Wits Business School WBS-2016-7

A Tale of Three Houses

“If I were asked to name the chief benefit of a house, I would say: the house shelters daydreaming, the house protects the
dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace.”
– Gaston Bachelard

The first thing Thandie Dhlomo, sales partner at the Rawson Property Group, did when she arrived home
on a chilly Friday evening in July 2016 was pour herself a glass of red wine, kick off her shoes and curl up
on her couch. She felt exhausted. Her last clients for the day had been Lunga Dlamini and his wife, Sonia.
They were looking to move out of their rented house in Soweto and purchase their first home in one of the
suburbs of Johannesburg. Dhlomo had helped them to narrow it down to three properties in three different
suburbs: Linden, Parkhurst and Fourways. Dhlomo had just shown the couple the Linden property for the
second time. Personally, she favoured the Parkhurst property as she felt that it was perfect for the family,
but it was also the most expensive property of the three and she suspected that the Dlaminis had not been
convinced. Dhlomo wondered what strategy she could use to persuade the Dlaminis that the Parkhurst
property was the right fit for them.

The Dlaminis
Lunga Dlamini was a chef with his own catering business. Born in 1978, Lunga had grown up in Zola,
Soweto. His father abandoned the family when Lunga was seven years old, leaving his mother to care for
him and his older brother and sister. His mother had run an informal catering business, supplying meals
for construction workers. From the age of eight years old, Lunga would help her prepare the food before
school. And thus began Lunga’s lifelong interest in food.

After finishing Grade 12, Lunga won a full scholarship to study at the International Hotel School in
Sunninghill, north of Johannesburg. After completing the prestigious Culinary Arts programme, he
worked at several luxury hotels, starting in the kitchen as a trainee chef and working his way into
hospitality management. However, at the age of 32, Lunga had had enough of the long hours and shift
work in hotel kitchens and decided to launch his own catering business, called Mnandia Catering. The
company specialised in traditional South African food with a Western twist, and catered for corporate
events, birthday parties, baby showers, engagements, kitchen teas, matric dances, weddings and funerals.
Lunga had also been dabbling in creating artisanal products and had started producing his own “Mnandi”
range of pickled vegetables and smoked meats.

Lunga had been running his business from his rented home in Orlando Westb in Soweto since he launched
Mnandi Catering in 2010. His current three-bedroom, one-bathroom house was proving to be inadequate

a A Zulu word meaning “delicious” or “tasty”.

b Orlando West had become a popular tourist destination in Soweto, as it housed several historical sites such as the Hector
Pieterson Memorial, the Mandela Museum and the popular Vilikazi Street. [Source: City of Johannesburg (n.d.), “Locals love
Orlando”, available at: http://joburg.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6766:locals-love-
orlando&catid=106:suburbs&Itemid=188 (accessed 29 June 2016).]
This case was prepared by lecturer Dr Yvonne Saini with research associate Dr Amanda Bowen. It is intended for
classroom use only. It is not intended to demonstrate effective or ineffective handling of a business situation.

Copyright ©2016 Graduate School of Business Administration, University of the Witwatersrand. No part of this
publication may be reproduced in any format – electronic, photocopied, or otherwise – without consent from Wits
Business School. To request permission, apply to: The Case Centre, Wits Business School, PO Box 98, Wits 2050,
South Africa, or e-mail Nthabiseng.Kekana@wits.ac.za.
A Tale of Three Houses

for both his growing family and his business. Furthermore, the property was situated on a small 368 m2
stand, which meant he could not offer clients the option of catering their function at his premises. Initially,
his clients had been based largely in Soweto. However, he was increasingly finding that his clients worked
or lived in the suburbs of Johannesburg. Thus, Lunga and his wife, Sonia, had been considering a move to
the suburbs for several years, and had been actively looking at properties for six months. Both felt that
such a move would be the beginning of a new era for the family and a way of taking Lunga’s business to
the next level.

Sonia Dlamini had started making jewellery when she was at high school in Zola, Soweto. Born in 1982,
she quickly determined that her creative talent would lift her out of poverty. The only child of older
parents, now deceased, she had completed a Diploma in Jewellery Design and Manufacture at the
University of Johannesburg. Sonia met Lunga when he catered for a friend’s birthday party. They had
fallen in love immediately, and had married the day after she completed her diploma.

Sonia created exclusive and specially designed pieces for clients using semi-precious stones, silver and
platinum. Currently, Sonia sold her jewellery online and relied on word of mouth; however, the slow
economy had affected sales of luxury items and her business was no longer making a profit.1 Thus, she
aspired to open an upmarket jewellery studio in a suburban shopping mall, so as to increase her sales and
expand her business.

The couple had two children – a 12-year-old son, Mandla, and a seven-year-old daughter, Nomvula. Both
children currently attended Vezokuhle Primary School, a public school in Orlando, Soweto. Mandla was
due to begin high school in 2017 and Nomvula would be starting Grade 2 in that year. Lunga and Sonia
felt that it was the perfect time to move to a property in the suburbs and to consider putting the children
into a private school.

Dhlomo had gathered a great deal of information from the Dlaminis over the course of several meetings
with them. She knew that Lunga had ambitions far beyond that of running a successful catering company.
He intended to launch his own range of Mnandi food products, while Sonia wanted to take her fledgling
jewellery business from being a small, online concern with a select clientele to a full-scale retail operation.
The couple enjoyed spending their free time with their children, engaging in outdoor activities such as
cycling and hiking, entertaining friends and family, and eating out at restaurants as a treat. Both Lunga
and Sonia were practising Catholics and members of the congregation of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic
Church in Orlando West, Soweto.

The couple had presented Dhlomo with their requirements for a house. They wanted a property of at least
600 m2, with an established garden and a swimming pool. The house needed a minimum of three
bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a large kitchen and dining room, and a double garage. As far as non-
negotiables were concerned, the couple wanted a house within close proximity of good public and private
schools, shopping, entertainment nodes and sports facilities, and within reasonable driving distance of a
Catholic church.

Dhlomo knew that the Dlaminis – Lunga in particular – did not want to spend more than R2.2 million on a
property, but she sensed that they could be persuaded to spend a bit more. The couple would be able to put
down a 20% deposit, which would make the monthly bond repayments less onerous. Dhlomo sensed,
however, that Lunga would be the one to convince. He had big dreams, but he prided himself on being
level-headed and practical. He enjoyed his success, but knew that one poor choice could have dire
financial implications. He had worked too hard to decide on a property purchase based on his emotions.
Lunga wanted his first property purchase to be not only a home for his family but an investment in their
future.

Sonia tended to be more spontaneous in her decision-making than Lunga. Based on what Dhlomo knew
about Sonia and her struggling jewellery business, many of her decisions had been based on emotions
rather than utilitarian or practical concerns. Dhlomo felt that Sonia viewed purchasing a property less as
an investment and more as an “adventure”: something that resonated with her creative spirit and future
business plans.

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A Tale of Three Houses

The Choices
According to David Jacobs, regional manager for Rawson Northern and KwaZulu-Natal regions, there
were always property “hotspots” in any city, where both sales and prices continued to rise even in difficult
economic times. Jacobs maintained that the sustained demand in such areas tended to be driven by various
lifestyle trends. These trends included downsizing from large suburban properties to smaller, more secure
homes that offered relief from rising property rates and utility costs, and recentralisation from outer
suburbs and estates back to inner suburbs and city centres to avoid road travel and reduce the costs of
commuting. Furthermore, buyers exhibited a preference for self-contained areas that offered workplaces,
education facilities, shops and leisure venues close to home.2

Dhlomo had presented the Dlaminis with three properties in three different suburbs: Linden, Parkhurst and
Fourways. (See Exhibit 1 for a map of Johannesburg.)

Linden
Linden, one of the oldest suburbs of Johannesburg, lay to the north-west of the city centre, covering an
area of 4.04 km2. In the 1920s, farming areas had been sold and subdivided into smallholdings and by the
late 1950s, Linden had become a fully developed, predominantly Afrikaans-speaking, urban suburb.3 By
the 2000s, the suburb contained a mix of English and Afrikaans speakers.4 Since then, Linden had become
increasingly multicultural, although there were proportionally more Afrikaans-speaking residents than in
Parkhurst and Fourways.5

The suburb featured large homes on sizeable stands, with the average stand size being 1 700 m2. Most of
the homes had been built in the 1950s and 1960s, and Linden contained many restored homes positioned
on a grid of numbered avenues and streets.6 House prices in Linden started at between R1.8 million and
R2.4 million for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house. Developers had also bought and subdivided some
of the older stands, and there were new two-bedroom, two-bathroom duplexes available for just under
R2 million. The top end of the market was around R5 million. This sum purchased a modern, fully
renovated five-bedroom, two-bathroom home on a stand of more than 3 400 m2.7

Linden residents had preserved the area’s strong community ethos and long tradition of food production,
and had created a local food movement in the area. This had attracted an increasing number of young
families keen on country living, who in turn produced their own food and ran creative and artisanal
businesses from home. A local crafts and food market had been established and there were more than 20
cafés, coffee shops and restaurants, many of which made use of home-grown produce.8 For example, the
owners of local coffee shop, The Whippet, sourced all their ingredients from butchers, bakers and growers
who lived and worked in the neighbourhood.9 According to EatOut.co.za, “the little suburb of Linden is
slowly blossoming into a marvellous foodie destination,”10 with over 24 restaurants and coffee shops.11 In
terms of purchasing essentials such as bread and milk, there was a Spar grocery store situated in the
middle of the suburb.12

Partway down the slope of the suburb lay Linden’s heated public swimming pool. Emmarentia Dam and
the Botanical Gardens were situated to the south of the suburb. Residents considered the dam and gardens
to be a wonderful green space into which to escape the pressures of the city. In fact, Linden lay almost
encircled by green parklands, consisting of city parks and bird sanctuaries.13

The closest shopping mall to Linden was Cresta Shopping Centre. It was one of the largest shopping malls
in South Africa, consisting of over 250 stores, and was considered to be a hub of fashion, food, décor,
entertainment, technology and services.14 Moreover, the trendy suburb of Greenside was around the
corner, with Greenway and Gleneagles Road – this hip suburb’s high streets – lined with restaurants,
antique and décor shops.15

Linden contained three churches: St Charles Catholic Church, St Thomas’s Anglican Church and a
Nederduitse Gereformeerde (NG) Kerk.c The suburb was also home to the Linden Public Library. The

c Dutch Reformed Church.

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A Tale of Three Houses

private Netcare Milpark Hospital was a 12-minute drive away, while the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg
Academic Hospital in Parktown, a public hospital, was over 20 minutes’ drive away.

The suburb contained two Afrikaans-medium public schools: Laërskool Louw Geldenhuys (grades R to 7)
and Hoërskool Linden (grades 8 to 12). Both schools had excellent reputations. The closest English-
medium public school was Blairgowrie Primary School, approximately 10 to 15 minutes’ drive from
Linden. That school also had an excellent reputation. Linden contained one private English-medium
Catholic school, De Le Salle Holy Cross College (grades R to 12). De Le Salle had a strong focus on
academics and a consistent 100% Independent Examinations Board (IEB)d matric pass rate. (See Exhibit
2 for a map of Linden and Exhibit 3 for the property in Linden.)

Built in the 1960s and situated on a smaller stand size of 895 m2, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house
in Linden was set in an established garden, with a covered braai area and a solar-heated pool secured with
a safety net. The house retained original features such as a corrugated iron roof, spacious rooms and
wooden flooring. It contained a large lounge and a spacious dining room, with sliding doors opening onto
the pool and braai area. The main bedroom had a dressing room, a walk-in closet and an en-suite
bathroom with a bath and shower. The second bathroom also contained a bath and shower. There was a
working fireplace in the lounge and ceiling fans in all three bedrooms. The large, modern kitchen boasted
granite counters, a gas stove and an ample pantry. The garage had parking for four cars and direct access
from the garage to the kitchen. The property was fully walled with perimeter lighting, closed circuit
television and an alarm system. The price of the property was R2 260 000, which worked out to a monthly
repayment of R22 300 per month over 20 years (with no deposit and at a 10.5% interest rate).

The first time that Lunga viewed the house, he felt that the house had embraced him from the moment he
entered.16 It had a warm and comforting atmosphere, and Lunga had been surprised by the quietness of the
area. As he moved from room to room, he could hear the birds singing. He felt that the house had a good
indoor-outdoor flow from the inside of the house to the pool, patio and braai area. He felt that this was
important for entertaining, which the family would do more of once they had their own property, and
would also be advantageous if Lunga decided to hold functions on the property. He loved the restored
wooden flooring throughout the house and the large kitchen with a gas stove and pantry. He could already
envision his equipment in the space. Furthermore, he was very happy with the security of the property.
Sonia and the children had been impressed by the solar-heated pool, which meant they could enjoy
swimming all year round. Sonia also liked the fact that the house was close to parks and green spaces,
where the family could enjoy cycling and walking. Mandla had been excited at the prospect of converting
part of the large four-car garage into a small flatlet perfect for a teenage boy.

The house did need a bit of work, however. Lunga had been concerned about areas of damp on the outer
walls of the house and a large damp patch on the main bedroom wall. Several of the cupboards in the
house had a damp and musty smell. While there was a Catholic Church and a private Catholic school
within walking distance of the house, both Lunga and Sonia had been disappointed that there were no
English-medium public schools in the suburb. They were not yet sure they could afford the property and
place both children in a private school. In terms of the suburb, while Lunga relished the peace and quiet,
Sonia and Mandla felt that Linden was a bit too quiet and conservative for their liking. It lacked the social
buzz and vibe that they were used to in Orlando, and which they had experienced in the two other areas
they had looked at: Fourways and Parkhurst.

Parkhurst
Dhlomo adored the trendy, heritage suburb of Parkhurst. She felt that it would appeal to Lunga and his
love of food, as it had more than 24 bars, bistros, cafés, diners, grills and fine dining restaurants in its
Fourth Avenue precinct alone. Parkhurst also contained some of the most sought-after real estate in the
city, offering small stands averaging 496 m2 with good security, a neighbourly atmosphere and situated
close to several business nodes.17 It was a 10-minute drive from the Johannesburg Zoo and Zoo Lake – a

d Most private schools in South Africa wrote Grade 12 IEB examinations. These examinations were considered to be a more
challenging and comprehensive assessment than state and provincial equivalents, as they tended to ask questions that required
analysis, critical thinking skills and evaluation from pupils, as opposed to rote learning. [Source: IEB (n.d.), “What is the IEB?”,
available at: www.ieb.co.za/AboutUs/whatistheieb.php (accessed 6 July 2016).]

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A Tale of Three Houses

popular rowing, jogging and picnic spot with a sports club and a public swimming pool. 18 Furthermore,
the suburb was only a 10-minute drive away from Delta Park, which consisted of 104 hectares of
grassland, woodland and dams studded with walking trails.19

The suburb of Parkhurst was founded in 1904 by the African Realty Trust.20 By the 1930s, about one-third
of the suburb had been developed and after the Second World War, the suburb had been completely
developed. The gentrificatione process started in the 1960s, when older houses in the southern section
started to be renovated. By the late 2000s, the majority of homes in Parkhurst had been remodelled,
renovated and extended. As the area had become increasingly popular, so property prices had increased,
with prices starting at around R2.3 million for a two-bedroom townhouse and R2.5 million for a three-
bedroom, two-bathroom home, ranging up to R7 million for a three-bedroom double-storey house that had
been substantially remodelled and modernised.21

Parkhurst covered 1.64 km2 and consisted of a grid of numbered streets and avenues with two main
business roads, Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street. These roads contained restaurants, cafés, coffee shops,
bakeries, interior design boutiques, art galleries and antique dealers. Young families considered Parkhurst
to be a fashionable neighbourhood, and it had become increasingly popular with Johannesburg’s residents
for its street life and sidewalk cafés.22

The suburb formed part of “The Parks” – a collection of established “leafy suburbs” that included
Craighall Park, Parktown North, Parkwood, Parkhurst and Parkview.23 These suburbs constituted the
inner, historic suburbs of Johannesburg, where shopping malls seemed not to exist and a “village” lifestyle
had value. Many artists, writers, crafters, chefs and media personalities resided in the area, and residents
could be found walking or cycling to the local shops for essentials on a Saturday morning. 24

The Parkhurst Village Residents’ Association actively tried to preserve the suburb’s village-like
atmosphere. The association organised a number of annual events including the Parkhurst Village Fair,
which offered families and their pets a day of delicious food, market stalls, craft beers and wine. The
suburb also hosted a Halloween “trick or treat” for residents, an annual picnic and regular “coffee mixers”,
where new and long-term residents could get to know each other better over a cup of coffee.25

The suburb contained Verity Park, a popular attraction containing a playground and a soccer field. The
park had become a natural haven for many residents wishing to walk their dogs. Situated next to the park,
the Parkhurst Recreation Centre offered a public swimming pool, sports facilities and a range of activities
for children and adults including art classes, ballet, guitar and piano lessons, tennis and yoga. 26 The suburb
also bordered on the Braamfontein Spruitf to the west. Residents could enjoy walking the Braamfontein
Spruit Hiking Trail – a popular hiking trail that followed the course of the spruit,27 a tributary of the
Jukskei River.

Besides the wide variety of specialist shops located within the suburb, the closest shopping mall to
Parkhurst was the upmarket, four-storey Rosebank Mall, which offered a wide range of retail stores,
cinemas, restaurants and coffee shops. The mall also offered two markets: the Rosebank Art and Craft
Market and the Rosebank Sunday Market, hosted on the rooftop of the mall.28 Parkhurst was also close to
the high-end Hyde Park Corner, which offered more luxury brands than anywhere else in Africa, with 500
of the world’s foremost brands in 130 speciality stores including art, antiques, fashion and jewellery, 12
restaurants, several coffee shops, and cinemas.29

The suburb contained three churches: the Parkhurst Baptist Church, St Paul’s Anglican Church and St
Ninian’s Presbyterian Church. The nearest Catholic church was St Charles’ Catholic Church in Linden, a
10-minute drive away. In terms of medical facilities, the area contained general practitioners, dentists and
Parkhurst Clinic, a municipal primary healthcare facility. Netcare Milpark Hospital was a 15-minute drive
away, while the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in Parktown was over 20 minutes’
drive away.

e The process of renewal and rebuilding that accompanied the influx of affluent and middle-class people into an area. [Source:
Dictionary.com (n.d.), “Gentrification”, available at: www.dictionary.com/browse/gentrification (accessed 16 May 2016).]
f A small tributary stream.

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A Tale of Three Houses

The suburb contained one English-medium public primary school – Parkhurst Primary School – which
had become a bit dilapidated and in need of renovation and rejuvenation. Other public primary schools
with excellent reputations in the surrounding areas included Blairgowrie Primary School, Craighall
Primary School, Greenside Primary School and Parkview Junior and Senior, all less than 10 minutes’
drive away. Parkhurst did not have a public or private high school within the suburb. The closest public
high schools were Greenside High School, Parktown Boys’ High School, Parktown Girls’ High School
and Roosevelt High School, all with good academic reputations and within 10 to 15 minutes’ drive away.
The closest prominent private schools to the suburb were De La Salle Holy Cross College in Linden
(Grades 0 to 12), Deutsche Internationale Schule in Parktown (Grades 0 to 12), the girls-only Roedean
School in Parktown (Grades 0 to 12) and the girls-only Catholic St Teresa’s School in Rosebank (Grades 0
to 12). All of these private schools had solid academic reputations and were within a 10- to 15-minute
drive away.30 (See Exhibit 4 for a map of Parkhurst and Exhibit 5 for the property in Parkhurst.)

Built in the 1960s and situated on a slightly larger-than-normal stand of 506 m2, the three-bedroom, two-
bathroom house was set in an established garden with a swimming pool. The fully renovated house
retained original features, such as two working fireplaces and staff quarters. It contained a large and well-
fitted kitchen with granite counters, a gas stove and plenty of cupboard space. The large lounge and dining
room flowed into the three fully carpeted bedrooms and two bathrooms. The main bathroom contained a
bath and shower, while the second bathroom contained a shower only. There was also a small study or
sunroom, which led out onto the pool and entertainment area. The garage had parking for two cars and the
property was fully walled with electric fencing. The property price was R2 650 000, which worked out to
a monthly repayment of R26 457 per month over 20 years (with no deposit and at a 10.5% interest rate).

Lunga and Sonia loved the fact that the house was drenched in sunlight, with huge windows that created
sunny spots and allowed plenty of natural light in. Like the Linden home, the house had good indoor-
outdoor flow, perfect for family entertaining and for holding functions. Lunga particularly liked the staff
quarters, which could be used as an office for his catering business, while Mandla already envisioned a
conversion into a teenage boy’s den. The sun room that led onto the patio and pool area would be a perfect
space for Sonia to design jewellery. Lunga felt that the kitchen was sufficient for his catering business
with a gas stove, which he preferred to an electric stove, and plenty of storage space. The couple were
happy with the security of the house and its proximity to Zoo Lake and Delta Park, where the family could
walk, hike and cycle. Furthermore, the Catholic Church in Linden was a short drive away. Lunga liked the
neighbourly atmosphere of the suburb, with the house close to the amenities of trendy Fourth Avenue but
far enough away from the hustle and bustle to hear the birds sing. Sonia loved the thought of living in one
of the historic “leafy” suburbs of Johannesburg. Moreover, the couple knew that Parkhurst was a “hot”
area and the purchase of the property represented a wise investment.

However, Lunga felt that the stand was smaller than what he wanted for business purposes and that there
would not be sufficient space for large functions. The houses tended to be close together, without the
sense of space between neighbours that he had seen in Linden. Lunga wondered whether the neighbours
would complain about the noise from functions that continued into the night. Furthermore, the swimming
pool was smaller than the Linden property’s pool and needed a repaint. The staff quarters, though solidly
constructed, needed refurbishing before it could be used as offices or as a den for Mandla. Both Mandla
and Nomvula were also not happy that the second bathroom contained a shower and no bath.

The children would need to attend schools outside the suburb, although there were plenty of excellent
public and private schools a short drive away in neighbouring suburbs. Lunga, however, could not stop
coming back to the fact that the Parkhurst property was the most expensive of the three options and
represented more money than he had wanted to spend.

Fourways
For many people, though, Fourways represented one of the best real estate options in Johannesburg. The
Fourways district had become the fastest-developing commercial and residential hub in Johannesburg. A
blend of country living and suburbia, the 2.13 km2 area was roughly as far as one could go before
metropolitan Johannesburg became rolling hills, and game and horse farms. Apart from Johannesburg’s

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A Tale of Three Houses

older and more prestigious suburbs such as Sandhurst and Westcliff, the Fourways area had some of the
most expensive and sought-after homes in the city.31

The suburb of Fourways was named after the four-way stop where William Nicol Drive and Witkoppen
Road met; however, the district of Fourways actually consisted of eight suburbs and several gated
estates.32 It contained a plethora of entertainment options and many residents considered the area to be a
food lover’s dream, with over 47 restaurants in the Fourways area alone.33 Furthermore, Fourways was
situated a 20-minute drive away from the affluent retail and financial centre of Sandton. The area also
housed several high-end shopping malls and more than a dozen of Johannesburg’s top private schools.34

Fourways offered a wide variety of property options, with the average stand size being 700 m2.35 Two-
bedroom, one-bathroom townhouses sold at around R1 million and standard three-bedroom, two-bathroom
homes started at R1.7 million. Larger family houses started at around R2 million and ranged all the way
up to around R8.9 million for a plush six-bedroom, three-bathroom house.36

Central Fourways comprised the entertainment district, consisting of the Design Quarter, a range of
specialist retailers, luxury car dealerships, shopping malls and Montecasino. The Tuscan-style
Montecasino complex consisted of three hotels, a casino and an entertainment complex housing a wide
range of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and retailers. Moreover, the complex contained two theatres, and
hosted live shows, family activities and regular food festivals such as the Oyster, Wine and Food Festival
and the Coffee & Chocolate Festival.37 The Montecasino Bird Gardens contained the largest and most
diverse collection of African cycads in the world and over 1 000 birds, mammals, reptiles and
amphibians.38

In terms of shopping, Fourways contained various shopping malls including Fourways Mall, Fourways
Crossing, Broadacres and Cedar Square Mall – which contained a Virgin Active gym and the country’s
first 65 metre ski slope. Being close to farms, the area also housed many artisanal producers, a number of
whom sold their products on Sundays at the Fourways Farmers Market. Products included organic
cheeses, artisanal breads, preserves and sauces, fresh flowers, baked goods and craft beers.39

In terms of churches, the Fourways area contained several, including the 4Ways United Church, which
had a strong children’s ministry and focus on the family, the Fourways Community Church and the All
Saints Anglican Church. The nearby suburbs of Bryanston and Rivonia contained two Catholic churches:
the Church of the Resurrection (six minutes’ drive away) and the Rivonia Catholic Church (20 minutes’
drive away).40 The Fourways area contained several private hospitals including the Life Fourways
Hospital and the Netcare Olivedale Hospital, both less than 15 minutes’ drive away, and the Mediclinic
Sandton, a 15-minute drive away. The nearest public hospital was the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg
Academic Hospital, more than 40 minutes’ drive away.41

Residents of Fourways tended to be young, single people; young families; working professionals and
retirees. One of the main attractions of the area was estate living, which had been pioneered in the
Fourways area in the 1980s and had spread to the rest of the country.42 Estate living provided people with
a sense of security while having easy access to amenities, outdoor and sporting activities. Thus, Fourways
had proven to be a popular area to purchase property due to its proximity to major metropolitan areas,
business hubs (such as the financial centre of Sandton) and good schooling, while retaining a sense of
country living and wide open spaces.43 However, according to Fourways residents, the traffic and
commute from Fourways towards the Johannesburg CBD was a nightmare, regardless of whether one
travelled through the suburbs or used the highway.44

The Fourways area had several public and private schools. The area did not yet have a public primary
school, with the closest schools being Bryandale Primary School, Bryanston Primary School and
Bryanston Parallel Medium, all with good academic reputations and a 15-minute drive away. The closest
public high schools (a 15-minute drive away) were Fourways High School and Bryanston High School,
both considered to be excellent public schools with 100% Grade 12 pass rates. In terms of private schools,
the academically renowned Crawford Schools operated in the area, with Crawford Pre-primary and
Preparatory (grades 000 to 7) in Fourways and Lonehill, and Crawford College (grades 8 to 12) in

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A Tale of Three Houses

Lonehill, a 10-minute drive away. Both Dainfern College and Heron Bridge College offered grades 0 to
12 with 100% Grade 12 pass rates, while the nearby suburb of Bryanston contained Brescia House School
(a Catholic girls’ school offering grades 0 to 12), a 10-minute drive away.45 (See Exhibit 6 for a map of
Fourways and Exhibit 7 for the property in Fourways.)

Built in the early 2000s, the Fourways home was set on a 700 m2 property in a sought-after and secure
gated estate. Despite being part of an estate, the house had a fully walled, private and established garden
with a border of fully grown fruit trees, and a thatched lapa that contained a braai area and an outdoor
pizza oven. The swimming pool had just been repainted and refurbished with Italian mosaic tiles. The
house contained a large kitchen with an electric stove, melamine countertops and plenty of cupboard
space. The four bedrooms were large and sunny, with ceiling fans, and the two bathrooms contained baths
and showers. The large double garage could comfortably fit three cars. The estate provided 24-hour
security for residents. The price of the property was R2 100 000, which worked out to a monthly
repayment of R20 966 per month over 20 years (with no deposit and at a 10.5% interest rate).

Sonia loved the Fourways home the minute she saw it. Walking through the front door, she realised that
she preferred modern, new homes to older, historic homes, even though one had to compromise on space.
She loved the fact that the house was situated in a secure, gated estate while still being fully walled and
private. Lunga was particularly impressed with the entertainment area, outdoor pizza oven and sparkling
pool. He could visualise successful functions being held under the thatched lapa, while he tended the braai
and tossed pizzas into the air. Moreover, the fruit trees in the garden created cool, shady areas and
attracted plenty of garden birds. It was simply perfect for a variety of family and business functions.

Sonia and Nomvula particularly liked the upmarket Fourways area, with its unique blend of urban
trendiness and country living. There was plenty for the family to see and do over weekends and school
holidays, and Lunga wondered if he and Mandla could sell his artisanal products at the well-known
Fourways Farmers Market. It would be the perfect venue to promote his products. Moreover, the nearest
Catholic church was just a short drive away.

While the Fourways property resonated with Sonia and Nomvula, Lunga had to admit that he disliked the
kitchen – especially the electric stove and the cheap melamine countertops. He would have to refurbish the
entire kitchen for it to be at the same standard as the kitchens in the Linden and Parkhurst properties. He
wondered whether he could afford to do so. The bedrooms were also smaller than in the other larger and
older homes; however, there was a fourth bedroom, which could be used as a home office for Lunga or a
jewellery design space for Sonia. Mandla was, however, not happy about the fact that the property did not
contain an area that could be converted into a private space for him. He thought of the large garage at the
Linden house and the staff quarters at the Parkhurst house with longing – although he had to admit that the
entertainment area, swimming pool and garden of the Fourways home was the most impressive of all.

While the Fourways property had the best price, it was not central, and meant the family would have to
move their entire lives to the far north of Johannesburg. This concerned Lunga, as most of his clients were
situated in the more established central suburbs of Johannesburg that were closer to Linden and Parkhurst.
He wondered whether he would be able to find new clients in the Fourways area or whether he would end
up travelling a great deal more than he would like. Another drawback was that the area contained no
public primary schools and only one public high school. The couple had not yet made the decision
whether to send the children to private schools, so the lack of public schools in the area concerned them.

Conclusion
After careful research of the three suburbs and the available properties, Dhlomo still felt convinced that
the Parkhurst property was the perfect fit for the Dlamini family and their needs. She did have a niggling
concern that the property was out of the family’s price range, though. Furthermore, based on their
previous meeting, Lunga had been particularly impressed with the peaceful and established suburb of
Linden, while Fourways, with its upmarket, country lifestyle and proximity to the “nouveau riche”,
resonated with Sonia and her ambitions for her jewellery business. They had arranged another meeting for
Monday morning, and Dhlomo wondered if she could convince the Dlaminis that the Parkhurst property
best served their needs and represented a prudent investment for the couple.

8
A Tale of Three Houses

Exhibit 1 Map of Johannesburg

Source: SA-Venues.com (n.d.), “Johannesburg Map”, available at: www.sa-

venues.com/maps/gauteng_johannesburg.htm (accessed 8 July 2016).

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A Tale of Three Houses

Exhibit 2 Map of Linden, Johannesburg

Source: Google Maps (2016), “Linden”, available at: www.google.co.za/webhp?sourceid=chrome-

instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=google%20map%20of%20linden%2C%20johannesburg (accessed 8 July
2016).

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A Tale of Three Houses

Exhibit 3 The Property in Linden

Source: Property24.com (n.d.), “3 Bedroom House for Sale in Linden”, available at: www.property24.com/for-
sale/linden/randburg/gauteng/5779/103796239# (accessed 25 April 2016).

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A Tale of Three Houses

Exhibit 4 Map of Parkhurst, Johannesburg

Source: Google Maps (2016), “Parkhurst”, available at: www.google.co.za/webhp?sourceid=chrome-

instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#safe=off&q=google+map+of+parkhurst%2C+johannesburg (accessed 8 July
2016).

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A Tale of Three Houses

Exhibit 5 The Property in Parkhurst

Source: Property 24.com (n.d.), “3 Bedroom House for Sale in Parkhurst”, available at: www.property24.com/for-
sale/parkhurst/johannesburg/gauteng/12133/102927503 (accessed 16 May 2016).

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A Tale of Three Houses

Exhibit 6 Map of Fourways, Johannesburg

Source: Google Maps (2016), “Fourways”, available at: www.google.co.za/webhp?sourceid=chrome-

instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#safe=off&q=google+map+of+fourways%2C+johannesburg (accessed 8 July
2016).

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A Tale of Three Houses

Exhibit 7 The Property in Fourways

Source: Property24.com (n.d.), “3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom House for Sale in Fourways”, available at:
www.property24.com/for-sale/fourways/sandton/gauteng/5811/103880344 (accessed 17 May 2016).

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A Tale of Three Houses

1
Kraj, B. (2015), “Effects of economic performance on luxury, middle class and budget retailers”, LinkedIn, 19 January,
available at: www.linkedin.com/pulse/effects-economic-performance-luxury-middle-class-budget-bledjan-kraj (accessed 7 June
2016).
2
Rawson Property Group (n.d.), “Gauteng’s best suburbs for food-lovers”, available at: www.rawson.co.za/news/gautengs-best-
suburbs-for-food-lovers-id-2114 (accessed 14 April 2016).
3
City of Johannesburg (n.d.), “Peach and cherry orchards in Linden”, available at:
www.joburg.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&id=909&Itemid=52 (accessed 21 April 2016).
4
Ibid.
5
Ibid.
6
South African Accommodation (n.d.), “About Linden”, available at: www.sa-venues.com/accommodation/linden.php (accessed
18 April 2016).
7
Property24.com (n.d.), “Trendy living and property in Joburg’s popular Linden”, available at:
www.property24.com/articles/trendy-living-and-property-in-joburgs-popular-linden/23253 (accessed 28 June 2016).
8
Rawson Property Group (n.d.), op. cit.
9
Media Club South Africa (n.d.), “Something is brewing in Linden”, available at: www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/visitsa/3280-
the-whippet-in-linden (accessed 18 April 2016).
10
Eat Out (n.d.), “Hot restaurant district: Linden”, available at: www.eatout.co.za/article/hot-restaurant-district-linden/ (accessed
21 April 2016).
11
Ibid.
12
Rawson Property Group (n.d.), op. cit.
13
South African Accommodation (n.d.), op. cit.
14
Cresta Shopping Centre (n.d.), “Welcome to the Cresta Shopping Experience”, available at: www.crestashoppingcentre.co.za/
(accessed 25 April 2016).
15
South African Accommodation (n.d.), op. cit.
16
About Money (n.d.), “10 ways to know you found the right house”, available at:
http://homebuying.about.com/od/buyingahome/qt/10-Ways-To-Know-You-Found-The-Right-House.htm (accessed 18 July
2016).
17
Property24.com (n.d.), “Rarity value boosts home prices in Joburg’s Parkhurst”, available at:
www.property24.com/articles/rarity-value-boosts-home-prices-in-joburgs-parkhurst/23284 (accessed 28 June 2016).
18
Gauteng.net (n.d.), “Zoo Lake”, available at: www.gauteng.net/attractions/zoo_lake (accessed 5 July 2016).
19
JhbCityParks.com (n.d.), “Delta Park”, available at: www.jhbcityparks.com/index.php/list-of-parks-mainmenu-39/36-delta-park
(accessed 28 June 2016).
20
Parkhurst Village Residents and Business Owners Association (n.d.), “History of Parkhurst”, available at:
www.parkhurst.org.za/Parkhurst (accessed 3 May 2016).
21
Property24.com (n.d.), “Rarity value boosts home prices in Joburg’s Parkhurst”, op. cit.
22
Parkhurst Village Residents and Business Owners Association (n.d.), “History of Parkhurst”, op. cit.
23
InYourPocket.com (n.d.), “Basics: Johannesburg’s Districts Explained”, available at: www.inyourpocket.com/johannesburg/A-
Guide-to-Johannesburgs-Districts_73381f (accessed 19 May 2016).
24
EatOut.co.za (n.d.), “Where to eat in Parktown North, Parkview and Parkhurst”, available at: www.eatout.co.za/article/eat-
parktown-north-parkview-parkhurst/ (accessed 19 May 2016).
25
Parkhurst Village Residents and Business Owners Association (n.d.), “Events”, available at: www.parkhurst.org.za/events
(accessed 3 May 2016).
26
Parkhurst Village Residents and Business Owners Association (n.d.), “Parkhurst”, available at:
www.parkhurst.org.za/http/parkhurstrecreationcentre.webs.com (accessed 3 May 2016).
27
Braamfontein Spruit Hiking Trail (n.d.), “Braamfontein Spruit Hiking Trial”, available at:
www.footprint.co.za/Braamfontein.htm (accessed 6 May 2016).
28
Rosebank Mall (n.d.), “About the Mall”, available at: www.rosebankmall.co.za/about-the-mall (accessed 16 May 2016).
29
Hyde Park Corner (n.d.), “About Hyde Park Corner”, available at: www.hydeparkcorner.co.za/about-hyde-park-corner
(accessed 16 May 2016).
30
Jozi Kids (n.d.), “Schools in Johannesburg”, available at:
www.jozikids.co.za/johannesburg/schools/?gclid=CNKOgeSb3swCFZAW0wodsAgHww (accessed 16 May 2016).
31
Expat Arrivals (n.d.), “Areas and Suburbs in Johannesburg”, available at: www.expatarrivals.com/south-
africa/johannesburg/areas-and-suburbs-in-johannesburg (accessed 23 May 2016).
32
Ibid.
33
Beerhouse (n.d.), “Menus”, available at: www.beerhouse.co.za/ (accessed 23 May 2016).
34
Rawson Property Group (n.d.), op. cit.

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A Tale of Three Houses

35
Property24.com (n.d.), “Rarity value boosts home prices in Joburg’s Parkhurst”, op. cit.
36
Rawson Property Group (n.d.), op. cit.
37
Tsogo Sun (n.d.), “Montecasino”, available at: www.tsogosun.com/montecasino (accessed 24 May 2016).
38
SA-Venues.com (n.d.), “Montecasino Bird Gardens”, available at: www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/gauteng/montecasino-bird-
gardens/ (accessed 23 May 2016).
39
SA-Venues.com (n.d.), “Fourways Farmers Market”, available at: www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/gauteng/fourways-farmers-
market/ (accessed 23 May 2016).
40
FindThem.co.za (n.d.), “Full Guide of Churches in Northern Suburbs”, available at: www.findthem.co.za/x-
product_display.php?product_id=206179 (accessed 26 May 2016).
41
Expat Arrivals (n.d.), op. cit.
42
Pam Golding (n.d.), “Estate living in South Africa reaching new heights”, available at:
www.pamgolding.co.za/newsletter/jun15/developments.htm#dev2 (accessed 7 July 2016).
43
Property24.com (n.d.), “Fourways offers a wide range of estate living”, available at: www.property24.com/articles/fourways-
offers-a-wide-range-of-estate-living/22140 (accessed 26 May 2016).
44
Expat Arrivals (n.d.), op. cit.
45
Fourways Apartments.co.za (n.d.), “Schools Nearby”, available at: www.fourwaysapartments.co.za/default.asp?CPH_ID=1944
(accessed 26 May 2016).

17