Is Philippi affordable?

Philippi is among the more affordable suburbs in Cape Town. With a median property value of R291K, it falls in the 7th percentile, below most of the city. Note that these figures are based on the City of Cape Town General Valuation 2022 and reflect municipal valuations, not necessarily current market prices.

What are utility costs in Philippi?

The median monthly water cost per account in Philippi is R161, 76% below the city median of R658. The median monthly electricity cost per account in Philippi is R8,851, 366% above the median of CoCT-billed suburbs of R1,900.

What is the municipal debt in Philippi?

As of May 2026, the average outstanding municipal debt per account in Philippi is R15,003, 70% above the city median of R8,815. Figures include all account types, so may overstate household debt in areas with commercial activity.

Philippi

A suburb with more affordable property values, strong school performance, and well-connected public transport relative to Cape Town.

Neighbourhood data for Philippi

Safety data not available. Property, school, and service data shown below.

Property2-400kTop 93%Schools2685% matric pass rate Healthcare15 facilitiesmore access than most suburbs CouncilBelow avg complaints2d median resolution TransportMinibus taxi coveragewell-connected area

The neighbourhood

What's it like to live here?

Philippi is a neighbourhood in Cape Flats, Cape Town, where property values place it among the more affordable areas in Cape Town. There are several places of worship in the area. The dominant commuter mode is minibus taxi.

How is the area changing?

Crime trend data is not available for Philippi. Property value growth has lagged behind inflation between valuation rolls.

What should buyers know?

Philippi is well-served by schools, and matric results sit slightly below the city average. In this area, service complaints are generally resolved within a few days. The suburb is well-served by nearby healthcare facilities.

Neighbourhood summary generated from StreetSignal data and reviewed by our team.

These statistics describe the suburb as a whole. Conditions vary between streets and neighbourhoods within any suburb.

For home buyers & families

Is Philippi safe?

Safety index suppressed

Station catchment population (366k+) dilutes per-capita rate. Score suppressed per Hanover Park Rule. Multi-suburb coverage creates statistical distortion.

Source: SAPS via DataFirst · Q4 2025/2026

FOR BUYERS & INVESTORS

What do properties cost in Philippi?

7th percentile

Planned development

515 hectares of land in Philippi are earmarked for new development across 28 parcels, primarily High Density Residential (229ha) and Mixed Use (194ha), and 4 other categories.

Source: CCT District Spatial Development Framework (January 2023). Development areas indicate planning designation, not construction timelines.

The median property value in Philippi is R291K. Property values have grown by 3.9% per year since 2018.

A 3.9% annual growth rate (CAGR) over the valuation period.

Value band distribution – Philippi properties (GV2022)

0-200k

2-400k ◀

4-600k

6-800k

800k-1M

Property values are based on the City of Cape Town's 2022 General Valuation roll. GV is an assessed value for municipal rating purposes; transaction prices frequently exceed GV. Recent sales transaction data and rental market data are not available as open data in South Africa.

Median GV2022: R291,000
Value growth (CAGR 2018–2022): +3.9% per year↑ Growing
City-wide value percentile: 7th percentile
Dominant value band: 2-400k
Source: CCT GV 2022 · Open Data Policy 27781
Vintage: General Valuation 2022 (municipal valuation, not current market price)

Source: City of Cape Town GV2022

FOR RESIDENTS

What do utilities cost in Philippi?

Computed from City of Cape Town billing data

Water

R161 / month

76% below city median

Electricity

R8 851 / month

366% above median of CoCT-billed suburbs

Water trend:Dec 2025: R193Jan 2026: R161Feb 2026: R148

Electricity trend:Dec 2025: R7 747Jan 2026: R8 851Feb 2026: R9 121

Monthly cost per account from City of Cape Town billing data. Water coverage: 647 suburbs. Electricity coverage: 384 suburbs.

INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

Development activity in Philippi

↑ Increasing

Philippi had 163 building plans approved in the last three financial years (FY22/23 to FY24/25), averaging 54 per year. Most were renovations and extensions.

3-year approvals: 163
Annual average: 54/yr
Avg project value: R4.4M

6% social housing6% of recent building plans in Philippi were for RDP or low-cost housing projects.

Building plans approved by the City of Cape Town (2014-2025). Approvals indicate planned investment, not completed construction. This data reflects formal building activity only and does not capture informal construction, backyard dwellings, or building work undertaken without a formal plan submission. In areas with high informality, actual construction activity may be substantially higher than these figures suggest. Source: CoCT Building Development Management (DAMS).

FOR PARENTS

How are schools in Philippi?

26 schools nearby

Philippi has 26 schools within reach. The area matric pass rate is 85.0%, below the city median of 90.0%. Schools include Jeq Preparatory School.

Adjusted pass rate: 85.0%; City median: 90.0%
Schools contributing: 8; 1812 candidates
Median quintile: Q2; Q1-Q2

IND
Jeq Preparatory School
Independent · Grades R–7 · 270 learners · 16.9:1 learner-educator ratio
PrivateNo-fee schoolFavourable class size
IND
Ithemba Labantu Primary School
Independent · Grades R–7 · 195 learners · 17.7:1 learner-educator ratio
PrivateNo-fee schoolFavourable class size
IND
Junior College
Independent · Grades R–7 · 169 learners · 18.8:1 learner-educator ratio
PrivateFavourable class size
Q2
Entshona Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,166 learners · 33.3:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Bongolethu Primary School(Nyanga)
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,098 learners · 37.9:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Nal'Uxulo Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,379 learners · 38.3:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q3
Weltevreden Valley Core Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,371 learners · 37.1:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q3
Sophumelela Secondary School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 1,646 learners · 33.6:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Masivuke Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,335 learners · 39.3:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q3
Zisukhanyo Secondary School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 1,367 learners · 33.3:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Vukani Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,208 learners · 35.5:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q3
Phandulwazi High School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 1,391 learners · 37.6:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Phillipi Secondary School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 1,417 learners · 38.3:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Mzamomhle Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,122 learners · 35.1:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Sinethemba Secondary School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 1,643 learners · 33.5:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Siyazakha Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,344 learners · 34.5:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Vuyiseka Secondary School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 1,525 learners · 33.9:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Khanya Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,221 learners · 33:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Heinz Park Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,014 learners · 31.7:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q3
Samora Machel Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,366 learners · 35:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Phakama Secondary School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 1,184 learners · 30.4:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Intsebenziswano Secondary School
Public · Grades 8–12 · 1,530 learners · 35.6:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q3
Kwa-Faku Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,208 learners · 36.6:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Zanemfundo Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,184 learners · 34.8:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q2
Dietrich Mor Primêre Skool
Public · Grades R–7 · 265 learners · 33.1:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school
Q3
Klipfontein Met Primêre Skool
Public · Grades R–7 · 631 learners · 35.1:1 learner-educator ratio
No-fee school

Quintile 5 is the highest government-funding category - fees apply, but these are the best-resourced public schools in South Africa. Rankings set by the WCED against community socioeconomic index. Learner-educator ratio (LER) is from EMIS Q2 2025; under 30:1 is favourable by WCED standards, over 40:1 indicates strained capacity. What quintile means ›

Source: DBE EMIS · Q2 2025

FOR COMMUTERS

How connected is Philippi?

Taxi-connected

Philippi has 33 minibus taxi routes, including routes to the CBD. The most common way people get to work is by minibus taxi (40%).

Taxi connectivity

Well connected

33 routes

81st percentile · 23 destinations · CBD-connected

Athlone, Cape town, Claremont, Cross roads, Guguletu, Heideveld +17 more

Based on CCT minibus taxi route data. Routes matched by name and spatial proximity (500m). Methodology ›

Commute mode share

Minibus taxis are the primary transport mode. The 40% share reflects a working-class commuter profile – taxi connectivity is a critical economic lifeline, not a lifestyle choice.

Private vehicle

16%

Walking

23%

MyCiTi bus

19%

Minibus taxi

40%

Cape Town transport context: In South African cities, transport mode is a socioeconomic proxy – high private vehicle = affluent, high minibus taxi = working class, high walking = structural necessity not preference. StreetSignal reports modal share rather than a walkability index, which would misrepresent SA urban mobility. Methodology ›

Dominant mode: Minibus taxi (40%)
Source: CCT Household Survey 2024

Source: City of Cape Town Open Data · 2024

FOR RESIDENTS

What are living conditions in Philippi?

Limited service delivery

Philippi has a service delivery index of 68 out of 100, below the city median of 84.5. 34% of dwellings are formal structures.

Computed from the City of Cape Town 2024 Household Survey, Philippi East survey group (78 households). direct.

› Adult food insecurity (31.1%) is 1.7× the city average of 18.3%.› Monthly accommodation expenditure (R136) is 0.1× the city median of R1,674.› Mobile-dependent: 70% of households rely on mobile data as their primary internet access.› 39% of households have experienced flooding, indicating elevated environmental vulnerability.› Violent crime victimisation reported by 18% of households (distinct from SAPS-reported statistics).› 40% of dwellings are informal structures, reflecting historical under-investment in formal housing provision.

Food security

Adult food insecurity: 31.1%; City median: 18.3%
Child food insecurity: 28.7%; City median: 13.0%
Food insecurity prevalence: 43.3%; City median: 22.3%

Access to basic services

68City median: 85

Piped water: 61.5%
Flush toilet: 59.7%
Weekly refuse: 64.5%
Grid electricity: 86.3%

Housing & tenure – Informal or family-compound housing

34City median: 68

Formal dwellings: 34.1%
Owner-occupied: 34.1%
Rented: 10.7%

Environmental risk – High risk exposure

76risk index · higher = greater risk · City median: 26

Flooding risk: 39.1%
Fire risk: 13.4%
Violent crime: 17.8%
Non-violent crime: 2.6%

Economic structure – Significant material pressure

Food spending share: 51.3%; Share of income spent on food
City median: 35.3%
Under pressure, limited discretionary income · 19th percentile
Hardship dimensions: 2; Areas of material need (out of 8)
Grant income share: 48.0%; of households receiving grants
Monthly savings: R149; Weighted mean per household

Digital inclusion – Mobile-dependent suburb

Home fibre: 15.8%; City median: 46.5%
Mobile only: 70.3%
No access: 11.8%

Demographics & community

Avg household size: 3.6 people
Avg children per household: 1.2

Asset ownership

Computer access: 13.8%
Fridge ownership: 89.9%
Property ownership: 0.0%
Geyser ownership: 9.2%
Borehole access: 2.6%

Home-based economy

Home-based business: 8.8%; of households operate a home-based business
WFH full-time: 1.6%

Source: City of Cape Town 2024 Household Survey. Survey group: Philippi East. direct.

Energy access

88%

Free basic electricity

5.6%

City median

88% of electricity connections in Philippi receive free basic electricity under the City's indigent support programme. Free basic electricity is a constitutional entitlement providing a monthly allocation to qualifying households. The proportion reflects the reach of the City's indigent support in this suburb, not a measure of poverty.

Source: CCT prepaid electricity data (2025/11/30 to 2026/01/31). Covers prepaid connections only. Credit-metered households are not included. 27,338 connections.

Source: City of Cape Town household survey · 2024

FOR RESIDENTS

How responsive are municipal services in Philippi?

Responsive

The City of Cape Town resolves service requests in Philippi in a median of 2 days, compared to the city-wide median of 1 day. This is based on 66,549 service requests to the City of Cape Town.

Computed from City of Cape Town service request data

Below-average municipal responsiveness. A 2-day median resolution is slower than the city median – infrastructure complaints take meaningfully longer to resolve.

Median days to resolve
City median: 1

38th

Percentile
across Cape Town

20%

Resolved
same day

Power outage (25%)Sewerage overflow (12%)Damaged Bin - 240L (7%)PPM Display Blank (6%)PPM KRN Fault (6%)

Service requests logged: 66 549
Requests resolved: 73% (48 881 of 66 549)
75% resolved within: 7 days
90% resolved within: 16 days
Source: CCT service request database

Community & faith

Places of worship

9 registered

Christian

Islamic

Places of worship per suburb from City of Cape Town open data, supplemented with OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Coverage: 373 of 744 suburbs.

Municipal complaints

Complaints & top issues

Below city average

Complaint rate How is this calculated?: 843.4 per 1,000 households
Total complaints: 65 432
Unresolved: 26.0%

Top issues: Power outage (16 597), Sewerage overflow (7 614), Damaged Bin - 240L (4 469)

Source: City of Cape Town C3 service requests

MUNICIPAL FINANCE

Municipal debt in Philippi

70% above city median

Computed from City of Cape Town financial data

Municipal debt in Philippi averages R15 003 per account, compared to the city median of R8 815.

R15 003

per account

70% above city median

Trend:Mar 2026: R14 569Apr 2026: R15 003May 2026: R15 683

Breakdown as of May 2026

Property rates: R69 543 388
Electricity: R90 803 263
Water: R110 357 184
Refuse: R19 255 881
Sewerage: R35 310 186
City-wide cleaning: R1 444 701
Improvement district: R0

Outstanding municipal arrears from City of Cape Town financial records. Coverage: 741 suburbs. Per-account figures available for 582 suburbs.

FOR FAMILIES

What services are near Philippi?

Well served

Healthcare access

15 within 5km

Nearest public: Weltevreden Valley Clinic · Community Day Centre · 2.4 km
Nearest private: Melomed Mitchells Plain · Private Hospital · 6 km
Public facilities: 15
Private facilities: 0

This suburb has public healthcare access but no private facilities within 5 km.

The nearest fire station to Philippi is Guguletu, 3.2 km away. The nearest public pool is Browns Farm Swimming Pool, 3.4 km away. The nearest clinic is Weltevreden Valley Clinic, 2.4 km away.

Nearest clinic: Weltevreden Valley Clinic · 2.4 km
Nearest library: Weltevreden · 2 km
Nearest park / open space: Bond Street Park Mp · 1.52 km