Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis maintains foreign investment primarily impacts the luxury property sector. However, a data analysis conducted by Daily Maverick challenges this assertion. The investigation scraped data from Airbnb and discovered that overseas hosts are actively renting out a range of properties, including more affordable flats. This suggests foreign investment’s influence extends beyond the high-end market, potentially exacerbating the city’s existing housing affordability issues. The findings raise questions about the true extent of foreign involvement in Cape Town’s rental landscape. This data-driven analysis provides evidence contradicting the Mayor’s initial claims and highlights a broader impact on the availability of housing for local residents. The study indicates a need for further investigation into the role of foreign investment in the city’s property market.