Right, Mr. & Ms. Smith looks useful in South Africa. Of course, for award stays, it will depend on what the redemption levels are.

I've had good luck in the past staying at high-rated airbnbs and small hotels in the wine country nearby, usually around Stellenbosch. Winery dinners there can be amazing, especially at South African price points. I also noticed that there are some 4 and 5 star hotels that I can use the $200 AMEX Platinum "fine hotels" credit at in the wine region, and these come with Globalist-like perks. Unsurpringly in South Africa, you can find such properties at around $200, so could be a good option if you have Platinum cards and want to use this often-hard-to-use credit.