Simbithi Eco-Estate Newsletter May 2024

FROM ThE General manaGer

Looking at the front cover of this month’s e-Newsletter took me back to our birthday weekends and the fun we had celebrating our 20th birthday. Thank you to all those who came out to celebrate, from the teens who enjoyed our first LUMO disco to the littlies who joined us for screenings of The Incredibles and Shrek.

Days like these remind me, as I am sure they do for you, of how incredible the Simbithi community is and what a special place it is to live. We look forward to marking our 25th birthday in five years’ time! Next year, of course, we officially reach “adult” status, and we will certainly celebrate that.

May is quite something on Simbithi. Autumn brings the loveliest weather, mild and beautiful. The windless evenings lend themselves to quiet walks looking for our nocturnal residents.

From the golfers who braved the rain to play in our birthday bash to everyone who danced on the deck and out on the field, singing us a “Happy birthday”. A special mention to the formidable Simbithi kids who took up the rope and annihilated #TeamSimbithi, fresh off our own victory!

I encourage you to gather your family, grab a torch and go exploring. You will be delighted by what you find. Or, if afternoons are more your speed, pack a picnic and sit near one of our dams. As long as you are outdoors, there is always something to enjoy!

FROM ThE GENERAL MANAGER

Our team is busy with ongoing remedial work on the Guineafowl and Cormorant Dam project. This area is taking shape, and we are thankful for your patience throughout.

Stormwater projects are underway at the Stables Community Centre and coming soon at the Fish Eagle spillway. We will keep sharing more on our projects as the year unfolds.

Have a great May, Simbithi!

Marc Mc Clure

FROM THE Club General Manager

Dear Members and Residents,

I hope my column finds you well.

Construction on the first phase of our Masterplan is progressing well. If you have not yet seen the project update, here’s a quick report:

1. The squash courts are at roof height.

2. The ablution facility is at window height, and the bowling green retaining wall near the ablution facility is under progress.

3. Sporting code platforms have been cut, and piling is complete.

4. The walkway next to the bowling green, leading to the lower part of the precinct, has been shaped. The gradient is forming to link the upper and lower areas.

5. We have selected the colours for the Padel, squash and bowling section’s courts: an olive-green mat for bowls, a blue surface for the Padel courts and a blue inner, green outer for the tennis courts.

6. The foundations for the attenuation tank are under construction. This sits under the lap pool and can hold up to 280 000 litres of stormwater for future use: a fantastic sustainability initiative.

7. The bowling green has taken its familiar shape, and the soil on the “tennis courts” will be used to back-fill the retaining walls across the sports precinct.

8. As we have communicated, the Steering Committee has approved the contractor working on certain Saturdays to maintain our critical path for the project.

Generally, delays due to inclement weather were experienced, with huge rainfall recorded in March and at the beginning of April. Unfortunately, this has added to the construction woes.

The professional team is working well together, and progress is happening despite the construction challenges faced each day. Now, more than ever, the project is taking geographical shape. We will soon provide a “window” on the gym deck for residents and members to take a peep into our busy construction world.

up this calendar year and it is comforting to see a steady stream of repeat business. The team has developed the products on offer to the highest quality and it is extremely pleasing to see the many compliments that have begun to stream in. Keep it up, team! Our events calendar for member events is now complete.

The Club’s golf course improvement plan is running to schedule, and Mr Peter Matkovich and his team have made great progress. We are looking to draw the project to a close in November this year. The Club will commit to continue yearly improvements with our golf course maintenance service provider. Our ablution facility plans remain with the KwaDukuza Municipality and we hope for a speedy approval from them.

As always, watch our comms as we roll out the year’s offering in the coming months.

Onto the Club matters. Golf, events and food and beverage have begun the new financial year well. Footfall remains high on the deck and restaurant. Our event spaces are beginning to fill

At the Fig Tree, we look forward to introducing new offerings to the menu, from our popular food and wine pairing evenings. But do not fear: our firm favourites will remain. We are looking forward to sharing these new taste experiences with a wider audience.

Notifications of the new dishes and changes to our wine list will be communicated as soon as we have completed the menu mechanics.

While in this space, I’m also happy to announce that our extensive hospitality training continues this year, with several staff members already benefitting from this continued commitment.

FROM ThE CLuB GENERAL MANAGER

A big shout out goes to Mr Eddie Taylor, who has blended with the golf management team effortlessly. His extensive knowledge comes from his professional career as a Sunshine Tour pro. Well-liked, knowledgeable and a perfect addition to the Pro Shop, Eddie, with Golf Manager Dane Vosloo and Golf Operations Supervisor Anele Khumalo, are certainly making waves with well-run competitions and mini tournaments.

Finally, thank you to our members for your amazing support.

Our 20th birthday celebrations at the Club were a massive success, despite the rainy conditions, and your involvement in our hospitality and golf programmes certainly confirms we are doing the right thing. Thank you for your support. We look forward to hosting you, your family and friends, soon.

The new shopfitting in the Pro Shop has also allowed our merchandise to be displayed well, as we roll out the first changes in our two-year plan. If you have not already done so, pop in to see what is now on the hangers.

Stay safe and take care.

R7,250,000

Welcome, Little One!

Through our ongoing partnership as custodians to FreeMe Wildlife, we have introduced a fourth scrub hare (Lepus saxatillus) to Simbithi. The scrub hare was released in early April, as part of our scrub hare reintroduction programme. The scrub hare leveret arrived at FreeMe Wildlife in January this year and was released weighing more than 800 grams. With the assistance of resident Derrick Lilienfeld, the scrub hare was placed into a ball of hay and under a thicket.

EVIRONMENT

“This is the same bedding hay she became accustomed to at FreeMe Wildlife, so she was able to feel safe,” said FreeMe Wildlife. “We have found this method of releasing scrub hares far less stressful on the animal. They can also return to the hay bale for the first few days after release until they get used to their surrounds.”

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.

Go Well, #TeamSimbi T hi

Research and studies have shown that wellness is a key factor in maintaining a positive, productive culture in the workplace. Part of our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategic initiative is to ensure our staff are well and that the office environment is conducive to happiness and – as we say at SEEHOA – fun.

We’ve introduced Wellness Wednesdays at the SEEHOA admin building. Once a month, we leave our desks (it is mandatory) and head out to explore the Estate. In April, we took a trail walk and ended at the Heron Pizzeria for a breather.

If you see our team out and about, do say hello!

Why Your DocRRa membership matters #strongertogether

The Springboks’ World Cup victory was a proud moment for all of us, not just for the ‘best in the world’ bragging rights but because of the culture of solidarity that the entire event created in our country. Sport has long been a unifying force in our history – proving that excellence is within our grasp when we ALL stand as one.

This principle forms the bedrock of DOCRRA (Dolphin Coast Residents & Ratepayers Association) and contributes to the success and long-term sustainability of our organisation.

COMMUNITY

Harnessing the collective bargaining power of Simbithi, and other estates like it, creates a powerful block of residents that can wield real leverage with our municipality. DOCRRA member estates also debunk the idea that their residents exist in an isolated ‘bubble’. By lending their voices to the collective, they make it clear that looking after our wider community is critical to maintaining the lifestyle we enjoy and protecting our investments. Our team of over 40 volunteers spends hundreds of hours annually working on topics such as electricity, infrastructure, municipal finance, environmental affairs, safety and security, informal settlements and more.

In Good Governance Africa’s 2024 Governance Performance Index (GPI), which measures the health of municipalities across the country, the author remarked that “there is a growing body of research which indicates that particularly within diverse societies like South Africa, broad-based economic development is best

facilitated by the mutually reinforcing presence of a capable state, and a citizenry able to hold that state accountable.” Your DOCRRA membership facilitates what he refers to as “a broad coalition of like-minded actors” that enable us to deliver the information, access, influence and accountability we so desperately need. We regularly share information on most social media platforms. To receive information on our

WhatsApp group, Click here to join our WhatsApp group:

Your membership also comes with its perks! Please WhatsApp us on 064 737 2269 to get your DOCRRA Benefits card which gives you access to exclusive discounts at lots of lekker local businesses. Want to join our team of volunteers? Get in touch on the number above! To find out more about DOCRRA, please go to our website: www.docrra.co.za

eGG-CellenCe all around

Our annual Easter programme was filled with laughter, fun and – of course – an abundance of chocolate! Our BIG EGG photo competition yielded some fantastic entries. Thank you to all our little hunters who participated. Congratulations to our winners, who had their prizes specially delivered to them:

• Tia Zietsman

• Luke Carter

• Zachary Govender

• Erin Finger

• Isabelle Robertson

And, then we had some fun with our A-MazeIng Easter Egg Hunt at the Kingfisher Community Centre. Thank you to all who joined us.

The Easter Bunny looks forward to visiting Simbithi again, next year!

Luke Carter

Tia Zietsman

EVENTS

Zachary Govender

- Erin Finger Isabelle Robertson

Ballito Galloping Winds, R102

(Between Tongaat and Ballito)

Introducing the Simbithi CSI Company

What a joy it was to gather with our community and key stakeholders, recently, to introduce our Simbithi Community Social Investment (CSI) Company. During the evening, we also heard from the individuals and organisations we are presently partnered with in the area of CSI.

Justine Mia, our Human Resources and CSI Manager, shared that the evening was geared toward making sustainable changes. “This is a place where purpose meets impact and where we can explore opportunities to give back, meaningfully.”

General Manager Marc Mclure explained the reasons for the CSI company’s existence. “Through this company, we can channel the good we do and produce outside Simbithi. We have purposefully taken a broad view to allow

for a degree of flexibility and look forward to having a streamlined approach to our community social investment, particularly by involving networks our community is already involved in.” Let’s meet our CSI partners!

Work Smart - Job Readiness Programme

The bulk of our semi-skilled staff at the Country Club, including six permanently employed chefs, have come through this programme. Our lovely restaurant manager, Jeanette Mthethwa, is also a product of Work Smart. Mpume Makiwane introduced the programme on behalf of the LINC Foundation. “We focus on the young adults

who have not finished matric well and cannot do tertiary studies or those who are perhaps experiencing financial difficulties. We remind them that have what it takes. We are just going to stand next to them to get them through to the next stage.”

Through a four-week course, the young adults are provided with essential skills for entry-level employment. Phase one covers job readiness, and phase two a choice of learning to waitron or work in hospitality, computer literacy, office administration, retail or barista training.

Impact Cycling

Ian Wilson, a long-time friend of Simbithi, started the programme at Mshwati Primary

COMMUNITY

School. “The premise is, if a child is at school from Monday to Friday, then on Friday we bring them into our riding lessons and they may ride a bike.”

The programme, which began with Grade R and progressed to all grades, addressed absenteeism.

“It started off very slowly, and we ended with turning absenteeism around by 98 percent.”

of where to start. Working with children can break the mindset of poverty in a special way.”

Citizen Leader Lab – Leaders for Education

Residents may remember this programme by its former name, Partners for Possibility.

The programme has also allowed Ian to create local employment opportunities. “There were two gentlemen from the community who would come and watch us every Friday. So, we called them in and trained them as coaches for the programme.”

Six schools are presently involved in the programme, and Ian is aiming to target 20 000.

“My role is to be a conduit. I know that people may want to give but are either afraid or unsure

Kate Coleman, business development specialist, and Jeanne Haley, learning process facilitator,

shared with those present, “This programme speaks to creating the future we want. It is not about fixing but diversifying beyond education.

When we come alongside someone, the changes are remarkable.”

Jeanne shared the agenda for the year-long programme, which is divided into three phases.

The first phase concentrates on relationship building and discovery, the second on visioning and planning and the third on implementation. “It then culminates in a school project that must address the needs of the school by placing it at the centre of the community.”

come to understand that this is not about me imparting a skill. It is walking a journey and seeing how best we can make a difference.

I love visiting the school because being around those children just does something for me!”

Environmental Manager Ayanda Duma is approaching the end of her journey with the programme. She and her partner, Mavivane Principal Ningi Gumede, shared their thoughts:

Ningi was just as complimentary of Ayanda’s friendship and the programme’s benefits.

“I am no longer the shy principal who cannot speak. This has changed my life, my management approach and my perception of our learners. Ayanda is a blessing, and I know that together we will change Shakaville.”

“When MaNingi and I speak, it does not always have to be about work,” Ayanda said. “We open up to each other, and I have

If you would like to find out more about our

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Reporting to Security

Security is a shared responsibility. Owners must report any suspicious or unlawful occurrence to Security immediately after it has been seen or perceived.

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Access and egress to and from the Estate are controlled. No person may enter the Estate without having prior authorisation and being cleared by Security. Security is permitted to detain any person on exit to determine his/her identity prior to allowing them to leave.

Jeff Leaver: Chairman

Clive Mc Creadie: Vice-Chairman HOA

Andrew Mackenzie

Louis Boshoff

Gavin Dunlop

Lisa Southey

Margi Lilienfeld

Frank Bradford: Vice-Chairman SCC EXCO

Director Marketing & Communications board8@simbithi.com

Director Security board4@simbithi.com

Director Finance & IT board3@simbithi.com

Director Design Review Committee board5@simbithi.com

Director Technical & Maintenance board7@simbithi.com

Director Human Resources board9@simbithi.com

Director Environmental board6@simbithi.com

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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