to grow – Photo: Orania / Facebook

Orania is… a lot of things to a lot of people. That’s probably the most diplomatic way of putting things. Though locals reject claims that they live in a ‘whites-only town’, the community is only open to Afrikaners. Despite this exclusivity, house prices are starting to soar in the enclave.

The rise of Orania? Several factors contribute to housing demands

There’s been a fair amount of media attention on Orania recently, with international news outlets taking a more fervent interest in the past few weeks. The sheer curiosity of a so-called ‘Desert Eden’ has produced a number of hot takes across the planet.

A community shut-off to several South African demographics, almost 30 years in to our ‘rainbow nation’ project, leaves a sour taste for some. But those who call Orania home are proud of what they’ve built – and it seems that there is no sign of things slowing down any time soon.

According to a recent social media post from Orania Beweging, the town is now building a 63-apartment development, in order to provide an affordable housing alternative. Recently, demand for property in this part of the Northern Cape has soared – but supply cannot keep up.

Things are moving quickly in Orania, as its population continues to grow – Photo: Orania / Facebook

‘Demand outweighing supply’ in SA’s most controversial town

This has forced house prices to ‘rise dramatically’ – but the Olienhout complex will help temporarily help to alleviate the backlog. In recent years, Orania’s population has increased by 55%, and more people than ever are now ‘semi-grating’ to come and live here.

  • Local officials say they are working ‘very hard’ to address local housing issues

“The Orania Movement’s Relief Fund is proud to be part of this initiative to make housing accessible for future Oranians. Sub-economic housing is part of the Helper Fund’s strategy to empower Africans in the long term, sustainably, rather than short term poverty alleviation.”

“There is huge demand for housing in Orania, and little supply, which causes prices to increase drastically in a free market. We are thankful for institutions, building teams, and initiatives that work very hard to help address this.” | Orania Beweging