Do you pay capital gains tax when selling a gifted property?

You will have to pay capital gains tax on the property if it has increased in value since you purchased it, as the additional value qualifies as profit, even though you are gifting that profit to someone else.

Gifting a property is subject to different rules than bequeathing a property in South Africa. You will also have to pay a donations tax of 20% on the value of the property. Every person is entitled to an annual exemption of R100,000 in respect of donations tax. The first R100,000 of the value of the property will therefore be exempt from donations tax and the balance will attract donations tax.