Simbithi Eco-Estate Magazine Winter 2023

Rory Anderson

Richard Anderson

Jake Morgan

Kerry Ritson

Nicole Ras

the colourful, intriguing variety of Kei-apple trees brilliantly explained by resident margi Lilienfeld.

General Manager Simbithi Eco-Estate gm@simbithi.com

General Manager From the

Winter is most certainly here, judging by the more frequent need to wear a jacket to the office in the mornings. We do still get peeks of sunshine in the afternoons, though, which is always a welcome sight.

While KZN remains relatively green during the Winter, you might notice what looks like grass dying on the Estate. This is part of our annual Winter landscaping programme, where the environmental department and our landscaping service provider will concentrate on alien removal, which includes Panicum. This time of year, Simbithi also sees the return of the rare Spotted Ground Thrush. A few of these beautiful birds return each year to overwinter in our forests. Look out for them while walking one of the forest trails.

The second half of the year also means we begin preparations for our Annual General Meeting season. The AGM will take place in late August, and we hope to see our homeowners engaging with us and actively participating in the process. Nominations for directorship will open, soon. I encourage you to consider and nominate homeowners with a passion for Simbithi, whom you believe would make a valuable contribution to our Estate. All nominations are required to be accepted by the nominee. We will share more information on this process closer to the time.

In line with our vision and mission, which you may read more about later on in this edition, Simbithi has been quite active in the media space, recently. Our Environmental Manager, Ayanda Duma, and Marketing and Communications Co-Ordinator, Jodi Chetty, recently popped into East Coast Radio for the Key to Property segment, where they shared more about our sustainable business and environmental practices. And, at the end of May, kykNET visited Simbithi to film for a feature called Ysters van die Landgoed. Some of our team were interviewed, as were a few of our residents. The feature should air in July… please don’t judge my Afrikaans!

I’d like to end off by welcoming three new faces to the SEEHOA team: Etienne Begemann, our new Finance Manager, Natasha Binneman, Executive Assistant, and Prisha Dhoopraj, who’s joined our finance team. I hope you have a successful, fruitful tenure with Simbithi.

Sadly, we bid a heartfelt farewell to Saras Basdeo, our beloved Security Administrator and, without a doubt, the backbone of the department. Saras, we will miss you and wish you and your daughter everything of the best as you relocate to Johannesburg.

Have a great Winter, everyone.

Marc Mc Clure

FINE HOMES & LUXURY PROPERTIES

Our monthly webinar, where you may interact with our chairman, general managers, directors, and heads of department. if you have any topics you would like the panel to address, please e-mail enquiries@simbithi.com. Zoom link to join webinar is shared via SmS, e-mail and WhatsApp, if you are registered for broadcast messages.

The first thing that would strike a ‘grown-up’ about Santiago, or Santi, as he is called by his friends and family, is that he is incredibly mature. In fact, I chatted to him on his 14th birthday, he informs me with a slight chuckle. We would get onto the greens in a moment, Santiago assured me, as he began sharing his love of sports.

It turns out that Santiago started out kicking, not driving, a ball. “Soccer, that was the first sport I played when we lived in Johannesburg. I liked it because it kept me fast and active,” he shares. “When I was eight years old, I also got into motocross at a regional and national level, but I had to stop briefly when I broke my arm. Once it was healed, I rode again.”

A four-year-old Santiago first learned of golf when his father, Marco, would take him to a driving range to hit a few balls. “There was a place called Huddle Park with a really cool restaurant where our family liked to hang out. So, we would go and have breakfast by the dam and then my father would get a bucket of balls for us to hit at the driving range. I was only four, but I loved it,” Santiago recalls. “I think I started to take golf seriously around seven or eight years old.”

Seriously, indeed. At seven years old, Santiago played in the local South African Kids’ Golf Tournament and, by the time he turned 11, made the KwaZulu-Natal team for three consecutive years. He has also represented GolfRSA for two years, played the Euro Champs in Scotland in 2021, and won the African Open at San Lameer, recently.

One of Simbithi’s youngest members, Santiago names the 17 th as his favourite hole. “It can be

very tough because of the water, but especially when it’s windy. I like the challenge,” he says. “Simbithi is a great course to play because it’s a par3, so it helps you improve your chipping and putting. On Simbithi, you use more irons than woods and drivers.”

While golf is his first love, Santiago’s calendar is not short on sporting activities: the Clifton School learner also plays hockey, soccer and swims for his school… and, naturally, is on their golf team, too!

In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, playing soccer with his friends, and the occasional game of tennis.

The future golf professional has just one tip for younger (and older) golfers who are starting out. “You must be disciplined and have patience. Golf is not the easiest sport, but it’s rewarding if you are willing to put in the work and be dedicated. Then, you’ll see your game improve.”

Ian Brewer Wealth Adviser

Grant Clinton CA(SA) Fiduciary Adviser

Jacqui Mayne Insure Adviser

Marnus Steenkamp CFP® CA(SA) Wealth Adviser

Shaun Latter CFP® Adv.PGDipFinPlanning Wealth Adviser

Sean Fouche CFP® CA(SA) MBA Wealth Manager

Rory Logan PGDipFinPlanning and PGDipInvPlanning Wealth Manager

They are edible raw and have been used to make jams, jelly, vinegar and even liqueur

PURPLE-CRESTED TURACO

FOR MORE INFORMATION REFER TO

Boon, R. 2010. Pooley’s Trees of Eastern South Africa. Flora Publications Trust, Durban

http://pza.sanbi.org/dovyalis-caffra

https://pza.sanbi.org/dovyalislongispina

https://pza.sanbi.org/dovyalisrhamnoides

BirdPro App

DARK-CAPPED BULBULS

In previous years, the Gallery, located adjacent to the Drop Zone Bar on the ground floor of the Country Club, was a somewhat broody venue: dark, with a delicious element of mystery. A few months ago, we announced the space was due to undergo a revamp and, with the glass doors officially open, we are utterly delighted with the final product.

Interior designer extraordinaire Suzi Hellens was the creative force behind the new look. Suzi, whose vibrant work may already be seen at our Dragonfly Conference Venue and the Fig Tree Restaurant, relished the opportunity of another blank canvas at the Club. “The space was a work in progress for a while,” Suzi tells us. “We wanted to create a more highend, luxe space where people could host a wider range of events, be it a birthday party or a wine tasting. Also, with the proximity to the golf course and the Drop Zone, we wanted to

open the doors up to create an extended space for food service.”

The first thing that catches one’s eye in the new Gallery is the relocation of the wooden staircase. It is now on the left of the room, leading up to the wine cellar, wherein we hope to establish a wine library in due course. This opens the room up considerably, as does the eye-catching couture wallpaper. “Yes, it is gorgeous,” Suzi agrees of the striking design. “New light fixtures and a few tasteful pieces add that final touch of class and elegance.”

Another interesting facet of the design is the upcycling of existing furniture to match the new aesthetic. This is aligned with our vision of sustainability and our ‘eco’ ethos. “The tables, previously a dark wood, have

been sanded to match the lighter look we see in the Fig Tree. And we’ve recovered the chairs in a sprightly forest green and moved away from leather to create a more contemporary look,” Suzi shares. “The old sideboard looks brand new, after a coat of green paint, which is simply beautiful. Overall, the tropical, beachy vibe blends in well with the Fig Tree’s new look and the Drop Zone’s appearance, so we have a coherent, upmarket flow throughout the Club.”

The room’s acoustics have been improved to reduce echo and the ceiling replaced, providing a lighter, loftier feel. A wallmounted television makes the room multi-purpose, suitable for a range of bespoke events.

A portion of the Gallery wall has been left blank, which

Club General Manager Craig Nell hopes to soon fill with artwork. “The idea is to find up and coming artists who are not necessarily mainstream, and who are seeking alternate spaces to exhibit their work. We would love to find them, partner with them and sell their pieces from the Gallery. This would be a community upliftment project, which I’m excited to get off the ground, as it ties into our strategic initiative of integration with our surrounding communities.”

We are sure you cannot wait to see this incredible space (and we won’t blame you for rushing straight over for a peek!).

Get in touch with our Events Manager, Marlene Govender, on events@simbithi.com to book your event.

While many may not grasp precisely what sustainability entails, it is quite a simple concept: caring well for the planet and its resources now, so future generations may also be granted the opportunity to enjoy it. Sustainability is, of course, the cornerstone of our Simbithi strategy. Imagine our intrigue and excitement at partnering with two residents whose business practises sustainability… with coffee?

“Well, it’s a peculiar, two-part story, really,” Nic van Rensburg muses,when asked to share the origins of BTIG “One of necessity and discovery.”

It was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the idea first began tickling his brain. “I was stuck at home, as was most of the world. My wife, Candice, was overseas, so there was not much to do.” Nic adds that he could not buy much, either, at the time. “I’ve always been interested in fire,” he shares. “That,

and a good cup of coffee. Lockdown gave me some time to think about bringing those two passions together.”

Nic began toying with the pods from his Nespresso machine and soon found research on recycling the coffee granules. “The research showed me that this practice is not necessarily new, but that there was a gap in the South African market for this type of business. It started as a passion project, but it’s developed into a viable coffee recycling solution.”

And, so, the Biotech Industries Group was born. The group now incorporates a range of sustainable products including a BioBlend fertiliser, recycled coffee logs, charffee fire pellets and recycled coffee briquettes. Each one is uniquely beneficial to people and the planet, says Nic. “Coffee beans are generally disposed of without much thought. Our company offers a renewable alternative.”

By turning waste away from landfills, and extending the life use of the coffee bean, BTIG remains ahead of the curve. “It’s sustainable, has longevity and is considerably less harmful for the environment. Our existing products are doing well, and we’re looking at branching into the cosmetic sector with coffeebased scrubs and exfoliators; the industry is quite versatile.”

Part of the BTIG model is to partner with likeminded businesses and entities. Hence, the group’s recent partnership with Simbithi EcoEstate. “We’ve been collecting waste at the Club for a period, and we have now extended this to the entire Estate. For us, it’s about linking with those who share our ethos and vision and speak our language.”

As the partnership unfolds, BTIG will place bins at strategic points on the Estate where recyclable waste may be dropped off. It will then be collected and taken to BTIG for recycling.

For Nic and Candice, Simbithi is a haven. “We’ve been here since 2011, so we’ve really seen the Estate grow and mature. The nature is something to behold and reminds us why we’re so passionate about caring for the environment.”

Smart Metering (Pre-paid and Conventional)

Earthing and Lightning Protection Systems

Electrical Fault Finding and Automation

Electrical Installation and Maintenance

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Electrical MV (Medium Voltage) and LV (Low Voltage) Reticulation

Certificate of Compliance

Solar Photovoltaic

Energy Ef ficiency *

UPS / Inverters

Generators

APPROVED INSTALLERS:

SUN SYNK

53 Laguna Seca, 1 Lee Barns Blvd Ballito, 4420

Tel: 032 004 0180 Cell: 083 652 7359

E: mervyn@nmrelectrical.co.za

www.nmrelectrical.co.za