No bureaucratic address registration to complete after arrival; proof of residence is only needed when opening a bank account or signing contracts
Deposits are legally protected: held in an interest-bearing account and refunded with interest, with statutory return timelines under the Rental Housing Act
English is an official language and the working language of the private medical sector, so English-speaking care is easy to find
Private hospitals in major cities (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban) offer world-class facilities and short waits

Watch out for

Rental scams are common on open-listing sites like Gumtree and social media; never pay a deposit before viewing the property and verifying the landlord/agent (e.g. via the PPRA register)
Deposit-deduction disputes at move-out are frequent; insist on documented incoming and outgoing inspection reports to protect your refund
Visitors on tourist/temporary-stay visas are not entitled to free higher-level public care and are charged full fees (no income means-test), so private insurance is effectively required; primary care at public clinics is nominally free to all
Public hospitals are overcrowded and underfunded with long waiting times - not a practical option for nomads

Cost of living

Cape Town

€1,100–€1,700/mo