Property owners keen to go green, banks and agents trail trend South African property buyers may be late coming to the "green" party, but they are fast catching up with their overseas counterparts. Research recently commissioned by Century Property Developments to gauge awareness among estate agents, homebuyers, architects and banks on the issue of green … [Read more...]

uMhlanga traffic junction upgraded in anticipation of Cornubia property development Traffuc congestion at the N2/M41 Mount Edgecombe interchange caused by the expansion of uMhlanga and La Lucia Ridge and the anticipated development of Cornubia is behind plans for a more than R800 million upgrade to the road junction. An artist's impression of the new freeway … [Read more...]

Identity documents for all the directors, members or trustees. This is a long and daunting list, but your accountant or bookkeeper should be able to help you with most of these forms. Depending on the complexity of your application, Viljoen says it may also be useful to provide a short CV, and it is imperative to have your tax affairs and finances in order and up to date. She also advises … [Read more...]

Banks still willing to lend - Standard Bank Despite tough economic conditions, finance is available for those wishing to buy properties, provided they meet the necessary requirements, says Steven Barker, director of home loans at Standard Bank. "In addition to meeting the necessary financial requirements, you should also put a lot of thought into the … [Read more...]

Redevelopment of Cape Town's Founders' Garden clears last hurdle The first of a series of regeneration projects to be rolled out over the next few years has been approved by the Western Cape legislature. The project, approved last week, will see the Founders' Garden, a piece of land next to Artscape Theatre on the Foreshore, being sub-divided and redeveloped … [Read more...]

Retirement village developer fights human rights ruling The Human Rights Commission has found that a company running a Gauteng retirement village contravened the law by excluding villagers in decision-making. But the company says the commission is not qualified to adjudicate in the dispute. Residents of a retirement village in Modderfontein, Gauteng, are … [Read more...]

Sharemax property investors misled by 'copy-and-paste error' Sharemax's directors told their auditors they made a "copy and paste" error in the prospectus of the Zambezi property syndication that misled investors about the security of their investments. This is revealed in the latest determination by Noluntu Bam, the Ombud for Financial Services Providers, … [Read more...]

Controversial Zwaanswyk property rezoning goes ahead Zwaanswyk residents are crying foul after a Cape Town management committee recommended the approval of a new upmarket housing development despite overwhelming opposition - and say the rezoning application was procedurally flawed and contradicted the council's density policies. The Allandale Holiday … [Read more...]

Environmental outcry over Knysna property developer's 'conflict of interest' Knysna residents are up in arms because a company headed by a controversial developer has been given the contract to draft the official municipal plan determining where development can take place in this Garden Route town. Some residents have said it is "incomprehensible" that the … [Read more...]

Another swindling claim against Property Rescue Two weeks after the Western Cape High Court ruled in favour of a Bellville woman who was swindled out of her home by a debt rescue company, another woman - allegedly a victim of the same company - is preparing to take her case to court. Weekend Argus reported last Sunday that Bellville pensioner Engela … [Read more...]

Luxury Gupta property drops R16 million in Joburg valuation roll The Gupta family's main residence - a mansion on three levels on a large piece of land in one of Johannesburg's most expensive suburbs - has been valued at only R490 000 in the latest municipal valuation roll. The Gupta family's mansion in Saxonwold was once valued at R16.89 million. This is … [Read more...]

Prime cricket pitch being rezoned for Durban North property development A prime piece of land in Durban North, owned by Durban High School, is being eyed for a multimillion-rand development that could see it being turned into corporate headquarters, a housing development or a retirement village. This piece of land in Durban North, owned by Durban High … [Read more...]

Durban rates backlog persists Irate Durban homeowners, who have been waiting for their rates clearances to be passed by the eThekwini Municipality, may have to wait a little longer as the city clears the backlog owing to a computer upgrade. Thabo Mofokeng, the municipality spokesman, said the municipality's rates clearance system had been down for about a … [Read more...]

Silver Lakes Golf Estate to write off stolen millions More than R7 million, allegedly defrauded from the Silver Lakes Golf Estate by its bookkeeper over 16 years, will be written off, management has said. Homeowners' association board chairman Dr Steven Pretorius said the money would be written off against capital reserves and no special levies would be … [Read more...]

Joburg undertakes to solve water meter backlog Joburg Water(JW) has launched a new project that will replace customer meters to address the backlog in faulty meters. JW has appointed seven contractors - Bluestone Trench Technologies, FA Civils, Letswamotse Civil Engineering, Mapitsi Civil Works, Sakhile Projects, S Monamodi and Daughter and Sydwell Shabangu … [Read more...]