Nomzamo Mbatha Calls Out Cape Town's R2.6 Million Studio Apartment Prices

• Nomzamo Mbatha took to social media on Tuesday, 19 August 2026, to react to a Cape Town studio apartment listed for nearly R3 million
• The actress shared a Property24 listing for a 20m² Sea Point studio priced at R2,595,000, calling the property market 'deeply concerning'
• South Africans flooded her post with their own frustrations about Cape Town's rising cost of living and gentrification

Celebrity actress and activist Nomzamo Mbatha has sparked a fresh conversation about Cape Town's soaring property prices after sharing a listing for a tiny studio apartment priced at nearly R3 million. The post landed on Tuesday, 19 August 2026, and quickly gained traction, with many South Africans agreeing that housing affordability in the Mother City has reached a breaking point.

The Property24 listing that caught Mbatha's eye was for the ONE26 ON M development in Sea Point — a 20m² studio with half a bedroom and one bathroom, complete with access to a rooftop pool, all for R2,595,000.

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Nomzamo's "glass of shame" reaction

Mbatha did not hold back. In her Instagram story, she wrote: "Have a glass of shame... The things happening in the property market in that beautiful city are actually DEEPLY CONCERNING." She followed it up with a simple "Haibo 😂😂😂", capturing a mix of disbelief and dark humour that resonated with her followers.

The post sparked immediate debate, touching on long-standing conversations about gentrification in Cape Town, foreign buyer influence, and the widening gap between property prices and the average South African's income.

Mzansi Weighs In

The reactions ranged from pointed criticism to solidarity:

@chloemangray wrote:

"Complaining about the cost of living in Cape Town as if we haven't been talking about gentrification and rising living costs for years. You only want to talk about it when it affects you. Imagine what it's like for people who are unemployed and relying on grants."

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@MasegoMphahlele agreed:

"They really are expensive"

@missfaithziqubu offered her view:

"The property market in Cape Town is for foreign buyers."

@TheBlackTheo remarked with a pointed edge:

"We told them, but they thought they were special."

@MegaFunTweets put it in a global context:

"Seems on brand with Sea Point. I'm sure this is way cheaper if compared to a similar location in New York. But her point still stands and is valid."

@mappz_ep brought in a regional perspective:

"The Namibian property market is modelled around the Cape Town scale of pricing; it's ridiculous."

Ayanda Borotho and Nomzamo Mbatha party

In a previous report from Briefly News, a video of Ayanda Borotho and Nomzamo Mbatha sharing a joyful moment surfaced on X on 13 July 2026.

The two South African stars were caught on camera singing along to Mary J Blige's Live Without You at what appeared to be an indoor social gathering.

Source: Briefly News