Neighbourhood 11 MARCH 2018
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Down south Why holiday-makers from all over the country are heading to the South Coast in waves, page 2
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SUBURB FOCUS: HOLIDAYING IN THE SOUTH COAST
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BUSINESS Q&A
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PROPERTY NEWS
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PROPERTY NEWS
11 MARCH 2018
Neighbourhood
Suburb focus
The South Coast Discover the wonders of holidaying in the area WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER IMAGES: UMZIMKULU MARINA, UGU SOUTH COAST TOURISM & WILD 5 ADVENTURES
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he KwaZulu-Natal South Coast offers a superb lifestyle, with seaside town residents enjoying the warm Indian Ocean, the opportunities presented by the seasonal influx of tourists, the natural beauty of the area and affordability not found on any other coastline.
If you head south from Durban on the N2 or travel along the little old coast road, you find a smaller or bigger town every few kilometres or so, each with its own personality, identity and residential and tourist attributes. For many, the South Coast is the holiday-maker’s best-kept secret.
The northern-most South Coast town is Amanzimtoti, part of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, but from Scottburgh to Mtwalume, you’re in Umdoni or Ugu (translated as “the edge of the great water”) country. Then the so-called Hibiscus Coast stretches from Hibberdene through Port Shepstone, Shelly Beach, Margate and Southbroom to Port Edward on the Eastern Cape border.
Holiday homes and accommodation This coastline has long been popular with retirees, with stylish new mature lifestyle residential developments like Renishaw Hills near Scottburgh accommodating this demand. The retiree label largely comes from decades of holiday-makers from landlocked provinces choosing to retire where the weather is good and where they can spend their days fishing, playing golf and enjoying the beach lifestyle. Property in the South Coast is considerably more affordable than in other areas and, in many instances, the towns are much quieter (particularly out of season). Certain South Coast
towns, like Margate, are dominated by holiday-makers in season, while others are more residential. Guesthouses, B&Bs and camping and caravanning resorts abound, particularly around areas with Blue Flag beaches, spectacular views and natural surroundings. It’s a wonderful, affordable destination. The area includes apartment blocks, townhouse complexes, palatial freestanding homes and a wide variety of holiday accommodation. With the bounty offered by the warm Indian Ocean, the lifestyle is prized. Sally Caper has enjoyed many holidays in the South Coast with her husband, John, and their two dogs. “Last year, we sold a vast home in Gauteng and moved into a complex for over-50s here. John fishes, I play golf and at sundown we walk on the beach with the dogs or enjoy a sundowner with a sea view that’s beyond belief. And our kids now holiday with us two or three times a year. It’s not often that reality surpasses a dream.”
Explore
This coastline has numerous sea and land-based natural attractions. The warm Indian Ocean makes it
a holiday-maker’s dream. For scuba divers, there’s Aliwal Shoal, a dive site which is part of an ancient reef complex, as well as Protea Banks, off Shelly Beach – both are internationally ranked dive (and shark dive) sites. This coastline is perfect for spotting dolphins and whales. If you’re in the area in winter, you can witness the spectacular sardine run where millions of sardines migrate along the coast in a feeding frenzy trailed by dolphins, sharks, birds and fishermen. With hiking and mountain biking paths, picnic spots and a variety of birds and animals, the South Coast offers ample opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. There are great nature trails, wetlands and forests inside and outside nature reserves such as Oribi Gorge, inland from Southport, and Vernon Crooks Nature Reserve near Umzinto. Oribi Gorge is also renowned for extreme sporting options such as bungee jumping. South Coast resident Jenny Clarke spends a great deal of time hiking and bird-watching in the area. “When it comes to my two passions, the South Coast is really a gem. There are so many opportunities to get out there and enjoy nature.”
EAT: • The Fish Eagle Restaurant, Port Edward: rated as one of the top five restaurants on the South Coast • The Waffle House, Margate: for hearty breakfasts and sea views • Enzo Pizzeria Trattoria, Scottburgh: for authentic Italian cuisine • Giorgio’s at the View Boutique Hotel, Amanzimtoti: for fusion-style cooking with Italian flair • Burlesque Cafe, Ramsgate: for home-style, rustic dishes • Casa Toscana, Trafalgar (reopens 14 March): for a wonderful balance of traditional Italian and a touch of elegant fine dining • The Cellar Boutique Restaurant, Port Shepstone: for an intimate dining experience • Stephward Estate Country House, Uvongo: for fine dining in a romantic and relaxed atmosphere
Because of the dense coastal vegetation, it’s tucked away, yet it’s right on the beach. Even though we live in Durban, my kids have grown up here, brought their friends from school, and they call it home – there’s not a chance we’d ever sell this lifestyle! SUE SLATER, HOLIDAY-MAKER
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11 MARCH 2018
Neighbourhood
With 300 to 400 species in the different eco-zones, bird-watchers love the South Coast. TC Robertson Nature Reserve alongside the Mpambanyoni River is a well-run wetland area, with a wide variety of birds and a few bird hides. Southbroom has the Frederika Nature Preserve, a tropical enclave between the Mbizane and Kaba rivers, and the Mpenjati Nature Reserve has guides who can take visitors along the beach at low tide to see the protected marine fossils. Visitors also enjoy visiting the Red Desert, one of the smallest deserts in the world, which looks like the red sands of Mars. There are also unusual flowers, shipwrecks and coves on walks along the Hibiscus Coast. On the rocks of Glenmore Beach, parts of the 1933 wreck of the Nightingale are still visible. South Coast towns like Pennington are some of the best places for off-shore and deep-sea fishing. Pennington is also a renowned surf spot – one of many along the South Coast. With a number of superb 18-hole golf courses, the South Coast is also known locally and internationally as the “Golf Coast”. Southbroom has the widely respected San Lameer and Southbroom Golf clubs, while Pennington has Umdoni Park Golf Club. Further south there’s the Wild Coast Sun Country Club and many others. On some courses, you can also find great accommodation to rent on the golf estate or nearby.
PROPERTY NEWS
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SLEEP: • The Gorge Private Game Lodge and Spa, Oribi Gorge • Desroches Hotel, Margate • Rock Shandy Beach House and Stone Cottage, Marina Beach • Coral Tree Colony, Southbroom • Umkomazi Rocks Beach House, Widenham • Highrocks Beach House, Widenham • St Helier Cottage, Umkomaas • Pumula Beach Hotel, Umzumbe • Clansthal Beach House, Clansthal • Umbhobe Beach House, Pennington • Selborne Villas, Pennington • Botha House, Pennington
For sale Median asking price:
R1,35m
Monthly bond repayments
For a typical property (three-bedroom house)
R1,3m
R1,04m
R1,4m
In a complex
For an apartment
For a house
55%
Property Type:
DO:
For a typical property in this area
house
32%
complex
R13,252 per month
Based on
apartment
13%
You’ll pay
R1,35m median asking price
over a period of 20 years at 10,25% prime
• Explore the many beautiful beaches. • Go for a coffee tour of Beaver Creek coffee farm. • Take the family to the Wild Waves Water Park at the Wild Coast Sun. • Enjoy game viewing, hiking, mountain biking and zip-lining. • Play a few rounds at one of the choice golf courses in the area. • Get your adrenaline pumping at Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve with Wild 5 Adventures. • Discover the South Coast Birding Route. • Go swimming, surfing, fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling.
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PROPERTY NEWS
11 MARCH 2018
Neighbourhood
My business neighbourhood The INCA Premium Cocoa Company sells handmade cocoa through pop-up stands at markets, events and malls WORDS: TIVANIA MOODLEY
IMAGES: SUPPLIED
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he comfort of a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter evening is a treasured childhood memory for many. Rishav Sewsunker established the INCA Premium Cocoa Company when he recognised that South Africa didn’t have the quality hot chocolate found in European countries. He tells us more about his business Q: How did your business start? A: A bout two and a half years ago, my girlfriend at the time drank a lot
of hot chocolate, and we struggled to find an offering that she liked. I invested time into researching what a cup of hot chocolate really contains, which revealed that what we have available here is highly processed, high in sugar with little chocolate value. The industry lacked creativity and I saw a gap in the market. It took a year to formulate the product and, in 2016, the INCA Premium Cocoa Company launched at the Coffee and Chocolate Expo serving authentic handmade cocoa. Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop? A: We have a little kitchen in Mount Edgecombe, where we do our preparation and crafting, and offer our product through popup stands at markets, events and malls. We’ve had to keep our overheads as low as possible, so space at the moment is purely functional. Also, with the nature of the food and beverage industry right now, much of the ability to create brand awareness centres on mobility. We’re able to get our products directly to where the consumers are. This way, we offer a classy and connected experience. Q: How did you find your premises? A: T he space became available through the generosity of my family. We’ve converted a space at my parents’ home into our prep kitchen.
Q: Who are your neighbours? A: Residential families. Q: What are the shop rental/ sales prices like in this area? A: A s I use a space in my parents’ home, I don’t pay a rental amount. Q: How many people visit your business each day? A: Our kitchen is purely functional – no frills, nothing fancy. We don’t get any visitors besides deliveries from suppliers and courier services. At the pop-up stores, however, we see hundreds of people a day. Q: Do you have any expansion plans? A: I anticipate opening a small cocoa shop that will not only be a destination for South African chocolate but will also be an experience with a unique atmosphere, serving our beverages the traditional way – in bowls. Q: Do you operate online as well? A: We’re active on Facebook (facebook.com/incacocoa), Instagram (@incacocoa) and our website. Q: What’s your most popular item? A: Our authentic cocoa paste is a winner, as it’s honey-sweetened and free of refined sugar, gluten and preservatives.
SEE FOR YOURSELF: Q: Why are the premises ideally suited to your business? A: A s a start-up business, we don’t require much space, so this works well for us.
INCA Premium Cocoa Company 082 491 9805 incacocoa.com
11 MARCH 2018
Budget speech impact
PROPERTY NEWS
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Industry experts hopeful changes will lead to a more buoyant property market WORDS: CANDICE BOTHA
IMAGE: ISTOCK
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he Budget speech is always highly anticipated. This year, it contained more good news than bad for the property market. The announcement of no change in capital gains tax or the transfer duty threshold was received with relief by property professionals, and a plan to reshape the public service and curb government spending is also expected to have a positive knock-on effect on the property market. Berry Everitt, CEO, Chas Everitt, says, “It will hopefully stave off a ratings downgrade to total junk, help to attract more private sector investment and boost the employment rate even faster.” More jobs will lead to more sales and rentals, and rising investor confidence will go far to check inflation and make it easier for more people to qualify for home loans and buy their own homes. Much has been made of the VAT increase from 14% to 15% and reactions about how this will affect the property sector are mixed, with concern mainly over commercial and development business. “Although 1% seems like a very slight increase, transactions like high-value commercial properties, where one of the parties is registered for VAT, or new development investments, might feel the increase far more than
those of the middle to lower end of the market,” says Richard Gray, CEO, Harcourts South Africa. After a slow end to 2017, when many people seemed to be adopting a waitand-see approach rather than engaging in selling or buying a new home, 2018 has already seen an upswing in business. “We’re witnessing the rapid re-emergence of a pattern of upgrading in the middle-income market that has been missing for several years,” says Everitt. “Instead of trying to downsize, an increasing number of repeat buyers are now seeking to move to bigger and better homes.” Jonathan Davies, regional director, Tyson Properties Gauteng, says the Budget seems to have encouraged this general shift in sentiment. “I’m hopeful that it will translate to a more buoyant property market. Having said this, the Budget is not the only component of a sustained property growth phase, and without application and implementation of good governance and growth, the resultant property knock-on effect could be limited. Interest rates are low, but without sound fundamentals, we could be in for an average property market and a sustained building of confidence as the economy hopefully recovers.”
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