The Estates Magazine - Edition 49

SPROUT COTTAGE

WITH LEE SHELLEY INTERIORS

ORGANISED LIVING WITH

Rack & Roll

WHAT IS iNATURALIST? Saving our Environment

SPRING 2026 ESTATES MAGAZINE 1

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ESTATES MAGAZINE 3

In this Issue SPRING 2026 EDITION

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NATURE-LED LIVING Join Lalela’s growing North Coast community, a place where families, nature, clubhouse and connection come together.

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RACK & ROLL The Heath family's sunshine-filled side hustle.

Named after loved ones and built by a team that feels like family, these racks are designed for real life.

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HEART IN THE HILLS Designed by Lee Shelley, Sprout Cottage bursts with colour, pattern and joyful Midlands charm.

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CONSERVING & CONNECTING NATURE

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Suvarna Parbhoo Mohan shares what iNaturalist is and how estates can get involved in environmental conservation.

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BEYOND THE GATE From electric fences to AI-enabled cameras, learn how modern estates now layer tech, people and intelligence for security.

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FROM THE EDITOR

WHAT’S ON

GOOD FOOD

ADVICE LEGAL

Edition 49! Justin shares his thoughts on estate lifestyle and living.

Hold onto your glass slippers, KZN. Art, music and theatre are about to dazzle.

We love food almost as much as we love magazines! Good Food highlights hot spots around South Africa that you just have to visit.

Marina Constas talks social media etiquette on public forums for residents.

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ESTATES MAGAZINE 5

Nationwide

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WELCOME

EDITOR'S

W

NOTE

e’re on our way back home after being away for two months. Bali, England, Scotland and Amsterdam.

We stayed in hotels, Airbnbs, ‘private lets’ (which are people’s homes while they’re away) at rates that worked for all of us, and at times in the spare rooms of friends and family who opened their doors to us.

becomes your bathroom, a day or two more and you have a favourite chair. Home is far more portable than we like to think, and the list of what you actually need turns out to be unbelievably short. Ours came down to somewhere to sit together at the end of the day, somewhere to make a meal, and being within reach of the people we love.

On the very first night, in a villa in Bali, I found myself taking in the place rather than just staying in it. I was thinking about the décor, the design, the choices made. What had they cared about enough to get right? The villa wasn’t someone’s home, but thought was invested, and from that moment on, every place we stayed got the same treatment.

Which brings me back here. We spend a great deal of energy on the fittings, the finishes, the fence line, the levy statement and whether the patio works with the house. All of it really matters, and this magazine exists partly to help by showing you what others do. But two months in other people’s homes reminded me that none of it is the thing itself. It’s the scaffolding around the thing.

The thing is who lives there, and what they cared enough about to make it theirs.

Scotland is where it deepened. A small hotel in Pitlochry, seventeen rooms, run by an older couple who own and work it themselves. It had been their family home once, and they had preserved every bit of its heritage rather than trying to over-modernise it, and you could feel how much they loved the building. Then came three weeks in Amsterdam, mostly in other people’s homes, which gave a whole new perspective on how I saw space. Kitchens not much bigger than a cupboard that somehow worked, bathrooms where every centimetre had been used to the max, and tiny work spaces carved out of impossible corners.

Each one was solved differently. Everyone was simply making their own comfort in their own way and living inside the result.

You’ll see that idea running right through this edition, even though none of the stories set out to make the point. It’s in Lee Shelly’s Sprout Cottage, and in the Heath family’s Rack & Roll.

We’ve spent two months reading others’ spaces, and coming back, I find myself reading my own.

Spring feels like the right time for it, doesn’t it?

Till the next edition, God bless. and the FabMags team

What struck Lorinda and me most is how quickly you adapt. In a few days a strange bathroom

ESTATES MAGAZINE 7

ESTATES THE

BY MOUNTAIN FALLS

PURE NATURAL MINERAL WATER AcquaBox by Mountain Falls is a mineral-rich water, sustainably sourced from the pristine Kleinriver Mountain Range and proudly committed to a carbon neutral footprint.

MAGAZINE

A magazine focused on people living in gated estates and complexes.

PUBLISHER | Lorinda Scott | lorinda@fabmags.co.za EDITOR | Justin Scott | justin@fabmags.co.za GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Evashini Naidoo | evashini@fabmags.co.za SALES EXECUTIVES | Amy Jenkins | amy@fabmags.co.za | 082 777 5541 Natasha Minnaar | natasha@fabmags.co.za | 061 747 1093 OPERATIONS DIRECTOR | Sharlene Odayar | sharlene@fabmags.co.za CONTENT & COPY MANAGER | Cristina Govender | cristina@fabmags.co.za IN-HOUSE JOURNALISTS | Elvida Sydney | content@fabmags.co.za Jacqueline Herbst | jacqui@fabmags.co.za Mariska Moodley | content2@fabmags.co.za CONTRIBUTORS | Marina Constas & Stefan Botha ADMIN & ACCOUNTS | accounts@fabmags.co.za PRINTED BY | CTP Printers Cape Town COVER PHOTO | Rack & Roll

HEAD OFFICE 032 946 0357 Suite 104, San Hall Office Park, Kirsty Close, Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal CONNECT SOCIALLY @estatesmagazine.co.za @theestatesmagazine www.estatesmagazine.co.za www.issuu.com/fabmags While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents FabMags Publications cannot be held responsible for any omission or errors, or for any misfortune, injury or damages that may arise therefrom.

The Estates Magazine is published by FabMags CC Suite 104, San Hall Office Park, Kirsty Close, Ballito, South Africa 4418.

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Copyright The Estates Magazine & FabMags Publications. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or any part is prohibited without prior permission of the publisher. All products and services featured in this publication are subject to availability and are not stocked by FabMags.

#FABHOME

Composite Decor These handmade geometric bunnies are cast in high-quality poly resin for a smooth, durable, and premium finish. Featuring a modern low-poly, faceted design, each bunny is hand-cast, sanded and hand-painted inhouse in a range of bold solid colours with a matte and gloss seal. Perfect as contemporary décor accents for shelves, desks, kids’ rooms, and gifting. Lightweight, chip-resistant, and easy to clean; just wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Available from R900 www.compositedecor.co.za

ESTATES MAGAZINE 9

WHAT’S ON

PHOTO WITH INFLUENCE

Cinderella

Local CREATIVE SPOTLIGHT

Art in the Country Coastal

Artists and art lovers across KZN are counting down the days to the first-ever Art in the Country Coastal art exhibition. 1–4 October at Collisheen Estate in Ballito. The coastal edition of Art in the Country meets a pent-up demand for a platform that makes quality art accessible to the public. Convenor Kathy Jacob and her A-team bring loads of experience to the party after hosting the phenomenally successful Midlands edition over the past five years. Visitors will be treated to great art, tasty food and fabulous music, headlined by the ever-popular René Tshiakanyi on his saxophone. Entry is R50 per person and R30 for pensioners. artinthecountry

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Old Mutual Music at the Lake: Heritage Day The celebrations continue on Thursday, 24 September 2026 with an unforgettable concert from Sjava, Simmy and the Q Twins. Together, they represent the richness of modern South African music; the concert is a celebration of local talent that has proudly carried the sounds of KZN onto national and international stages. Bring your picnic blankets and camping chairs, and food and drinks are welcome.

Gates open at 13:00, and tickets are available online from Webtickets. www.musicatthelake.co.za

This year’s KickstArt pantomime at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre is a magical production of everybody’s favourite fairy tale about the kitchen maid with the heart of gold. The lush sets and gorgeous costumes, toe-tapping songs, jokes aplenty, and masses of local references and audience participation are family entertainment at its very best! The all-star local cast features Roshanda Lewis as Cinderella, Blessing Xaba and Rory Booth as her Ugly Sisters, Mthokosizi Zulu as Buttons, William Young as the Prince, Lyle Buxton as Dandini, and Amahle Tembe as the Fairy Godmother. Performances are scheduled at 14:00 Tuesday to Friday, 11:30 and 15:30 on Saturdays, and 14:30 on Sundays, from 3 December to 10 January. Tickets available on Webtickets.

www.webtickets.co.za

THE BEST ROOM HAS NO WALLS

The humidity arrives before summer does. Salt in the air, rain that means it and sun that finds every surface. On this coast an outdoor space is either built for the conditions or slowly undone by them.

Best Deck Composite Wood was engineered for exactly this. UV-stable and weather-resistant, it does not fade, warp or crack when the weather turns. It stays slip-resistant when the rain comes in sideways or the pool spills over the edge, and there is never a splinter underfoot.

Here is what the wooden decks on your estate will be doing this spring. Sanding. Sealing. Staining. Booking someone to come back and do it again next year. Yours needs the furniture moved into the sun and nothing more.

From decking and pergolas to cladding, screening and balustrades, the same considered finish carries across every part of your outdoor space. Our Diamond Range is guaranteed for up to 25 years, which on this coast is the only guarantee worth having.

The Best Deck advantage • • • • • •

Guaranteed for up to 25 years Slip-resistant and family safe Zero maintenance required Eco-friendly: Made from recycled wood, bamboo and HDPE Coordinated colour palettes across the full range Decking, cladding, pergolas, screening and more

Low maintenance. High impact. Naturally better.

STEP OUT. STAY OUT. LIVE WELL. BEST DECK. FOR LIFE. bestdeck.co.za | info@bestdeck.co.za | 010 500 2897 ESTATES MAGAZINE 11

GOOD FOOD

TOP RESTAURANTS | SWEET SPOTS | HOT DISHES

Napoli Fifteen Pizzeria THE MIDLANDS

This vibrant eatery specialises in Neapolitan-style pizza, specifically Canotto, with pillowy light bases and tasty toppings. It is not a fast-food eatery; each pizza is stretched by hand using slow-fermented dough and topped with fine, artisanal ingredients. The menu features traditional Italian flavours like prosciutto, wild rocket and fresh mozzarella, while also incorporating locally made Nduja and Chicken Mazavaroo with yoghurt and blistered peppers. They also serve a delectable tiramisu and gelato, as well as a selection of salads and tapas.

0 8 2 0 7 2 0 2 0 3 | U N I T 1 5 , J A C A R A N D A C E N T R E , 3 6 H I LT O N A V E N U E

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Spoon Eatery HILLCREST

Taso’s Bar & Grill BALLITO Perched along the coast with a spectacular 180-degree ocean view, it boasts a vibey yet relaxed atmosphere with a spacious deck where guests can watch waves crash while keeping an eye out for dolphins and whales. Known for its signature seafood platters, it also serves crowd-pleasers like creamy garlic snails with melted cheddar, deep-fried camembert with teriyaki reduction, Thai-style curries, snack platters, and its signature 300g Fillet Jack Daniels served on creamy mash with asparagus.

With frozen margaritas, Aperol spritzes, and indulgent desserts like strawberry crepes and gooey chocolate brownies with Bar One drizzle, Taso's is perfect for long, sunny afternoons, sundowners, and laid-back coastal dining.

17 Compensation Beach Road 067 941 1458

An upmarket al fresco dining experience with two big drawcards: its interesting menu and its location. Overlooking the Assagay Valley, its rolling green hills and indigenous garden make it the best dining experience with a view in the upper highway area. It encourages a relaxed dining experience where time is never of the essence, specialising in fresh classic cocktails and Mediterranean and Asian fusion food. Whether it’s long afternoons by the fireplace or sunny days in the garden, the aim is to give customers a full experience. Perfect for casual midweek dinners or for celebrating something special.

4 Castle Road, Assagay, Outerwest Durban 067 029 2200

The LivingRoom WESTVILLE

Nestled within the tranquil Summerhill Guest Estate in Cowies Hill, The LivingRoom is one of South Africa’s most celebrated dining destinations. What began in 2017 as an intimate supper club has evolved into a refined finedining experience led by husband-and-wife team Johannes and Johanna. He helms the kitchen with quiet precision; she orchestrates front-of-house and a thoughtful, award-winning wine programme. It is intimate and unpretentious: a dining room that was once the chef’s living room, warm hospitality and focused storytelling through food. At its heart is a six- or eight-course tasting menu driven by hyper-seasonal, endemic ingredients, all sourced within a 150km radius.

9 Belvedale Road, Cowies Hill 063 529 1966

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FEATURED ESTATE

Nature-Led Living at

LALELA SUPPLIED BY RAINMAKER MARKETING

From clubhouse to trails, Lalela Estate is growing into a vibrant North Coast community where nature, sport and neighbours come together.

ESTATES MAGAZINE 15

L

alela Estate is entering an exciting new chapter as it continues to grow from a new North Coast development into a thriving, lived-in community.

Since welcoming its first homeowners in December 2024, the Estate has gained steady momentum, with families and residents beginning to shape the everyday rhythm of life at Lalela.

The opening of the clubhouse and lifestyle facilities marks a significant milestone in this evolution. Surrounding the clubhouse is a growing collection of lifestyle facilities,

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including cricket nets, tennis courts, pickleball, a five-a-side soccer pitch, walking trails and open green spaces. Relax poolside with the kids or try your hand at putt-putt, cricket or skating in the park. In this idyllic landscape, nature is present in every direction.

Together, these amenities encourage residents to spend more time outdoors, connect with neighbours and enjoy the Estate as an extension of their home. The resort-style pool, designed by Land Art Studio, follows an organic shape inspired by the surrounding landscape, while mature trees create natural shade and a relaxed country atmosphere.

Lalela’s design also honours the character of the land. Original farm buildings and stables have been restored and incorporated into the clubhouse architecture, combining the site’s agricultural heritage with fresh, contemporary design.

Generous verandahs and open spaces create a seamless connection to the outdoors while preserving the Estate’s sense of place.

Nature remains central to life at Lalela. Wetlands, indigenous vegetation and more than five kilometres of walking trails offer residents daily opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, while parks and green spaces create room for children

FEATURED ESTATE

to play, families to gather and neighbours to connect.

The Estate’s location further strengthens its appeal. Positioned within a growing North Coast node, Lalela benefits from surrounding infrastructure investment, the nearby Seaton precinct, Seaton House School, future commercial offerings and the broader momentum shaping the region.

Together, these amenities encourage residents to spend more time outdoors, connect with neighbours and enjoy the Estate as an extension of their home

With land opportunities, turnkey homes and apartments available, Lalela appeals to a wide range of buyers, from young families and first-time homeowners to downscalers and investors seeking longterm value on the North Coast.

Security has also been carefully considered, with 24-hour security, controlled access, CCTV, biometric systems and a manned gatehouse supporting peace of mind.

As Lalela continues to welcome new homeowners, the Estate is steadily coming into its own as a growing North Coast community. With each new family, shared moment and completed phase, Lalela’s vision for connected, natureled living continues to take shape, creating a place where residents can settle, belong and grow together. www.lalelaestate.com

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RACK, ROLL &

Good Vibes

T

he Heath family turned a weekend hustle into a sun-drenched, seriously lekker family business, with a little kindness stirred in for good measure.

Picture this: dogs in the driveway, kids on bikes, a WhatsApp group that never sleeps, and a farming family that runs a home-andgarage storage brand while still making it to hockey practice on time. Welcome to the world of Bowlzie Heath and the crew behind Rack & Roll, the Blythedale-based,

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coast-grown business turning bike racks, wine racks, surfboard holders, and every kind of garage chaos into something the whole family gets properly stuck into. ​ What started as a weekend project that got a little out of hand (but aren’t those always the best ideas?) has turned into a proper, thriving side hustle. There is no boardroom here, no corporate ladder, just a workshop, a stack of orders, and a family who has quietly figured out how to build a real business without losing the fun. Every

The Side Hustle That Got a Little Out of Hand

product is affectionately named after family and friends. “​ We never set out to build an empire,” laughs Bowlzie. “We just wanted something that worked for us, for our family, and honestly, I needed something that gave me the flexibility to be with our babies and all that comes with their busy little lives.” It has. Rack & Roll now ships storage solutions all over South Africa, but its heartbeat is still very much homegrown, hand-built in a workshop where everyone knows the others’ coffee order.

COVER STORY

The Small Team Behind the Big Noise Ask Bowlzie what actually makes Rack & Roll work, and she will not start talking about margins or logistics. She will talk about people.

“Sifiso and Khule (brothers) are not just staff; they’re part of the team.

They get stuck in at every turn. They are not afraid to pull some long hours when the orders are cooking, and they are two of the most reliable people I know. They are Rack & Roll, and this business would not be the same without them.”

A Proper Family Business, Emphasis on Family This is not your average nine-tofive. There is music playing, banter amongst the Rack & Roll team that could honestly carry its own podcast, and always sprinkled in the mix are kids in the afternoon, “helping” out, which mostly means enthusiastically causing ‘crabs’.

It is, by every definition, a proper family-run business side hustle, equal parts hustle and vibes. The whole thing runs on a very South African belief that if you are going to work hard, you might as well have a jol while you do it.

​ very growing brand needs its hype E squad, and Rack & Roll’s comes in the form of Gina and Tess, the small but mighty marketing crew behind the scenes from Media Farmed.

“They do, every once in a while, have to rein me in as I go rogue on some of my social media videos.

My family is my life. My ‘hubcap’ (husband), T, is indescribable. I love him. He is super talented, an incredible husband and dad, and saves all his words for over a braai, with a couple of drinks. And of course, there would be no point to any of this if we weren’t graafing hard to make a lekker future in

South Africa for our three amazing babies, affectionately known as Scottdog, Badger and Stoff.”

​ he Sunshine Effect T And if running a busy little business out of a coastal workshop was not enough, Bowlzie also has her hands in something entirely different. The Sunshine Effect was born out of a simple, powerful idea from three KZN women on a mission: when you show up for your community, the real South African magic kicks in. Bowlzie Heath, Ang Herbst and Shirls Lambert believe that change does not need to be loud to be big.

One small act, done consistently and with ‘vooma’, ripples further than anyone expects. Show up, do the small thing, and trust that it adds up to something bigger.

In a world obsessed with hustle culture, Rack & Roll sits in the background, reminding us to take time for our hobbies, to slow down with our family, and maybe every once in a while get the ‘zig’ with the garage clutter and pull everything into line.​ 082 787 2888 bowlzie@rackandroll.co.za www.rackandroll.co.za

ESTATES MAGAZINE 19

TRAVEL

the belly and ensure a restful night’s sleep! The game drives were my favourite. Getting to see the sunrise over the trees and through the mist was surreal! Our amazing game ranger was prepared for the cold winter morning, providing blankets to keep all of us warm. Every drive showed us something new: we saw a cheetah with a fresh kill, elephants playing in the mud, buffalo, leopards, lions, hippos, and so much more!

at Bayete Zulu Private WORDS NATASHA MINNAAR Step into a world of bush adventures and wonder at Bayete Zulu Lodge, where an open-armed welcome awaits you. On arrival, the friendly staff greeted me with warm smiles and an even warmer blanket to chase the afternoon chill away. The reserve has three bespoke chalets; each one has a spacious patio overlooking the dam and an oversized, plush bed. The en-suite includes all the needed amenities: a shower, a his-and-hers vanity, and an added touch was the provided essential toiletries. But for sure, the star of the show was the beautiful outdoor shower and bathtub that offered a

spectacular view. Soaking in the outdoor tub was one of the most relaxing and romantic experiences I’ve ever had!

The dining was exceptional; from breakfast to dinner, every meal was meticulously prepared and served. They asked about my dietary requirements beforehand, so they even had almond milk and decaffeinated coffee available for me! While having breakfast one morning, in true bush fashion, a beautiful male nyala decided to join us. Dinners were fabulous, and meals like a hot potjie on a chilly night were exactly what I needed to warm

Bayete was an absolute out-ofthis-world experience for me. Being there was magical; and a safari is one of those things you want to do all over again!

One of the signature attractions was meeting and interacting with rescue elephants Rambo and Rachel. They have called Bayete home for 25 years. Rachel is apparently a little impatient; she playfully will pick up sand and throw it at you because she wants more food! Rambo was the elephant I fed; he lifted his trunk to the top of his head, opened his mouth, and stuck out his tongue for his food. It was again one of those experiences – touching and interacting with a huge elephant up close – that becomes a memory that lasts a lifetime.

Four beautiful nights were not nearly enough for me to see everything this charming place had to offer.

The entire team at Bayete Private took such good care of me; just a thank you is almost not enough. It honestly felt like a dream come true, and I look forward to doing it again!

035 595 8089 reservations@bayetezulu.co.za www.bayetezulu.co.za

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GAMING | ENTERTAINMENT

BALLITO JUNCTION

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ESTATES MAGAZINE 21

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INSPIRED DESIGN

Heart in the WORDS ELVIDA SYDNEY | PHOTOS CHRISTY & CO.

What was once an unused cottage on a Curry's Post farm has been transformed into a bright, patternfilled escape by Lee Shelly Interiors.

S

prout Cottage’s new owners decided their new space needed life and wanted to make it a little spot where guests can’t help but feel happy and relaxed.

When decorating a holiday spot or B&B accommodation, one can really create a feast for the eyes, a space that leaves one feeling that they’ve had an experience rather than just stayed in a B&B. We often don’t live in these spaces on a daily basis, which is more reason to create a place unlike home. Now, there’s nothing dull about walking into this bright little cottage; colour abounds everywhere, mixed wonderfully with patterns.

When the owners said they wanted lots of colour, and given the magnificent setting in the Midlands, Lee knew immediately this had to be a timeless mix of old and new,

painted furniture, and lots of patterns. It was the perfect opportunity to overdo the fun, creating interest and adding character to this little cottage, since it’s not lived in every day. It certainly leaves guests having experienced a funfilled time away.

All the headboards were custom-made, mixing patterns and colours in the lovely

bed throws and, of course, finishing off each room with a rug under the bed. “I’m a firm believer in using rugs to pull spaces together and to ground the room. It stops the look of furniture floating around,” says Lee. The curtain fabrics were intentionally chosen to work in those rooms, striking a fine balance between a hodgepodge Smartie-box look and a curated space.

ESTATES MAGAZINE 23

INSPIRED DESIGN

Whilst Lee pushed the boundaries a little when designing, she says it’s important to remember that when furnishing a space for guest use, you need fabrics with a higher rub count, which ultimately resist wear and tear better over time. Nothing is boring in this cottage. The showers are tiled in chequered and striped subways.

The art and the framing of some of the pictures are also cheery and vibrant. There’s a beautiful, peaceful mural on a previously blank wall. A lovely fireplace was added for those chilly winter days, and instead of leaving the wall behind it blank, she brought the same floor plinth tiles up the wall in a pretty herringbone layout.

This B&B is a compact threebedroom ensuite cottage, which goes to show that a home or space doesn’t have to be grand to have heart and look beautiful; it’s just about creating the right feel for the particular space. When asked about a favourite piece, Lee responded, “This was a real ‘sourcing and finding’ of bits and pieces. I love the old meat safe which I found in the Karoo and painted to add a pop of green in

It was the perfect opportunity to overdo the fun, creating interest and adding character to this little cottage, since it’s not lived in every day the kitchen. There isn’t any one thing in particular that is my favourite; I just love the feeling the little touches created at Sprout Cottage.”

Lee Shelly’s path to becoming a decorator took a few turns.

When she finished school, she actually went on to study nursing, but after qualifying as a nursing sister, she really

missed using her creative juices.

“I was in London working as a midwife when I decided to start part-time design courses. And as they say, the rest is history. As strange as it may seem, I would definitely say that elements of nursing and caring for people have been an enormous benefit to understanding the different needs of each of my clients.” Lee started her business 21 years ago and has grown from doing little décor projects to designing the interiors of hotels, bush lodges and homes.

She reflects, “I’ve been incredibly blessed over the years, gathering clients and friends. The things that feed my soul and matter deeply to me are spending time with my grown-up family, spending time in nature, appreciating the value of true friends and being intentional about finding joy in the small details around me.” leeshellyinteriors

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ESTATES MAGAZINE 25

Best Deck Composite Wood The outdoor room that looks after itself

On an estate, the outdoor space is the point; it is where the view is enjoyed, where friends gather on a Sunday and where most of the year is spent. On this coast it is also the hardest working part of the home.

Humidity, salt air, heavy summer rain and long hours of sunlight test every material they touch, and timber feels it first.

bamboo and HDPE, engineered specifically for South African conditions. It is UV-stable and weather-resistant, so it resists the fading, warping and cracking that eventually catch up with natural wood. It stays slip-resistant when wet, remains comfortable underfoot in the heat and never delivers a splinter.

That is the problem Best Deck set out to solve.

What sets the range apart is how far it reaches. Alongside decking, Best Deck supplies wall cladding, pergolas, balustrades, screening and fascia, all in coordinated

Best Deck Composite Wood is manufactured from recycled wood,

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BUSINESS

Best Deck Composite Wood is changing what estate homeowners expect from the spaces they spend the most time in colour palettes. That gives homeowners and their architects a single material language for the whole outdoor space. The pergola relates to the deck. The cladding relates to the screening. Instead of a collection of separate finishes competing with one another, the result reads as one considered architectural design.

Then there is the maintenance question, which is where most owners feel the difference. A wooden deck asks for sanding, sealing and staining, then asks the following year and the year after that again. Best Deck asks for none of it. The Diamond Range carries a guarantee of up to 25 years, which turns an outdoor space from something to be maintained into something to be used.

The company’s work is not limited to private homes. Best Deck supplies residential estates, commercial developments and hospitality projects, where architects and specifiers choose its composite wood for the same

010 500 2897 |

reasons homeowners do. It performs consistently over decades and looks as polished in year 25 as it does on the day it is installed. That commercial track record is a useful reassurance for anyone weighing up a significant investment in their own property.

For homeowners along the coast, Best Deck is a familiar presence at the East Coast Radio House and Garden Show in Durban, where visitors can see and feel the product before committing.

Our office in Ottawa South, Blackburn, KZN, carries the full range and an expert team supplies and advises on all projects.

The environmental case is straightforward too. A product made largely from recycled material lasts decades without chemical treatment, compares well with natural wood that is replaced and re-treated over the same period.

Best Deck’s proposition is simple enough to state in a sentence. Build the outdoor space you truly want and then spend your weekends in it rather than working on it.

info@bestdeck.co.za |

www.bestdeck.co.za ESTATES MAGAZINE 27

Conserving & Connecting

NATURE

Suvarna Parbhoo Mohan, iNaturalist’s Southern African ambassador, tells us how we can contribute to saving endangered species using social media.

i

Naturalist​is​a​community​science​ platform and social network where you photograph the plants, animals, and fungi you find in your garden, your neighbourhood, or wild open spaces and upload them to the iNaturalist open-access biodiversity database. Built-in computer vision and a global network of experts help you identify what you’ve seen.

Scientists worldwide rely on it to track invasive species, monitor species of conservation concern, and map how climate change is reshaping ecosystems. Its three goals are to connect people with nature, advance biodiversity science, and protect habitats and at-risk species.

Suvarna is SANBI's citizen science manager and the focal point for iNaturalist in southern Africa, where she coordinates the City Nature Challenge and Great Southern BioBlitz and works to make citizen science data available for Red Listing and conservation planning. It only seemed fitting that she informed us how we, too, can help save threatened species.

What got you into it: I was introduced to iNaturalist in 2019, when we moved our citizen science recording from paper data sheets onto the platform.

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SUVARNA & EULOPHIA OVALIS

That year, South Africa joined the global City Nature Challenge for the first time, with Cape Town winning outright as the most biodiverse city and holding that title for several years afterwards. In 2020, we expanded participation across several cities and countries, and the Great Southern BioBlitz launched that same year.

I became its African coordinator, running training in Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Namibia.

What is a BioBlitz?

It is a snapshot study of a place, where scientists and the community work together to record as many species as possible within a set timeframe.

A bioblitz doesn't need an expert on hand. It's simply a way to get families out in nature, noticing what's around them and recording what they find.

BRACKET FUNGI

ENVIRONMENT

GAUDY COMMODORE

ORB SPIDER

They work well as family events and draw in people who’d never attend a committee meeting.The City Nature Challenge global event runs worldwide on the last weekend of April.

This year’s Great Southern BioBlitz international event: 27–30 November.

Four days, your estate, and whoever you can persuade to come along. The dates shift between September, October, and November so that cities in both winterand summer-rainfall regions get a turn during their best season.

How does an estate resident’s photo actually​help? Much of what grows in an

estate garden was planted, and those records should be marked as cultivated.

Search the naturally growing places: the green belt behind your house, a stream buffer, the rough on the seventh, the dune scrub between you and the beach.

Photograph the pollinators living amongst the garden beds: insects, spiders, lizards, frogs. Lichens on the bark and paving are worth recording too. Record the weeds and invasives pushing through, because early detection matters enormously. Those observations catch invasions early and monitor species of conservation concern.

An​observation​that​changed​your​ perspective: Recording the organisms that emerge after dark and go unnoticed daily. I especially enjoy photographing spiders at night. Frogs are far easier to find, praying mantises sit motionless waiting for prey, and the variety of moths is extraordinary.

All you need is a torch, patience, and a keen eye between the plants.

ESTATES MAGAZINE 29

ENVIRONMENT

The KZN coastal belt is amongst the most transformed landscapes in South Africa, and the remnants that survived sugar cane and development are disproportionately inside estates

TEPHROSIA INANDENSIS

TWIG SNAKE

CROWNED EAGLE NEST

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A​story​that​made​an​impact: During this year’s City Nature Challenge, we explored Zululand. After a hot day surveying sand forest (a rare, ancient forest type found in the far north of KZN) at a community-owned site neighbouring Tembe Elephant Park.

We’d been relaxing over lunch under a tree for a while when one of our group said there was a snake on the branch beside us. His eyes stayed fixed on it while the rest of us took several minutes to see anything at all: a twig snake, frozen and swaying gently, mimicking the branch it lay along. I photographed it and uploaded it that evening. It’s on iNaturalist now: a dated, mapped record of a snake that had been watching us eat lunch.

Getting Started 1. Download the iNaturalist app, register, and switch your location toggle on.

2. Photograph whatever you find, living or dead, capturing the features that would identify it.

3. Upload and see what the community says.

The KZN coastal belt is amongst the most transformed landscapes in

A​Note​on​Hiding​Locations iNaturalist automatically hides the precise location of species targeted by poachers or collectors, so you needn't do that yourself. You can also obscure your own observations if you'd rather your home address wasn't visible. Just be aware that obscured coordinates can't be retrieved by anyone but you, so the record can't be used for Red Listing, planning or research. The easy fix: join the two projects below and trust the

South Africa, and the remnants that survived sugar cane and development are disproportionately inside estates.

Hawaan Forest is eighty hectares of climax dune forest on an 18,000-yearold dune, protected since 1860, and it was once one of many such patches along this coast. Your estate may hold something similar. iNaturalist is how you​fi​nd​out​what​you're​holding.

Taking a Useful Photo Start wide, showing the whole organism and its surroundings: the rock, the host plant, the habitat. Then move closer for detail from as many angles as you can.

Add something for scale: a fingertip, a pen, a ruler. Check the map pin is accurate before uploading. Then, if you like, describe what a photo can’t show: smell, texture, weather, behaviour.

CITRUS SWALLOWTAIL

and Widenham Retirement Village 4,923, proof of what a committed community can build. Having a low number doesn’t mean there’s less to find. It means nobody has looked yet.

DELOSPERMA SUBPETIOLATUM VULNERABLE

curators with your coordinates. Your locations stay hidden publicly, but SANBI's Red List and research teams can still use them. And never set a location to “private”, as that removes the place entirely.

Estate Findings on iNaturalist After several requests from estates wanting to track the wildlife on their doorstep, we set up an iNaturalist umbrella project for KZN's coastal residential estates. Each estate gets its own project, automatically gathering every observation made within its boundaries, and the umbrella project brings them all together so estates can see how they compare.

So far, Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate Two leads with 4,560 observations, followed by Zimbali Estate at 3,205 and Hawaan Forest with 1,516. Simbithi Eco Estate and Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate One also show strong numbers at 1,210 and 1,128 respectively. On the KZN South Coast, Renishaw Precinct has reached 21,839 observations,

An iNaturalist estate project gives you a verified, continuously updated species list for your property at no cost. It supports Environmental Management Plan reporting, shows which invasive alien species are establishing and where, so clearing budgets go to the right places, and documents which threatened species occur on your land. For estates marketing an eco-identity, it replaces claims with data anyone can check. It also gives residents something to do together. Adding your estate is simple: create a project using the estate's boundary, including any green belt around it, and we'll add it to the umbrella.

To join the Umbrella Project, explore other projects, or learn how to start your own estate project, scan the QR Code:

ESTATES MAGAZINE 31

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s we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to review and take stock of your personal finances.

When it comes to South Africans and their personal finances, research suggests two startling facts: • South Africans, on average, spend 75% of their take-home pay on repaying debt; and • Only 6% of South Africans are able to retire financially free.

No matter what your current personal financial situation is, it is never too late to make some changes that will improve your current and future financial position. We would like to suggest the following six golden rules when it comes to taking charge of your finances:

Rule #1 – Spend less than what you earn

If everybody followed rule number one, nobody would have any financial problems. Breaking rule number 1 is the root of many financial problems. If you don’t have the money, you can’t afford it. Avoid the “buy now, pay later” syndrome.

Rule #2 – Save first & spend what’s left

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Rule #3 – Other than your house & car, pay cash for everything

Very few people are able to buy either a house or a car cash, so we regard these as acceptable items to finance via debt. For everything else, save the cash and then buy the item. Following this rule will ensure you never get over-indebted.

Rule #4 – Avoid debt at all costs

There is good debt and bad debt.

Good debt would be a bond on your house. Bad debt would be credit card debt, short-term loans, personal overdrafts, etc. These types of debt are expensive and, if you don’t manage them well, can land you in a debt trap.

Rule #5 – Put your money where it grows, not where it shows Avoid the temptation of buying expensive toys to make yourself look rich. Rather, invest your money into appreciating assets where you will earn a return on your investment.

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SUNÉ ALEXANDER (LEFT) MELISSA JACOBS (RIGHT)

This may mean putting your ego aside and not driving the fanciest car around, etc.

Rule #6 – Make full use of all the tax allowances available to you

Have a professional help you with your taxes to ensure you are making full use of tax-free investments and claiming all the available deductions against your taxable income.

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ESTATES MAGAZINE 33

S

Estate Living

ituated in La Lucia Ridge, The Executive offers a distinctive interpretation of luxury estate living in one of the area’s most prime positions.

With a mix of free-standing homes, townhomes, and contemporary apartments, the Estate combines architectural refinement, privacy, and sophisticated security with the convenience of being just minutes from Umhlanga’s beaches, major shopping centres, leading schools, and healthcare facilities.

Yet perhaps the Estate’s most remarkable amenity is not something that has been built at all. Bordering the residential areas is more than 8.5 hectares of protected conservancy: a remarkable expanse of indigenous coastal forest, grassland and rehabilitated wetlands that has become a defining feature of life at The Executive and supports a rich diversity of indigenous plant and animal life. Rather than simply providing landscaped open space, the conservancy represents a deliberate commitment to preserving and restoring natural habitats within one of Durban’s most sought-after residential areas.

More than three kilometres of carefully maintained trails wind through the conservancy, providing residents a rare opportunity to

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walk, run or simply escape into nature without leaving the Estate.

Red and blue duikers roam the indigenous forest, while bushbuck, Natal spurfowl, guinea fowl and an abundance of birdlife have made the conservancy their home. The rehabilitated wetlands provide an important sanctuary for wildlife while also playing a valuable role in the Estate’s natural water management.

Much of this transformation is the result of the long-standing work of McWade’s Landscapes and their on-site team, who have cared for the Estate’s natural environment for more than a decade. What was once an unmanaged, tangled expanse of dense bush, overrun with invasive and non-indigenous vegetation, has

ECO ESTATE

been diligently cleared, rehabilitated and carefully managed. Through the ongoing removal and monitoring of alien species, the indigenous landscape has been allowed to regenerate and flourish, creating what is now one of the area’s most carefully maintained indigenous conservancies; a space that closely reflects the natural coastal habitat that would have existed here before urban development.

That commitment to environmental stewardship has earned recognition from the South African Landscapers Institute (SALI), with the conservancy receiving multiple Awards of Excellence for its water-wise approach and environmental landscape work.

The Estate continues to evolve as we work tirelessly to enhance both the conservancy and the indigenous gardens throughout the residential areas. The meticulous care and ongoing commitment to the conservancy set The Executive apart, creating a natural environment unlike anything else in the area in its level of preservation, maintenance and dedication to indigenous habitat.

A children’s jungle gym and play area has recently been introduced,

thoughtfully positioned within the natural surroundings of the conservancy, further reflecting the Estate’s growing emphasis on creating a family-oriented environment where nature is an integral part of our residents’ everyday life.

Combined with a fully secured fence line, AI-integrated security, biometric access, backup power and emergency water infrastructure, The Executive offers a rare balance of modern luxury, security and connection to nature.

The Estate is continually evolving, with a strong focus on introducing and enhancing amenities that improve the lifestyle, comfort and long-term value of living at The Executive.

It is a place where residents can enjoy the reassurance and refinement of contemporary estate living, while stepping outside to experience a genuinely natural environment.

Kale Murdock Director of Conservancy, The Executive

Bhekani “Chris” Simamane Site Manager, McWade’s Landscapes

083 446 1626 manager@theexecutive.co.za www.theexecutive.co.za ESTATES MAGAZINE 35

WORDS JACQUELINE HERBST | PHOTOS MARSHALL SECURITY

How estate protection has moved from guards at the gate to intelligent, integrated ecosystems.

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LOCAL

AI detects. The operator interprets.

The security team responds. Getting that division right matters more than chasing the newest technology

F

or most of the past three decades, security on South African residential estates meant a wall, a gate and a guard. That model once kept pace with the threats of the time, but it no longer does. We spoke to Marshall Security Managing Director, Graeme Dow, about how estate security has evolved in recent years from a single line of defence at the entrance to a connected security ecosystem that combines people, technology, intelligence and rapid response. The shift, he says, has been driven by estates becoming larger, criminals becoming more organised and residents rightly expecting the peace of mind they were promised.

The traditional model was simple: a boundary wall, a guard at the entrance, a paper visitor register and CCTV used mainly to review incidents. It worked until it didn’t. A single lapse could undermine the entire system. As estates grew and criminal methods became more sophisticated, it became clear that security could not depend on one gate, officer or system.

Security moves beyond the gate That is why modern-day estate security is designed in layers, not around a single barrier. The aim is to detect, identify, verify, assess, delay, respond to, and investigate every incident. If one layer is breached, another is still watching. The perimeter has evolved beyond higher walls. A properly zoned electric fence is both a deterrent and an electronic detection system, telling the control room where a fence has been cut or tampered with rather than triggering a generic alarm. Many estates now add infrared beams, microwave detection, fibre-optic sensors and

thermal cameras, so the boundary actively reports when it is being tested.

CCTV has changed just as dramatically, from a forensic record to a proactive tool. Video analytics and AI can flag people in restricted areas, movement across virtual lines or activity that does not fit the pattern of a place or time. This enables exception-based monitoring: the system flags the anomaly, and an operator decides what to do. AI detects, the operator interprets, and the security team responds. Getting that division right matters more than chasing the latest technology.

Digital visitor-management platforms have replaced handwritten registers with auditable, pre-authorised processes, while biometrics link access to a person rather than a card or PIN that can be shared or cloned.

Verification no longer stops at the main gate. Estates are adopting zone-by-zone checks, sometimes called a zero-trust approach. A delivery driver cleared at reception cannot automatically access plant rooms or storage areas. Contractor access is also evolving from openended permissions to time-bound credentials that expire automatically, closing the common gap where former contractors retained access.

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Automatic number-plate recognition turns vehicle identification into a live security function rather than a manual check. When linked to a wider regional network, a suspicious vehicle can be identified through its movement pattern before it reaches the estate.

Drones extend that coverage into the air, providing large estates with aerial surveillance that once required a helicopter. They are most effective when deployed automatically to a perimeter alarm or camera alert. As these systems have multiplied, the control room has become the estate’s nerve centre. The operator who turns a stream of alerts into the right decision is one of its most important assets.

Technology does not replace trained people. A camera cannot intervene, an access system cannot question a suspicious explanation, and an officer who knows an estate can quickly spot what is out of place. That is why every investment in technology must be matched by investment in training.

Technology works best when people connect the dots The next major shift is integration:

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bringing fencing, CCTV, access control and vehicles into one operating picture, often through a PSIM platform. An operator can then read a boom-gate entry, camera alert and panic button as one event rather than three. When done well, this means faster responses, fewer false alarms, better evidence, and lower running costs than standalone systems. But no system stays effective on its own. Criminal methods change, estates evolve, and yesterday’s cutting-edge technology can become today’s weak point.

Security assessment must therefore be continuous. That means regularly reviewing an estate’s threat profile, analysing incidents and near misses, and testing whether cameras, sensors and backup power perform as intended. Feeding those findings into patrol routes, camera placement, staffing and technology keeps security aligned with current risks rather than how the estate looked when the system was designed. Two South African realities impact how these systems are built: data privacy and unreliable infrastructure.

In 2026, the Information Regulator published a draft Code of Conduct for gated-access environments covering ID information, footage and biometric data. Once finalised, it will be enforceable, with accountability resting on the estate. Infrastructure cannot be taken for granted either.

Power failures and network instability are routine, so systems must be designed for failure, with backup power, redundant connectivity and clear manual fallback procedures built in from the outset.

The debate we hear most – technology versus people – is the wrong one. The estates with the strongest security are not necessarily those that spend the most on equipment, but those that integrate people, technology, intelligence and response effectively.

“We build and manage estate security around each estate’s layout and risk profile, with regular reviews as those risks change,” says Graeme. He says technology gives the system eyes and ears, while people provide the judgement, presence and ability to act.

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ou feel it before you see it. You step into a room and, before your eyes have taken in a single detail, a feeling settles: calm, warmth, safety, and ease. That’s the quiet power of scent.

Smell is our most instinctive sense. It’s the only one connected directly to the parts of your brain that handle emotions and memories. That’s why the sharp, clean scent of eucalyptus can instantly clear your head and make you feel like you can breathe again, or why a trace of vanilla and coffee can make any kitchen feel like home.

Scent doesn’t just add to the atmosphere. It creates it. And in a world that feels increasingly anxious and overstimulated, we’ve all started consciously curating how our spaces smell.

ESTATES MAGAZINE 41

TRENDS

The Language of Scent Different scent families speak to us in very different emotional languages.

pulse points with a carrier oil, or in a diffuser, they are therapy in its most potent form.

To Ground You: When your mind is racing, you want earthy, woody, deep scents that pull you back into your body. Think vetiver, sandalwood, and cedarwood. Smoky and rich, vetiver is often called the “oil of tranquillity”.

Cedarwood feels like walking through a quiet forest. These are base notes that linger, slow your breathing, and make a room feel anchored.

Diffusers – especially ultrasonic and reed diffusers – have become the everyday workhorse. They break the oils into a fine mist and disperse them continuously without heat, preserving the therapeutic properties. They are waterless, flame-free, and effortless, which is why they live in bedrooms, offices, and yoga studios. They set a consistent, background mood.

To Comfort You: Soft, warm, and slightly sweet, vanilla is the ultimate soother, scientifically shown to reduce startle reflexes and stress.

Amber, tonka bean, cinnamon, and sandalwood create that cashmere blanket feeling. Lavender, the most studied aromatherapy oil, sits right between grounding and comforting.

It lowers heart rate and is famous for improving sleep quality.

A candle is an experience, not just a scent. The soft flicker of a flame is calming in itself, and when paired with natural waxes and essential oil blends, it creates an intentional moment.

Lighting a candle signals to your brain: “We are pausing now.” The scent throw is warmer and more intimate than a diffuser, ideal for an evening winddown, a long bath, or a dinner table.

Always check the necessary health and safety labels before lighting a candle.

To Lift You: Citrus is pure sunshine.

Sweet orange, bergamot, grapefruit, and lemon are bright, clean, and instantly energising. They cut through brain fog and make a space feel clean and optimistic. Perfect for a morning kitchen or a work-from-home desk.

To Clear You: Eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, and tea tree are the deep breaths. They feel cool, open, and clarifying, like opening a window in your mind. Great for focus, for stuffy winter days, or for a shower ritual.

Oils, Candles & Diffusers Part of the beauty of modern aromatherapy is that you can choose your ritual.

Essential oils are pure, concentrated plant extracts. One drop of peppermint oil contains the power of dozens of leaves. In aromatherapy, each has a profile: Lavender for calm and sleep, frankincense for meditative focus, ylang-ylang for easing anxiety, bergamot for joy. Used in a bath, on

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Why Has It Become So Popular Now? Aromatherapy isn’t new; it’s ancient Egyptian, Ayurvedic, and indigenous knowledge. But its recent rise in popularity makes complete sense.

First, we’re seeking control over our environment. We can’t control the news or the traffic, but we can control how our bedroom smells at 21:00 before bedtime.

Second, it’s a screen-free form of self-care. It asks nothing of you except to inhale. No app, subscription, or performance. Just a breath. And it works because it bypasses logic. You don’t have to ‘believe’ lavender will relax you for your nervous system to respond. The molecules interact with receptors in your nose, influencing serotonin, cortisol, and heart rate. It’s wellness that is both deeply primal and beautifully simple.

In the end, scent is the most invisible form of decorating, but often the most memorable.

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LOCAL

Making Sense of

YOUR LEVIES From security and maintenance to shared amenities, levies fund the services that keep estates and complexes running

L

evies in estates and complexes are like death and taxes – a fact of life. But many people do not fully understand what they are paying for, or why some homeowners have to pay two sets of levies. To make sense of it, we spoke to Brettenwood Estate Manager Jon Dreyer.

Keeping the estate running Jon explained that, essentially, levies fund the services and infrastructure that protect residents’ quality of life and property investment. Just as households need a budget to keep the lights on, put fuel in the car, pay rent or a bond and put food on the table, estates have annual budgets to cover the costs of running and maintaining the community. These include administrative expenses such as audit fees, office costs, insurance and Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) fees; operational costs such as security, landscaping, maintenance and clubhouse upkeep; and capital expenditure. Maintenance can be planned, such as painting walls or resurfacing roads, or unplanned, such as replacing a blown light bulb or dealing with a plumbing emergency.

To determine the levy required, estates first identify their expenses, separating needs from wants. A new fleet of golf carts might be desirable, for example, but resurfacing ageing roads is a necessity. Once expenses have been established, the estate determines how much can be covered through other sources of

income. These can include hiring out the clubhouse for events, interest earned on money in the bank, administration fees on property transfers, electricity provision to data providers and penalties. The remaining expenses are then divided among levy payers to determine how much each member needs to contribute.

You get what you pay for Ever wondered how estate management pays for the fuel in the vehicles used to carry out its duties, or how those vehicles are serviced? What about the neatly manicured gardens, trimmed hedges and verges, wildlife management or coastal forest restoration work typical of coastal estates? It is all paid for through levies. Then there are resident engagement initiatives,

information boards and marketingrelated expenses, including website hosting, media costs, Mother’s and Father’s Day gifts and charity golf days.

Security is another major expense.

Boom gates, electric fence management, CCTV cameras, security equipment and guards all require funding. There are also various insurance costs, including business risk, buildings, public liability and fidelity cover, to name a few.

Levies essentially pay for many of the

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result in special levies being imposed, meaning those who continue to pay effectively have to carry the burden of costs that should have been covered by everyone.

services and amenities that homeowners would otherwise have to fund and maintain themselves if they lived in a freestanding home outside an estate.

Swimming pools, outdoor lighting, gardens and communal buildings all need to be maintained.

If homeowners stop paying their levies, there may not be enough cash flow to keep the estate operating and maintain its infrastructure. This can

Why some owners pay two levies People who live in sectionaltitle complexes within estates, or in sectional-title complexes outside estates, pay a body corporate levy in addition to any applicable HOA levy. Body corporate levies generally cover the exterior of the units but within the complex’s perimeter walls. This includes things such as painting buildings, maintaining gutters, repairs, cleaning and insurance.

There is also a difference in how the two levies are calculated.

HOA levies are membershipbased and generally calculated equally between members, whilst body corporate levies are calculated according to a property’s participation quota. This is determined by dividing the floor area of an individual unit by the total floor area of all the units in the scheme.

In simple terms, HOA levies cover the estate’s shared

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services and amenities outside the perimeter walls of freestanding homes and sectional-title complexes.

Body corporate levies cover the shared areas and infrastructure inside the complex walls but outside the individual units.

So, if you own a sectionaltitle property within an estate, you generally pay both. If you live in a freestanding house within an estate, you only pay the HOA levy, but you are responsible for the maintenance inside your property's perimeter wall. If you lived in a freestanding property outside an estate or complex, you would not pay either type of levy – but you would be responsible for the costs of maintaining your own property and services. Neglecting those responsibilities can ultimately affect the condition and value of the property.

In that sense, levies are not simply another household expense. They are the mechanism through which owners collectively fund the upkeep, security, services and infrastructure that help protect their properties and maintain the community’s standards.

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Complex or Estate Which is better for you?

Let’s go through their differences.

What They Are A complex is a smaller sectionaltitle development of townhouses or apartments grouped together.

An estate is a large, gated, secure community made up mostly of freestanding homes, plus lifestyle facilities.

How Ownership Works In a complex: You own your individual unit. The land, gardens, driveways and other shared areas are co-owned with other residents.

Day-to-day running is handled by a Body Corporate.

In an estate: You typically own both the home and the plot it sits on.

The community is managed by a Homeowners’ Association (HOA).

Levies & Rules Both charge a monthly levy that covers upkeep, security and access control. Both also have community rules regarding home businesses, building alterations, and conduct to maintain consistency in the area.

Facilities Complexes usually include basic security, an access gate, and shared grounds. Estates often include extras like parks, clubhouses, golf courses, walking/ running trails, restaurants and sports areas.

Who is it best for?

Complexes are ideal for

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students, singles, and young professionals. Lower purchase price, smaller levies, and less upkeep since gardening and maintenance are managed for you. They’re often located near universities, CBDs and public transport. Great if you want convenience or travel often.

Estates are perfect for families.

It’s a self-contained, villagestyle setup with controlled entry, patrols and CCTV. Kids can play in parks and ride bikes safely. You also get more privacy, larger yards, extra bedrooms, and space to grow.

Resale & Rental Potential Complexes are in high rental demand from young professionals, so they’re easy to let out. Estates tend to appreciate well over time with strong demand from families, which can mean better longterm growth.

Whether you prefer a lowmaintenance lock-up-and-go or a secure estate with room for the whole family, it comes down to the lifestyle you want.

Hopefully this makes choosing your next home a little easier.

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BLINDS - SHUTTERS - AWNINGS - CURTAINS - MONKEY SCREENS ESTATES MAGAZINE 49

ADVICE LEGAL

Social Media Etiquette & HOAs WORDS MARINA CONSTAS

S

ocial media has transformed the way people communicate within residential estates.

WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages and community forums have become invaluable platforms for sharing information, raising concerns and building stronger communities. Unfortunately, they can also become vehicles for personal attacks, misinformation and reputational harm.

The recent case of Manor Estates Homeowners’ Association NPC and Others v Pranpath, heard in the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court, has sent a clear message to homeowners: freedom of expression does not extend to making false and defamatory allegations against a Homeowners’ Association (HOA), its directors or its management.

The matter arose after a homeowner embarked on a prolonged campaign of publishing statements on WhatsApp, Facebook and other public platforms accusing the HOA and its directors of being corrupt, dishonest and unethical. He also alleged that the Estate was unlawfully managed and suggested that prospective purchasers should avoid investing in it.

The homeowner argued that many of the comments had been posted in a private WhatsApp group and therefore should not constitute publication. The Court firmly rejected this argument. It held that messages circulated in a WhatsApp group are indeed published once they are communicated to other members of the group. A “private” group does not provide immunity from the law of defamation.

Importantly, the Court distinguished between legitimate criticism and defamatory conduct. Every homeowner is entitled to question decisions of the board, challenge financial management, request information and even criticise governance where justified. Healthy debate is an essential part of community living.

The Court granted a final interdict prohibiting the homeowner from making further defamatory statements and ordered him to pay the HOA’s legal costs on the punitive attorney and client scale.

The judgment serves as an important reminder that trustees and directors are not beyond criticism, but criticism must be responsible, factual and made through appropriate channels. Homeowners who genuinely believe that an association has acted improperly have several lawful avenues available, including raising concerns with the board, requesting access to records where entitled, approaching the Community Schemes Ombud Service or, where appropriate, seeking relief from the Courts.

Living in an HOA requires mutual respect, accountability and constructive engagement. Before pressing “send” on a WhatsApp message or social media post, every resident should pause and ask a simple question: Is what I am about to publish true, fair and supported by evidence?

If the answer is no, the consequences may extend far beyond the next group chat.

MARINA is a specialist sectional title attorney and a director at BBM Law. Marina is the co-author of the best-selling book, Demystifying Sectional Title, which is the definitive guide for anyone living, buying or leasing property in a sectional title complex. marina@bbmlaw.co.za

50 WWW.ESTATESMAGAZINE.CO.ZA

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ESTATES MAGAZINE 53

DEVELOPMENT

Five Generations, Five Rulebooks WORDS STEFAN BOTHA

S

trategic research is one of the biggest determinants of whether a property development succeeds or struggles.

Developers routinely analyse location, product mix, pricing, competition and depth of demand. But there is another layer that is becoming increasingly important when presenting a residential offering to the market: which generation is being targeted? South Africa now has five generations influencing the property market, each with different priorities, financial realities and expectations. Yet much of the industry still designs, prices and sells for a generic buyer profile that no longer exists. The “average buyer” is disappearing, so these key, high-level insights around the five relevant generations are critical for how the property industry presents homes, estates and residential offerings.

Baby Boomers They remain an important force, particularly at the upper end of the market. They have equity, purchasing power, and increasingly want lowmaintenance, lock-up-and-go living close to family, healthcare, and lifestyle amenities. The mistake is positioning this as “retirement living”.

Many Boomers are not looking to downsize their lifestyle, only the responsibility that comes with maintaining a large home.

Gen X This is the market’s quiet powerhouse. Often at peak earning capacity, they are balancing mortgages, school fees, ageing parents and adult children. They value quality, functionality and locations that support complex family lives.

Multigenerational living is particularly relevant to this group.

Millennials A group also challenging outdated assumptions.

They are entering the market later, but often with a more investment-led mindset. Co-buying, joint bonds and reinvesting are becoming increasingly normal, reflecting a generation that sees property as both a home and a financial asset.

Gen Z Perhaps the most misunderstood, they want to own property, but approach the process differently.

Sustainability, energy efficiency and resilience are practical considerations, not simply lifestyle features. They expect digital, transparent and efficient sales journeys and are comfortable with newer ownership models, including co-buying and fractional investment. Importantly, they want information and evidence before they buy, not simply a traditional sales pitch.

Gen Alpha They may only enter the market meaningfully in the 2030s, but developers should already be watching them. Growing up with AI, digital platforms and millennial parents, their view of property is likely to be even less conventional. They may see property first as a financial instrument and only secondly as a traditional family home.

Ultimately, they may all be active in the same market, but they are not looking for the same product, message or sales experience. The opportunity lies in those involved in the property industry understanding these differences early enough to influence product design, pricing, positioning and the route to market.

Much of the industry still designs, prices and sells for a generic buyer profile that no longer exists

STEFAN is the Director of Rainmaker Marketing, an internationally award-winning property marketing agency that has unlocked over R12 billion in property sales within estates across South Africa and internationally. www.rainmakermarketing.co.za 54 WWW.ESTATESMAGAZINE.CO.ZA

ESTATES MAGAZINE 55

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