Johannesburg, the City of Gold - is known to be the biggest commercial center in South Africa. The Gauteng Government has taken a similar approach to handling the pandemic to the rest of the country - with medium to high restrictions within the city. The government has restricted mobility through curfews.
Sandton is Johannesburg's largest shopping area. Melrose and Rosebank alongside Sandton have seen SMB closures as a response to economic pressures. Bars, restaurants and luxury stores have since closed, due to the inaccessibility of the SMB relief fund. The workforce size has declined in these areas, resulting in decreased economic footprint - also at least partly related to the work-from-home trend.
Residential areas such as Alberton, located on the outskirts of commercial hubs have held stable - however those near commercial areas have seen greater spending losses.
While tourism has taken a knock - domestic travel to safaris has become a norm. OR Tambo international Airport has seen fewer international arrivals, while Lanseria is reserved for mostly domestic travel - both airports are in recovery, however movement remains softer than usual.
SMB Retail Spending August 2021 vs August 2019, Card Present
Source: Mastercard Economics Institute
As of August 30, 2021