Crime driving South Africans to estate living

© Vincent Yim – 123RF.com

According to Jaime-Lee van Sittert, CEO and founder of Estate Living, ordinary law abiding South Africans are growing increasingly tired of the unforgiving crime rate, and are taking a proactive approach to their safety by choosing to live in a residential estate or gated community.

"Convenience and safety are the main reasons why South Africans are moving towards homes in these communities and in some rare cases are willing to pay up to three times the national average, in exchange for twenty four hour manned security services often incorporating armed security foot patrols, biometric fingerprint access and night vision and heat sensitive cameras," explains Van Sittert.

Global trends

There are just over 6,000 registered gated communities and private estates across the country today, encompassing more than 318,000 properties. With a combined value of more than R640bn, the sector as a whole continues to rebut global trends, enjoying year-on-year growth and, whilst it is not immune to criminal activity, Van Sittert assures that these are insignificant in comparison to the national average and in all cases are dealt with effectively and robustly.

There was a time when residential estates were deemed suitable for only the extremely wealthy and more established estates such as Eagle Canyon, Pearl Valley and Pezula Private Reserve for example still sell properties valued at up to R25m in some cases. However, there has been a rapid increase in demand and the market has shifted dramatically in order to meet this growing demand.

"As a result we are now seeing newer developments catering to a middle income bracket and established estates offering alternate apartment living as well as ordinary homes at more affordable prices," explains Van Sittert.

Retirement facilities

"The new Sitari development in the Western Cape, which will provide lifestyle options for 3,000 families as well as Waterfall and estates in the Helderberg, offer retirement village facilities all on the same land meaning that extended families can remain closer.

"Families want to live freely and comfortably, they want to let their children walk to school and play outdoors, they want to enjoy living in their homes without having to worry about high fences and sturdy gates, they want to drive home late at night without having to look over their shoulder and they want to be reassured that their parents and grandparents are safe and looked after too.

"Every South African should be able to enjoy these reassurances, but until crime rates begin to nosedive sharply, estate living will continue to become the preferred way of life in South Africa," concludes Van Sittert.