Gauteng: The heartbeat of the country
Gauteng: The heartbeat of the country
by Jacques Erasmus
Although it is the smallest province, Gauteng is home to more than a quarter of all South Africans. The province is the economic hub of the country and therefore is seen as the heart that’s keeping the country going. Being the financial hub of SA, Gauteng sees enormous growth year on year, and following this growth, the infrastructure has also seen great improvement, making commuting and access to amenities much easier.
The remains of historic buildings that were built during the gold rush in 1886, can still be found in abundance in the area, making it rich with culture. One of the areas which benefit greatly from this is the West Rand, with world heritage sites and historical landmarks. Engel & Völkers recently opened their West Rand shop and owners, Clive van Ryneveld and Regan van Heerden are both excited about the prospects that the area will bring. “Our area has an abundance of attractions such as the Silver Star Casino, Clear Water Mall and the Walter Sisulu botanical gardens. Developers are gearing up to start building again and an increase in activity and prices are expected sooner rather than later”, stated Clive. “Property developments start at approximately R700 000 and developments such as Featherbrooke Estate and Eagle Canyon currently sell in excess of R20 million”, Regan added.
Just east from the West Rand lies the sought-after areas of Bryanston, Broadacres and Fourways. These areas have long seen major developments, as more and more people find it the preferred areas to stay in. Some of the biggest attractions include Monte Casino, the well-renowned Coca-Cola Dome, as well as the newly built Nicolway Shopping Centre. Engel & Völkers recently opened a shop it this prestigious centre, following the opening of the previous shop in Broadacres. “Both Broadacres and Bryanston has some of the finest real estate in the country. Homes in Bryanston can range anything from R2 million up to R50 million, and we have recently seen an increase in the market, especially in this area”, says Lara Machado, Team Leader of Engel & Völkers Bryanston. “Broadacres also has a very large variety when it comes to its property selection, with townhouses selling from around R600 000 and more sought-after properties for around R20 million – R30 million”, Debra Campbell, Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Broadacres, added.
Gauteng truly does have a mixed bag of properties and areas to choose from. Another area, completely different than the previous mentioned, is Bedfordview, which lies to the Eastern side of Johannesburg. “Bedfordview is an older, more established area with great private schools and amenities in abundance. The average starting price for an older home is around R3 million, however there are also many properties in the R15 million to R25 million price bracket. We have found that people buying in the area usually stay in the same property for about 15 years,” comments Sharon Cox, Team Leader of Engel & Völkers Bedfordview. The Bedfordview shop opened their doors in 2010, and they have recently seen the opening of their second, satellite, shop in the thriving Greenstone area in Stoneridge Mall.
Midway from Johannesburg to Pretoria, you will find Centurion, a favourite area to those wanting to live in Pretoria but work in Johannesburg as it has easy access to all the major highways and the Gautrain. “Property in Centurion are incredibly varied, ranging from townhouses to luxurious properties in Midstream, Blue Valley and Centurion Golf Estates, where prices range from R2 million up to R6 million” stated Wendy Williams, Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Centurion. “The market has definitely seen an uptake since last year and we are already noticing an increase in the number of first time buyers entering the property market, which we are pleased to say are well versed on their needs”, Wendy added.
With the development that Gauteng has seen over the last couple of years, Centurion is now almost bordering on Pretoria’s Eastern Suburbs, which is divided into the Old- and New East. The Old East consists of Groenkloof, Lukasrand, Waterkloof, Waterkloof Ridge, Brooklyn and Lynnwood. Waterkloof, an area which is home to some of the most spectacular properties in Pretoria offers great views, massive guest houses and the Waterkloof Country Club are some of the area’s prominent features. “Properties in Waterkloof range anywhere between R2 million up to R55 million, but the average price for a full title home would be around the R2 million – R5 million mark. Some properties are used as guest houses and embassies which makes for great investments” stated Corlia Gouws, Office Assistant of Engel & Völkers Waterkloof.
The New East borders the Old East and stretches as far as Equestria. The upper part includes suburbs such as Faerie Glen, Garsfontein, Woodhill and Mooikloof. “Properties in these beautiful suburbs range from flats, security complexes and free-standing homes, to magnificent properties in prestigious golf estates. All areas have easy access to the N4 and N1 highways, and attractions on your doorstep such as Woodlands Boulevard and a variety of excellent restaurants, conference centres and a top class medical facility, Pretoria East Hospital” says Edda Davidson, Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Faerie Glen. The lower part covers Silver Lakes, Wapadrand and Equestria, areas which have seen massive development in the past 5 years. “These areas has such a vast selection to choose from, golf estate living, security villages, retirement villages, small holdings and smaller town houses – the area has it all”, says Ettiene Pretorius, Licence Partner of Engel & Völkers Silver Lakes. The area also has easy access to the N4, The Grove Shopping Centre and Wilgers Hospital. “Property prices are difficult to ring fence as a small townhouse could sell at R600 000 and a small holding or equestrian farm sells for up to R40 million. We have seen an influx in younger generation buyers due to the amount of new developments which are taking place. One of the new developments which we are excited about is the new Chamberlain’s Centre, which is also where we plan to open our first shop in July 2012 ”, Ettiene concluded.
Taking all of this into consideration, it really does not matter what your preference, you are sure to find your dream home in Gauteng. So when considering a relocation or even a pure investment, why not give one of the Engel & Völkers shops a call for assistance in finding that dream home.
Give your garden the upper hand this winter
Give your garden the upper hand this winter
by Jacques Erasmus
Winter months is a dreary time for all plants and we all usually feel helpless when it comes to keeping our gardens neat and tidy as it seems like just too much effort. Though, if you are looking at selling your property, it is very important that your garden is kept in the best possible condition as it is the first impression that a buyer will have of your property. There are however a few things that can be done to keep your garden in shape and to maintain its beauty, which you have come to enjoy throughout summer.
Choose the right plants
Choosing the right plants for your garden is important as certain plants thrive in summer but gets hit hard by frost during the winter. Consider hardy, evergreen plants as an option. They have leathery leaves and protective protuberances on softer stems which shields them during the winter. Some of them even have the ability to increase their sugar levels so that their cells will only start freezing at a much lower temperature.
Prepare the soil
Hard, clay soil with weak drainage can be fatal for plants during winter times. It is important to use compost and even some river sand to loosen the soil and improve drainage.
Protecting plants
Use plants to protect plants. You can use smaller trees and shrubs as windbreaks for plants that are more fragile. Get to know you garden – use hard elements like garden art and stepping stones in areas that usually get more frost than others. Remember that areas near fences are more prone to frost as air usually ‘rest’ against these structures.
Planning
Know the right time and place. Always plant your favourite plants near a warm, northern boundary wall on your property. Pot plants are a good idea as they can easily be moved to a warmer area in the garden. If you have a liking of more fragile plants, rather wait till a later time to plant them, or you build a greenhouse in which to keep them in the interim.
Food and Water
A step that should be taken up immediately before the full wrath of winter arrives is the water and fertilising of your garden as this is of the utmost importance. Use fertiliser that is rich in potassium as it helps vegetative grow stronger as it hardens cell walls and thus increasing the plants resistance to cold weather. Watering your plants during winter is a necessity, but remember to do so only in the morning. This gives them time to dry during the day and prevenst freezing at night. If there was any frost during the night, water your plants immediately as the sun comes up, this allows the plant cells to slowly defrost.
Having a garden that is neat, clean and green during the winter will make your property stand out above all others and ensure its attractiveness. With a few preventative measures, you are well on your way to be fully prepared for the cold winter snaps.
Butternut soup with honeyed chickpeas
Butternut soup with honeyed chickpeas
Ingredients
500g chopped butternut
2 cloves garlic
1 small thumb ginger
1 tsp garam marsala
1 medium onion
4 Tbs plain yoghurt
1 tin chickpeas
2 Tbs honey
1 l good chicken stock or vegetable stock
Seasoning
Method
Slice the onion roughly and grate the garlic and ginger.
Sauté the onion until soft and then add the ginger, garlic and garam marsala and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the butternut and toss for a few minutes.
Make the stock and add to the pot.
Bring to the boil and then turn down and simmer for 20 minutes.
To make the honeyed chickpeas:
Drain the chickpeas and place in a pan with the honey.
Toss until the chickpeas are nicely caramelised.
To serve:
Pour the soup into bowls.
Dollop a tablespoon of yoghurt on top of each bowl of soup and sprinkle over a tablespoon or 2 of chickpeas.
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