Estate Living Magazine Invest SA - Issue 45 September 2019 | Page 25

P R O P E R T Y
&
combined with the estate’s ethos of ’n boer maak ’n plan (a farmer
makes a plan) makes the day-to-day activities of game management,
fence repairs, road maintenance, checking water pipes and supplies,
and cutting fire breaks in winter a breeze.
Herbert explains that sustainability is key to the operations of the
estate. Potable water is supplied from the estate’s own boreholes and
distributed through an engineer-designed reticulation network to
every stand. Boschhoek uses only a fraction of the available
underground water supply.
Wastewater is fed through a system of grey-water irrigation points and
eco-friendly gravel beds. From an electricity point of view, they took
the decision to go for solar and gas instead of an Eskom connection
– except for the clubhouse, workshops, and one borehole, which are
for the time being still connected to Eskom.
The houses are all off the grid, with load shedding and electricity
accounts being something from another world. Most home owners
prefer solar and batteries, while some want to feel the bush vibe of
paraffin lamps and firelight, with perhaps a small solar system for
charging cell phones, etc. It’s all up to the home owner’s preference
and pocket. In keeping with people’s desire for technology,
most of Boschhoek has good cellular signal, and where it
doesn’t, an inexpensive satellite link is possible.
‘Having our own water and electricity supply makes us pretty self-
sufficient. With a monthly levy of around R1,000, property rates of
around R12 per month, no electricity accounts and free basic water
provision, one can live here for just over R1,000 per month,’ says
Herbert.
‘Maintaining economic sustainability is crucial, with a need to keep
levies as low as possible, especially as these are mostly second
properties.’ To do this, Jandre has been empowered to run his own
I N V E S T M E N T
business as well as handling additional maintenance tasks for owners
in conjunction with being estate manager.
This keeps the costs down for the estate. They also use the resources
on the estate to generate income, such as selling off excess game,
cutting, baling and selling the grass on the savanna portion of the
land, and selling firewood. This income goes into the levy kitty and
goes a long way to keep levies low.
‘The property has been a farm since the 1880s and has been supporting
families for more than 100 years, so there’s no reason it cannot continue
to do this into the future,’ says Herbert.
From a management perspective, Herbert explains that the
homeowners association was handed over to home owners within
three months of the first property transfer.
The board and HOA make decisions for the estate, he explained, but
added: ‘I do keep an eye out, but it’s important to me that owners take
control of the estate. We’ve essentially gathered a bunch of people
here who are fairly like-minded, who absolutely love the bush and
who buy into the minimalistic and rustic concept that is Boschhoek
while giving owners the choice of a tiny bush retreat or an expansive
lodge. Boschhoek is a place where families reunite, where a
grandfather shows his grandson the ant lion in the sand. It is also a
place where we, our children and our children’s children may find
reality and healing, as well as meaning in a world that increasingly
buries itself in layer upon layer of make-believe. There is realness
in the tracks under the dappled shade of a wild syringa tree,
which no smart phone, pod or pad could ever aspire to touch. At
Boschhoek we strive for reality and essence, a back-to-nature
approach as opposed to the “glitz and glamour” often found
elsewhere in the bush.’
boschhoekmountain.co.za
Herbert’s commitment to Boschhoek doesn’t only stem from his
role as developer – his passion for the bush is also visible in his own
lovely rustic bush abode built on stilts overlooking a dam and the
mountains. “I’ll grow old here”, he says with a smile.
Herbert’s commitment to Boschhoek doesn’t only stem from
his role as developer – his passion for the bush is also visible in his
own lovely rustic bush abode built on stilts overlooking a dam
and the mountains. ‘I’ll grow old here,’ he says with a smile., a back-
to-nature approach as opposed to the “glitz&glamour” often
committed in the bush elsewhere.”