Many South Africans have moved to a place in Mauritius nicknamed the “Boere Monaco” because of the growing South African population.
Speaking in an interview with BizNews, Brenthurst Wealth Management director Magnus Heystek said South Africans are increasingly relocating to Mauritius.
He added that this is largely due to its highly favourable financial, tax, and business environment compared to South Africa.
“Starting with the obvious things, Mauritius doesn’t have exchange control. You can bring your money out, you can take it out, no questions asked,” Heystek said.
Heystek said another draw factor is the country’s significant tax benefits. He explained that Mauritius does not charge estate duty, dividend tax, or capital gains tax.
He did, however, add that there is talk of potentially introducing a capital gains tax for expensive properties in the future. Personal income tax is also exceptionally low.
“I had this discussion with a guy from Benoni, and he’s now settled in Mauritius, and he says, ‘You know, I pay 10% tax, maybe 15%. The rest is mine.’ In South Africa, he’d be paying 45%,” Heystek said.
The Mauritian government is also actively encouraging foreign direct investment to grow its economy.
As a result, preliminary estimates published by the Bank of Mauritius showed that France and South Africa were the top sources of direct investment in Mauritius.
These included acquisitions of properties, including luxury villas and apartments, which totalled 18.6 billion rupees (R6.6 billion).
Heystek also noted that Mauritius lacks the “toxic” challenges found in South Africa, such as BEE rules, severe crime, and restrictive foreign-exchange controls.
He argued that this makes it a much more stable environment for individuals and businesses to commit long-term capital. Crime has long been a listed reason why many South African expats have chosen to live overseas.
Smart city nicknamed the Boere Monaco
In contrast, Mauritius consistently ranks as one of the most peaceful countries in the world, and the most peaceful in Africa.
According to the latest Global Peace Index by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), Mauritius, Botswana, and Namibia are Africa’s most peaceful nations in 2025.
Because of this, Heystek said Mauritius is increasingly attracting South Africans not just as investors but also as workers and entrepreneurs.
He added that many of those relocating are skilled and driven individuals. “A lot of the go-getters in the Mauritian society now are the South Africans who come here. They have to make it work,” he said.
He said many of the South Africans who are everyday workers, like plumbers, locksmiths, and air-conditioning technicians, have relocated to make a living and keep more of their hard-earned money.
In response to this demand—also from Europe and other parts of the world —the government has established a series of “smart cities” across the island.
“That’s why Mauritius is growing, attracting a lot of South Africans. Where I stay in Black River, there’s one that we call the ‘Boere Monaco’ because it’s just South Africans wherever you go,” he said.
The city development Heystek is referring to is called Cap Tamarin, a large-scale smart city with various residential and commercial components.
While the development already features operational amenities—including shops, schools, and health services—it continues to grow as a mixed-use, walkable coastal community.
The smart city consists of a retail area (hypermarket Super U), a clinic under the C-Care brand, and an international pre-primary and primary school.
It also has a secondary school, an international high school, office spaces, 2 senior residences, a cultural centre, a new sports complex, and a 3-hectare park alongside the river.
Heystek has previously explained that the Super U, which has already been built, offers what any Woolworths or Checkers offers.
“The quality of medical care at the Life Medical Centre is world-class, which I can personally attest to, as it probably saved my life after a health scare last year,” he added.
