Award-winning content creator, Naledi Mallela recently took to TikTok to express her frustration about the growing number of digital nomads and tourists flocking to South Africa.
Mzansi has seen a large number of tourists coming to the country, either to relocate, for business or for a holiday.
Celebrities such as Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Simone Biles and popular influencers from around the globe have recently visited and while many citizens were thrilled about this, others have voiced their concerns over the rise of the cost of living in South Africa.
Influencer and content creator, Naledi Mallela made a video expressing that everything in South Africa is getting expensive, blaming this on tourists.
In the video, the former Channel O said: "I need you guys to stop it! Stop it right now, stop coming to South Africa! No, I'm being serious! I have no problem with the fact that you guys are realising that South Africa is a beautiful country and we have cheap s***.
“But the problem with you guys coming here is that everything is getting expensive! Like every single second TikTok an American is here, someone is going to a safari, everything has become expensive, Nandos costs 600 bucks for a full chicken!”
@naledimofficial ENOUGH! 😭😭😭😭😭😭
♬ original sound - NalediMOfficial
Since South Africa introduced the digital nomad visa in October 2024, Cape Town and Johannesburg has seen an influx of tourists. Even though this might be a good boost for the economy, for locals on the other hand, it is difficult to afford daily items.
Meanwhile, other netizens have taken to social media to address their concerns over the property market in Cape Town and how most locals cannot even afford to rent or buy.
Author, Sizwe Mpofu recently interviewed Cape Town mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis about the concerns of property affordability and the rise of digital nomads.
The mayor said: “When something is highly desired and in strong demand, the price of that thing rises. So there are affordability concerns about property in Cape Town. The way to address that is not to take the approach that has been taken in many other cities in the world, almost universally without any success.
Cape Town Mayor @geordinhl on property affordability and digital nomads in Cape Town…pic.twitter.com/YIkk9MApMx
— Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh (@SizweMpofuWalsh) March 3, 2025
He added that they are trying to stimulate the supply side of the market and they are accelerating their own city land release.
Hill-Lewis also noted that there are plans underway in the Mother City which aim to make it easier for locals to be able to afford to live in the city.