The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Despite the realities of an increasingly constrained economy, sales of residential and commercial property at Val de Vie Estate in the Cape Winelands are at an all-time high. 

New data from the estate reveals a dramatic increase in demand for the security, balanced lifestyle, and a well-run estate that Val de Vie Estate offers against a backdrop of failing municipal infrastructure and community unrest in many parts of the country.

Over the past 12 months, sales of homes and offices at Val de Vie Estate, which includes Pearl Valley, have exceeded R2.4 billion.

The sudden home confinement caused by the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns including in South Africa occasioned an immediate reconsideration of the way people live and work. And since the recent unrest in Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal, many families and retirees are carefully considering where the most secure environment is to invest in their homes, businesses and healthy lifestyles.

Nearly 300 properties, consisting of homes, offices and stands, were sold in the past year, and 1 500 families now live across the greater estate. Some of the attractions within the estate’s safe borders include a pre-school, pharmacy, fresh produce farm, safe trails for cycling, walking and running, and the Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course that is ranked number two in the country.

The investments that are being made into the estate also bring benefits for the broader community of the Cape Winelands and the greater Western Cape economy. 

In the past year, Val de Vie Estate contributed approximately R150 million in rates and property taxes to the Drakenstein Municipality, making it the single largest tax-payer in the valley. This figure does not take into account the additional income that the municipality derived from residents’ water and electricity consumption.

The estate also provides employment throughout the valley. Over the past year, more than 17,100 contractors worked at the estate at least once a week performing construction, landscaping and other roles. Residents employed more than 1,500 people including domestic workers, gardeners, au pairs and home assistants.

Crucially, the estate is a major contributor to the local tourist economy, attracting visitors to the golf, polo, and cycling events it hosts every year. 

There is also the immeasurable impact of businesses or entrepreneurial endeavours started or relocated to the valley by residents.

In addition to Val de Vie Estate’s contributions through taxes and employment, the dedicated Val de Vie Foundation has also distributed more than R29 million through charitable donations and project funding to date . Through its implementing partner, Valcare, the Foundation funds social projects in the Paarl-Franschhoek valley that are focused on educational support, food and nutritional support, skills development and job readiness, and healthcare amongst others.

In August, Valcare broke ground on a new children’s special needs facility as part of the Good Hope Day Care at Mbekweni. This project was kick-started after the Foundation raised over R600 000 at the Vodacom Shop Celebrity golf day in 2019 as part of its commitment to improving the livelihoods of the most vulnerable members of the valley community. Since then, many service providers have been moved to work pro bono or through significantly reduced fees on the construction of the Good Hope Day Care Centre.

Val de Vie Estate is proud to offer a growing, world-class estate and investment hub that also has a significant positive impact on the local community. In the coming years, we hope to expand on these seminal foundations and see the valley thrive as the estate expands opportunities for our residents, businesses and broader community.

Issued by Val de Vie Estate