Simbithi Eco-Estate Newsletter November 2023

NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2023

Pantone 334C CMYK 100 0 56 8

ENVIRONMENT

TRICK OR TREAT

SECURITY UPDATE

COVER PHOTO

Content

This magazine is designed & published in partnership by :

From the General Manager

04

From the Club General Manager

06

Hello, Common Sandpiper!

13

Snake Season

14

Tree Pruning and Removal

16

Wetland Rehabilitation

17

Wild About Wildlife

19

Security Updates

20

Building Stats

23

Events Calendar

24

Trick or Treat

25

A division of Fabmags

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Contact the Digi Sales Team Lucille Wendler Cell: 083 747 3694 Tel: 032 946 0357 E-mail: lucille@fabmags.co.za Next issue: December 2023

Disclaimer: This e-newsletter is produced especially for residents of Simbithi Eco-Estate to provide updates and useful information. It is produced

by Fab Creative, on behalf of the Simbithi Eco-Estate. Although every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of content, Simbithi Eco-Estate HOA and/ or the Publisher, cannot be held liable for any inaccurate information, and may not agree with all opinions expressed in this publication.

FROM THE

GENERAL MANAGER

As the victorious Springboks tour the country, Webb Ellis cup in hand, the pride and unity in our country is heartwarming to witness. It has been great to see green and gold shirts on #BokFriday (I already miss wearing mine to the office) and the South African flags fluttering. From the Simbithi community, a huge congratulations to the Bokke on a record fourth Rugby World Cup win. We are all incredibly proud of you. Let’s hope that magic rubs off on our Proteas at the Cricket World Cup. It would be quite something to have another World Cup Trophy on South African soil!

Speaking of community, we have welcomed a new staff member to the HOA building. Delvin Walstroom joined the technical department as our newly appointed Building Inspector earlier this week. Delvin, we wish you a long, fruitful career with Simbithi.

Our new golf cart stickers have arrived, and you may read more about them and how to register later on in the newsletter. Please make sure your carts are displaying the correct stickers ahead of the festive season.

We have also started our annual collection for our service providers, which is a great way to show our appreciation to the men and women who give of their best to keep our Estate safe and clean throughout the year. If you would like to donate (either via debit off your levy account, EFT or credit card) please contact the Welcome Centre on 032-946 8360 or e-mail welcomecentre@simbithi.com. If you are going to donate via EFT, please use the reference Christmas Donation 2023. All donations to please reach our offices by Friday, 15 December 2023.

One of the values we subscribe to at Simbithi is respect. We have a mutual respect policy, which is displayed at our gatehouses and common areas. It is, therefore, disappointing when this value is discarded, as it was at the South Gate after the Rugby World Cup 4

FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER final. One of our security officers was allegedly verbally abused, with racial slurs. Thank you to the residents who witnessed the incident and reported it, so the appropriate action could be taken. And, credit to our security officer who remained calm, and conducted himself with utter professionalism. Residents, our security officers are an asset to our Estate. They perform what is, at times, a thankless function. The last thing they deserve is to be treated disrespectfully. Please, let us remember to be kind and respectful.

As I close off, may I encourage you to check out the Simbithi YouTube channel. We share all sorts of content, including our Did You Know series and other visual representations of events on our Estate. You’ll find us by searching ‘Simbithi Eco-Estate’ on YouTube.

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FROM THE

Club General Manager

Well, I’m sure there is just one thing at the forefront of our minds – and rightly so! The Springboks gave us all the possible feels and emotions, right from the quarter finals to the final, where we stood as champions yet again.

Of course, our deck was practically alive with gees from the first kick off in September. Not even torrential rain deterred our Simbithi community from gathering to cheer the ‘Boks on. The singing of the national anthem, the rousing cheers for every kick Pollard launched, the anxious heart-holding for those one-point victories and the absolute euphoria of that final whistle…we saw it all.

Thank you, all, for joining us.

I hope to see you give our men in India the same support, as they inch closer to Cricket World Cup glory. The big screen remains on

our deck. Come and watch the Proteas in action!

The Club’s calendar is filling up swiftly, as is tradition for this time of year. Quiz Night happens on the second Thursday of November at the Fig Tree Restaurant; round up your team and join us. Still in the Fig Tree, our new menu will launch soon. Keep an eye out for a few new dishes ahead of the festive season.

Golf will see our annual International Day later this month. We are fully subscribed, already, so we wish our competitors all the very best. We can’t wait to see who will emerge victorious this year: the Boere, Souties, Zimbos or Barbars?

Our events team is standing by to welcome you and your company for your year-end events. Give us a shout and let us arrange a memorable afternoon or evening for you.

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FROM THE CLUB GENERAL MANAGER And, finally, we hope to see you here for our Christmas Eve dinner, special edition of December Firsties and our NYE party, where we’ll celebrate “All That Glitters”.

Keep an eye out for updates on our social media and our official comms.

Have a great month!

Craig Nell 7

SEEHOA

Access Control

032 946 8372/92

access@simbithi.com OR access1@simbithi.com

Accounts

032 946 8372/92

access@simbithi.com OR access1@simbithi.com

Building Control

032 946 8383

finance@simbithi.com

Control Room

032 946 8373/4/5

controlroom@simbithi.com

Environmental & Landscaping

032 946 8382

environmental@simbithi.com

Facilities & Maintenance

032 946 8380

facilities@simbithi.com

Finance Manager

032 946 8368

fm@simbithi.com

General Enquiries

032 946 8360/1

enquiries@simbithi.com

General Manager’s Office

032 946 8364

gm@simbithi.com

Heron Pizzeria

032 946 5423

foodbev4@gmail.com

Legal & Compliance

032 946 8379

compliance@simbithi.com

Marketing & Communications

032 946 8386

marketing@simbithi.com

Security Manager

032 946 8365

dysan@simbithi.com

Technical Manager

032 946 8384

tm@simbithi.com

Connect with us via WhatsApp:

073 156 1378.

Join our Broadcast Lists by sending us your name & address

9

Country Club

CONTACT DETAILS

Accounts

032 946 5422

bashni@simbithi.com

Events

032 946 5409

events@simbithi.com

Fig Tree Restaurant

032 946 5403

foodbev1@simbithi.com

Golf Manager

032 946 5411

sportsman@simbithi.com

Pro Shop

032 946 5407

proshop@simbithi.com OR sport@simbithi.com

Technical Manager

032 946 5405

clubgm@simbithi.com 10

Board of Directors

CONTACT DETAILS Jeff Leaver: Chairman

Director Marketing & Communications

board8@simbithi.com

Clive Mc Creadie: Vice-Chairman HOA

Director Security

board4@simbithi.com

Andrew Mackenzie

Director Finance & IT

board3@simbithi.com

Louis Boshoff

Director Design Review Committee

board5@simbithi.com

Gavin Dunlop

Director Technical & Maintenance

board7@simbithi.com

Lisa Southey

Director Human Resources

board9@simbithi.com

Margi Lilienfeld

Director Environmental

board6@simbithi.com

Frank Bradford: Vice-Chairman SCC EXCO

Director Simbithi Country Club

board2@simbithi.com

John Gowans

Director Legal & Appeals

board1@simbithi.com

The Board of Directors are your elected representatives who volunteer their time and expertise without remuneration.

Approaching a Director should be your last resort.

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RE/MAX Dolphin Realtors

remax_dolphin

Hello,

COMMON SANDPIPER! This beauty was seen feeding at the Weaver Dam, recently. The rare sighting confirms that Simbithi’s endeavours to improve our habitats for wading birds are paying off.

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Snake Season PHOTO NOT TAKEN IN SIMBITHI ECO-ESTATE

As the warmer months arrive, so do snakes on our Estate. These beautiful creatures are often misunderstood, and as an Estate it is our role to protect them and educate our community on how to live harmoniously with all wildlife. If you spot a snake in

your home or on your property, please do not harm it. Please also do not attempt to catch the snake on your own. Our security officers are trained regularly in safe snake capture. Please call our 24-hour Control Room for assistance on 032 946 5403. 14

FOR SALE Sole Mandate

TREE PRUNING AND REMOVAL As we approach the holiday season, it is most understandable that you would like your home and property to look their best. A reminder, though, before you remove or prune a tree greater than three metres in height, please engage with our Environmental Department first. This is a requirement in line with our landscaping protocols.

You are welcome to contact us on environmental@simbithi.com.

R3,600,000 | 302m2 R 3

2.5

2

RORY ANDERSON 073 697 4159 RO

SIMBITHI | KZN NORTH COAST

Connecting. You.

[C] 060 760 4919 | [E] rory.a@localrealestate.co.za

WETLAND

Rehabilitation

Earlier this month, our Environmental Department began rehabilitating a wetland along the 12th fairway. A wetland, Environmental Manager Ayanda Duma explains, is a natural sponge for the environment.

“They are important, because they filter the quality of our water, and create a suitable habitat for amphibians. Most notably, the protected Pickersgill

Reed Frog, which Simbithi is a site for.”

Prior to the commencement of the work, Simbithi applied for tree removal permits from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DEFF).

“The wetland we are presently working on had merged into a swamp forest because it had too many trees.

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ENVIRONMENT Removing selected trees improves the wetland’s hydrology to improve the wetland.”

The tree removal is systematic, Ayanda shares. “We have been mindful of our birdlife. Some trees have been completely removed, while others have been left so our bee eaters and kingfishers are not disturbed.

The trees left behind have been ring-barked, so they will die back slowly and become a perching site for the birds.”

The team has worked with Dr Jeanne Tarrant of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, who runs the Threatened Amphibian Programme and has been instrumental in monitoring the Pickersgill Reed Frog with Simbithi.

There are four wetlands on our Estate, and the team will proceed with rehabilitating the balance once the first is complete.

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Tinker Reed Frog

Our cover star of last month’s edition has been nicknamed ‘Sangoma’ by Paul

Johnson, in whose home he has taken up residence. Thank you, Paul, for these

striking shots of Sangoma moulting and a few friends who joined him for a garden visit this week, a Tinker Reed Frog and Painted Reed Frog.

Have you taken some photographs around the Estate? We’d love to share them!

E-mail marketing@simbithi.com.

Sangoma

Painted Reed Frog 20

SECURITY UPDATES Pets Recently, we have noted several incidents of pets running loose on the Estate.

We would like to remind you of a few of our rules pertaining to pets: • Each pet must, at all times, wear a collar with a name tag indicating the

Owner or Lessee’s name and telephone number.

• All pets must be kept within the confines of the owner’s or Lessee’s private property, and when outside the Owner or Lessee’s private property, must always be on a physical leash and

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SECURITY UPDATE under the control of a responsible person.

• All pets must be registered with the Estate office. It is a breach of our pet rules if you do not disclose your pet.

• Pets should not be harming any humans or wildlife. Any signs of aggression by a pet must be attended and resolved as soon as possible.

Be mindful when walking bigger dogs.

The handler must be able to control and manage the dog when out on the Estate roads.

Security Alert: Shakas Rock Main Road Residents, please encourage your staff to be vigilant when walking to and from the Estate, particularly along the Shakas Rock Main Road.

Here are a few helpful safety tips: 1. Avoid walking alone. Rather, walk in the accompany of others or in groups.

2. Avoid walking during unusual hours.

3. Avoid carrying valuable items or high amounts of cash.

4. Do not take lifts from strangers.

5. Walk on the left side of the road so you can see oncoming vehicles.

6. Walk as close to the left side of the

road possible, using the shoulder or sidewalk if available.

7. When attempting to cross, always look left, right, and left again.

8. Make yourself visible to motorists by wearing reflective clothing. Or, use the Johnsson Vizibelt shared with you earlier during the year.

Report suspicious activity to our 24-hour security Control Room on the following numbers: 1. 032 946 8373/4/5 2. 032 946 0709 3. 083 599 3561 22

SECURITY UPDATE Golf Carts As from October 2023 when renewing your golf cart permit at our Welcome Centre, each golf cart owner will be issued 3 numbered stickers.

Please stick the numbered stickers on your golf cart as follows: • 1 sticker to be placed in front of your golf cart.

• 1 sticker to be placed on the right-hand side of your golf cart.

• 1 sticker to be placed on the left-hand side of your golf cart.

For further information kindly contact our Welcome Centre via email welcomecentre@ simbithi.com alternatively 032 946 8361.

THE RIGHT AGENT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY

Stephen Frizelle 082 938 9944

stephen@remaxdolphin.co.za

www.remaxdolphin.co.za

29 Sandra Road, Ballito

FINE HOMES & LUXURY PROPERTIES

BUILDING STATS Single Residential

Under construction:

Single Residential

Completed:

Sectional Title Units To be constructed: Sectional Title Units Completed:

23 761 of 894

6 710 of 716

TOTAL DEVELOPMENT: 1471 of 1610 = 91% developed

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NOVEMBER

09 NOVEMBER

18 NOVEMBER

QUIZ NIGHT

STABLES SOIREE

by Harcourts Dolphin Coast and hosted by “The

into summer! Pack a picnic basket and

The Country Club brings you Quiz Night, sponsored Quiz Guys”.

Venue: The Fig Tree Restaurant Time: 18:00 Limited a la carte menu served.

Bookings: foodbev1@simbithi.com or 032 946 5403

This is the perfect way to gently sashay a warm blanket, and join us on the lawns of The Stables Community Centre for an afternoon of music, entertainment and community.

The afternoon will include serenading from the suave René Tshiankanyi, an emotive

display from well-known ‘horse whisperer’ Zecks and Viceroy and, of course, a show by the resident Simbithi horses.

EVENTS

Due to limited parking, a shuttle/park and ride facility will be available on the day,

which we will share more information on, in due course.

14 NOVEMBER

WELLNESS DAY

Join our Biokineticist Paula Hertzberger and Dietician Bailey Kemper for a Simbithi Wellness Day at the Simbithi Pavilion.

Booking is essential.

Please contact 072 992 2731 or 082 563 9375.

DISCOVERY VITALITY: 30-minute dietician consult Receive 1000 points = R460 45-minute fitness assessment Receive up to 7500 points = R507,20 MOMENTUM MULTIPLY: 45-minute fitness assessment Receive up to 80 points = R460 Free visual screening on Vitality bloods

Venue: The Simbithi Stables Time: 15:00

RSVP: enquiries@simbithi.com

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TRICK OR

Treat

Our annual trick or treat event was, once again, brilliantly supported by our littlest (and oldest) residents. It was wonderful to see our kiddos out and about, and some of our most senior residents braving the icy wind to hand out treats…and, tricks – broccoli disguised in chocolate wrappers!

Thank you to everyone who participated, and who behaved so well. Simbithi, you are so special!

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EVENTS

28

EVENTS

29

EVENTS

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FEATURED ESTATE AGENTS

Your Simbithi Rental Accredited Agents

YOUR LOCAL SIMBITHI SPECIALIST

Jake Morgan

082 607 1229

Dolphin Coast

YOUR Simbithi PROPERTY SPECIALISTS

ballito net properties

Martine Owen

SALES AND RENTALS Principal Property Practitioner FFC 0029038

Candidate Property Practitioner FFC 1143002

Sabrina Errico 082 414 8955

Andre Coertze 067 016 7429

082 775 8055 J P Pienaar AUCTIONS

082 650 2082 Minki Matthews PROPERTY SALES

Candidate Property Practitioner FFC 1233956

Candidate Property Practitioner FFC 1238099

Candidate Property Practitioner FFC 1241218

Deon Appelcryn 083 411 1299

Daniela Errico 082 824 4394

Andrea Kumm 063 152 9488

032 946 1818 • 25 Sandra Road, Ballito ballito@sothebysrealty.co.za • www.sothebysrealty.co.za

083 373 9722

KZN NORTH COAST | MIDLANDS [O] 032 940 5482 | [E] jake.m@localrealestate.co.za

Connecting. You.

Based on-site in Simbithi, Ballito.net Properties has been practicing in holiday and permanent rentals on the Estate for over 17 years, offering full management of your holiday or permanant let with our professional team. Let us give you an expert rental valuation on your home today.

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Lucille Wendler lucille@fabmags.co.za 083 747 3694