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cover photo

FroM the General manaGer

By now, the secret is out of the bag… and we could not be more excited to finally share the news of what we have been working on for the better part of this year. At the time of writing this, the Simbithi Bird Book is at the printers, getting its bow tied for an early Christmas present. This book has been an exercise in community, watching the contributors pour passion, expertise, and time into creating this wonderful product. It is truly by Simbithi, for Simbithi. The book is available on pre-order, at R500 each. Orders are coming in fast, so get your copy by filling out the pre-order form here. Still on the topic of the beauty of Simbithi, we have a lovely article about our upgraded Simbithi Nursery in this edition. The nursery

is an essential part of our Economic, Social and Governance (ESG) strategic initiative, with a plethora of flora carefully tended to by our environmental team. Among these are a few rare species sourced earlier this month by Ayanda Duma, our Environmental Manager. We are looking forward to watching these plants being propagated before they find a permanent home in Simbithi soil.

In a bit of unfortunate news, the completion of our Guineafowl Dam will be delayed, following a bout of heavy rain. There is remedial work below the dam that needs to be completed before we officially complete the project. Thank you to the community for your patience and understanding during the course of this significant project.

As we head into the festive season, a reminder that it is time to renew your golf cart liability insurance. When you do this, you will be

FroM the GeNerAL MANAGer

issued with a set of stickers for your cart, for the period 2023/24. As shared, our security team will be monitoring this and stopping carts displaying outdated stickers. So, make sure you are up to date by popping in at our Welcome Centre for assistance. Or, give us a call on 032 946 8360 or email welcomecentre@simbithi.com. In closing, I would like to wish our Club General Manager, Craig Nell, and his family all the best as they relocate to Qatar. Craig, it has been a pleasure working with you and witnessing your passion for Simbithi. The team and I wish you well for your future, and hope to see you for a visit, soon. And that’s it for another year!

Have a fantastic Christmas and New Year, and we’ll see you in 2024.

Marc Mc Clure

FROM THE Club General Manager

Well, it has certainly been a whirlwind of a year at the Country Club. It is particularly poignant for me, as I pen my last column as General Manager.

Before I get too sentimental, let me share a few exciting updates from the Club:

Shoulder is sure to be a hit… and the famous Coconut Curried Seafood Soup many of you devoured when it was a Chef’s Special has finally landed a permanent spot on the bill. We hope to see you for a meal throughout the season.

By the time you read this, we would have finished a second round of engagement regarding developments to the first phase of our Master Plan. We are now at contract level, ready to turn the soil and begin the build when builders return on 15 January 2024. This is going to be a gamechanger for our Club and our Estate at large. I’m sure you are just as excited as we are to see what it will bring to our doorstep!

Thank you to everyone who has booked our event facilities for yearend events. We look forward to creating a special experience for you. It isn’t too late to chat with our team for a booking: give Events

Manager Thoko Phillips a call on 032 946 5409.

We’re ending 2023 with a stunning All That Glitters party; a big bash where we will celebrate an amazing year and welcome 2024 with that Simbithi gees on the deck. Book now with events@simbithi.com.

Down in the Fig Tree, we have just launched a refreshed menu featuring some exquisite new dishes. Our Herbed Stuffed Lamb

“And, now… the end is near,” as Frank Sinatra famously crooned. As I “face my final curtain” at the helm of Simbithi Country Club, I would

FroM the cLUB GeNerAL MANAGer

like to send an enormous thank you to the staff, members, and residents for an amazing four years. This success story has so many chapters: the improvements to our golf course, our larger Drop Zone Bar, glass partitioning at the Pavilion, our new Members’ Service Centre, deck and lower Fig Tree extension, new putting green, Wine Gallery, and Fig Tree revamp, winning two Pillars of Success Awards for the Club; the list is wonderfully endless. These were the big, public wins, and we also sit back to reflect on the consistency that earned us solid growth in revenue: the service, great food, and fabulous golf.

Country Club: every staff member who proudly wears the dragonfly and ensures they give their best to Simbithi.

I would also like to thank the Executive Committee for the vision, direction, and guidance during my tenure. It’s been an honour.

Simbithi, you will always have a special place in my heart, and I promise to come back soon for a visit… this time, on the other side of the table!

Of course, these chapters would not have been written without the teams at SEEHOA and the

Thank you for everything, and a fond farewell.

Craig Nell

General Enquiries 032 946 8360/1 enquiries@simbithi.com

Access Control 032 946 8372/92 access@simbithi.com OR access1@simbithi.com

Accounts 032 946 8383 finance@simbithi.com

Building Control 032 946 8381/66 bca@simbithi.com

Control Room 032 946 8373/4/5 controlroom@simbithi.com

Facilities & Maintenance 032 946 8380 facilities@simbithi.com

Finance Manager 032 946 8368 fm@simbithi.com

Environmental & Landscaping 032 946 8382 environmental@simbithi.com

General Manager’s Office 032 946 8364 gm@simbithi.com

Marketing & Communications 032 946 8386 marketing@simbithi.com Technical Manager 032 946 8384 tm@simbithi.com

8379 compliance@simbithi.com Security Manager 032 946 8365 dysan@simbithi.com

Heron Pizzeria 032 946 5423 foodbev4@gmail.com Connect with us via WhatsApp: 073 156 1378. Join our Broadcast Lists by sending us your name & address

Jeff Leaver: Chairman

Clive Mc Creadie: Vice-Chairman HOA

Andrew Mackenzie

Louis Boshoff

Gavin Dunlop

Lisa Southey

Margi Lilienfeld

Frank Bradford: Vice-Chairman SCC EXCO

Director Marketing & Communications board8@simbithi.com

Director Security board4@simbithi.com

Director Finance & IT board3@simbithi.com

Director Design Review Committee board5@simbithi.com

Director Technical & Maintenance board7@simbithi.com

Director Human Resources board9@simbithi.com

Director Environmental board6@simbithi.com

Director Simbithi Country Club board2@simbithi.com

John Gowans

Director Legal & Appeals board1@simbithi.com

The Board of Directors are your elected representatives who volunteer their time and expertise without remuneration.

Approaching a Director should be your last resort.

our Flora nurturing

Our on-site nursery, located near our West Gate, recently underwent an upgrade. We are delighted to share a look into the space where Environmental Manager Ayanda Duma and the team from McWade’s Landscaping keep, and care for, plants, trees and seedlings which will eventually find their way into the Simbithi ecosystem.

Based on-site in Simbithi, Ballito.net Properties has been practicing in holiday and permanent rentals on the Estate for over 17 years, offering full management of your holiday or permanant let with our professional team. Let us give you an expert rental valuation on your home today.

HEY!

It’s International Day!

Always a favourite at the Simbithi Country Club, our annual International Day. Here are a few photographs of the day, filled with quintessential Simbithi gees .

Stocking

F I ll E rs Galor E !

If you have not done your Christmas shopping yet – or, even if you have and you need an extra little something to fill your stocking – pop into the Pro Shop! There is an array of high-quality items which would be perfect for the golfloving person in your world.

Security updateS

Recently, our security department has noted an increase in the number of pets out of property, many of whom are found to be unregistered. We have also noted an increase in the instances of pets chasing wildlife.

To this end, please be reminded of our rules:

The Right to Keep and Control of Pets/Animals

1.1. KwaDukuza Municipal bylaws relating to pets must be complied with where applicable (i.e. annual licensing/numbers/rabies inoculations, etc.).

1.2. Prior to bringing a pet onto the Estate, and when a pet is replaced, the following conditions must be met: • 7.2.1. Written permission must be obtained from the Association. This permission will not be unreasonably withheld provided compliance with the rules is satisfied.

• 7.2.2. No more than a total of two dogs are permitted per household. Since 1 March 2017, no new Owners or Lessees are entitled to apply for or be granted permission to keep cats on any properties, whether freehold or sectional title. Prior to that date, Owners/Lessees were permitted to obtain permission to keep cats on the Estate subject to a maximum of two pets per property (i.e., two dogs or two cats or one of each). Those Owners who have already been granted permission to keep one or two cats on their property shall be entitled to keep those cat(s) and shall be entitled to replace any cat(s) registered to them provided that if any Owner duly permitted to keep a cat(s) ceases to own property on the Estate, then that Owner’s right to keep a cat(s) on the Estate shall likewise

terminate and shall not revive should that Owner not acquire membership of the Association or enter into a valid and binding lease in respect of another property on the Estate within a period of 6 (six) months from date of first having ceased to be a member of the Association.

This is intended to cater for Owners selling and then repurchasing or leasing within the Estate.

Lessees already holding permission to keep cats on the Estate shall not however be entitled to replace any cat(s) registered to them should the cat(s) die.

• 7.2.3. The Association may grant temporary relief in respect of this rule based on circumstances and a written motivation. Such temporary relief shall be solely at the Association’s discretion.

• 7.2.4. All pets must be spayed or neutered. A veterinary certificate of compliance must be produced along with the request for permission to keep a pet.

• 7.2.5. Each pet must, at all times, wear a collar with a name tag indicating the Owner or Lessee’s name and telephone number.

• 7.2.6. It is mandatory for all pets to be microchipped with the Estate preferred Virbac Microchip before being introduced to the Estate. The microchip scanner used on the Estate is only able to scan and read Virbac Microchips. If your pet has already been microchipped using another service provider, please change the chip to a Virbac Microchip. Should a pet be found out of its Owner’s premises, the microchip will enable the pet to be easily identifiable. Should Security have to pick up your pet because it is out of your property, a fee will be raised against your Levy account to collect the pet and care for it while the Estate tries to locate the correct Owners and return

the pets to the Owners. Should the Estate not be able to identify who the pet belongs to, the pet will be removed from the Estate and taken to the SPCA.

• 7.2.7. Caged birds are allowed subject to no more than two birds per cage and a maximum of two portable cages. Aviaries are not permitted.

long as the visitor is duly authorised to be in the Estate.

• 7.2.8. No visitors to the Estate shall be entitled to bring any animals onto the Estate for any period or reason whatsoever save with the prior written consent of the Association and save in respect of guide dogs legitimately required by persons with sight or other disabilities in which instance, access to the Estate is permitted for as

• 7.2.9. All pets must be kept within the confines of the Owner or Lessee’s private property, and when outside the Owner or Lessee’s private property, must always be on a physical leash and under the control of a responsible person. Fouling by pets on the Association’s property or the property of any other third party must be removed immediately by the responsible pet Owner. (For this purpose, pet Owners must carry a scooper or plastic bags whenever walking their pets outside their private property).

• 1.3. Pets may not be allowed to be a nuisance or cause a disturbance or annoyance to others through barking, howling, squawking, etc., or straying into the common property of the Association or any other person’s properties or houses.

• 1.4. Any animal, bird or reptile found on the Estate in contravention of these rules shall be removed forthwith on notice from the Association. Any costs incurred will be for the account of the relevant property Owner with Owners being responsible for any such contraventions by any noncompliant Lessee or guest of that Owner.

• 7.2.10. No livestock, including poultry, will be permitted on the Estate.

• 7.4.1. The Owner of any pet (or, at the election of the Association,

the responsible property Owner in accordance with 7.4 above) found to have been responsible for injuring or threatening any humans or wildlife on the Estate will be held accountable for any costs or claims arising therefrom and will be obliged to remove such pet from the Estate immediately.

• 7.4.2. The Association reserves the right to ban any breed of dog considered to be a threat or a danger to persons or wildlife. At this stage, PITBuLLS, ROTTWEILERS and BOERBOELS are banned (including mixed breeds of above).

1.6. Any dog found out of its Owner’s property not on a leash and without a collar, and name tag, or microchip, or any cat found out of its Owner’s property without a collar, and name tag, or microchip, will be taken to Security and may be taken to the SPCA if the pet Owner is not identified. A penalty will be levied, which is payable by the responsible Owner. (Any subsequent offences will attract a greater penalty).

1.8. Sectional Title developments (Body Corporates) may, in their own rules, ban the keeping of pets within their body corporate area. They may not allow more than the number or type of any animal permitted by the Association.

1.5. Pets may not be left overnight unattended in a residence.

1.7. If any dog with a collar and name tag is found out of its Owner’s property not on a leash, or without a microchip, a penalty levy will be payable by the responsible Owner. Any subsequent offences of the same nature will attract a greater penalty levy.

1.9. The Association has the right to scan for microchips or ask pet Owners to produce veterinary certificates and proof of registration with the Association in respect of any pets found on their premises.

1.10. Pets must be cared for appropriately. Cruelty to pets will be reported to the SPCA.

Fishing

We are privileged to have an array of dams where fishing is permitted on a catch-and-release basis, in our Estate. If you would like to fish on Simbithi, please remember:

• 1. Light dam or river rods must be used. The use of large rods and any form of net is prohibited.

• 2. Please note that all of the dams and ponds on the Northern side of the Estate are part of the golf course and NO fishing is allowed in these areas.

• 3. Please ensure that you leave the area clean and tidy and free of any fishing tackle including fishing line and baited hooks.

a Soirée at the Stables

Picture it: rolling green grass, live jazz music, picnic blankets and all-white. This, and an exceptional show put on by the horses and riders of the Simbithi Stables. What a brilliant afternoon at our first Stables Soirée at the end of November. The event managed to raise a fantastic R15 000 for LifeLine Durban. Thank you to all who attended.