When Alan Allschwang welcomes you with
an open smile and a firm handshake, the ice
breaks right away and the atmosphere quickly
becomes very relaxed. It is difficult not to
become carried away by the amazing journey
of this South African couple who have chosen
to settle down for several weeks a year in
Mauritius.
The charismatic personality of this tax lawyer
and the quiet strength of his wife are quite
probably the main ingredients of their success
and happiness. Whether in Sandton in South
Africa, or in Bel Ombre in Mauritius, they
run their own commercial law firm – thanks
to the installation of an office, fully equipped
with the latest technology, in their villa in
Valriche.
This is proof that it is entirely possible to
create an environment that combines work
and quality of life.
You are South African, based in Sandton,
Johannesburg where you manage your own
commercial law firm. Tell us more about
yourself and your family.
I read for my Law degrees in the early 80s
at the University of Witwatersrand, and
later read for three further postgraduate
qualifications: Company law, Income Tax law
LUXURY MAURITIUS
and International Tax Law.
I have two beautiful daughters, aged sixteen
and fourteen, from a previous marriage. I am
married to a very special woman, Leanie, a
former South African champion athlete, who
is also a lawyer – she works with me and is a
shining example of how, with the right level
of dedication and tremendous discipline, you
can be an exceptional athlete in your twenties
and then study to become an outstanding
lawyer in your thirties – two very difficult
things to achieve, believe me.
bespoke and fully equipped branch office in
my villa. I must confess that it is far nicer to
work on my laptop with the view of the ocean
and coral reef in front of me than it is to do
so with cold concrete walls before me as is
the case in my office, in Sandton. I know I’m
guilty of working too much, so I’m trying to
compromise by finding a way to spend more
leisure time without negatively impacting
upon my professional responsibilities.
Valriche offers me the ideal way to achieve
that balance.
How often do you get to come to Mauritius?
I spend about a quarter of my time in
Mauritius, but I plan to increase the frequency
and duration of my visits, as Mauritius has
become my home away from home and I also
have business interests on the island. As an
IRS investor, I am a Mauritian resident. So are
my children and so is my wife. If somebody
asks me, “Where do you live?” I answer,
“When I’m in South Africa I live in Sandton,
and when I’m in Mauritius I live in Valriche”.
About Valriche, when did you buy this
beautiful villa?
I first visited Valriche in 2006, and at that
time, it was just a sugar estate. My bankers
in South Africa, Investec, a highly respected
international banking organisation, were
willing to offer loan finance to persons who
purchased property in Valriche, and I knew
this meant it was a great investment. I took a
leap of faith and was among the first to buy a
villa here, and I must say it was one of the best
decisions I’ve ever made.
How do you spend your time when you are
in Mauritius?
I don’t come to Mauritius merely on “holiday”
like I did in my youth. I have established a
16
According to you, what are the benefits of
owning such a property in Mauritius?
Firstly, it’s very peaceful, there’s harmony,