Serenity Hills – the R800m eco-estate near Margate on the KZN mid-South Coast – has been included in the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan after being honoured by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 5th South African Investment Conference (SAIC) in April this year. Following up on this national recognition, Deputy Ministers in the Presidency, Deputy Minister Kenneth Morolong and Deputy Minister Nomasonto Motaung visited Renishaw Coastal Precinct on Friday, 4 August as part of the post-SAIC media tour highlighting these investment projects – with Serenity Hills the first stop.
South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) initially connected Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) with the development, and they were able to assist in unlocking some bottlenecks which allowed the Serenity Hills development to go ahead unimpeded. As a result of that relationship, Serenity Hills was submitted for the SAIC. Serenity Hills was selected for attracting both national and international interest, contributing significantly towards the country’s socio-economic goals of creating sustainable jobs, driving back inequality, and positioning the region as a key investment destination.
Over and above the honour of being announced by the President, the opportunity enabled connection with the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition and this positive working relationship is unlocking the investment potential, demonstrating the value of private-public partnerships.
Serenity Hills launched Phase 1 in the second half of last year and has already sold 50% of its units, with national and international buyers also coming from Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Germany. Through the Sweetdale Skills Center, the development is also committed to investing in local communities to revitalise the area. There are several community-driven projects already underway, with 100 jobs already created at Serenity Hills which fosters an environment conducive to job creation.
“We are so grateful to all the representatives from the Presidency, DTIC, and local municipalities for coming to Serenity Hills to get a first-hand experience of the work being done on this sustainable eco-estate,” commented Sam Wenger, the Development Director for Serenity Hills. “For there to be any real growth in the area, we need to include everyone in the development’s success, which means upskilling, educating, and employing local communities.”
Job Creation at Serenity Hills
This has been evidenced by several key community upliftment projects at Serenity Hills, which includes The Packshed Restaurant, an award-winning, world-class culinary institution that has been operating since 2017. Local community members have already undergone culinary and hospitality training and enjoy employment at this fusion restaurant, which in itself is a major tourism drawcard for the area.
The 120-hectare eco-estate itself offers residents secure living in 600 residential units, and has created employment in construction, with long-term job opportunities for locals available on-site. This is because Serenity Hills boasts top-class facilities such as The Clubhouse, the Infinity Bar, and The Bistro, nature trails, Yoga and Pilates spots, bowling greens, a volleyball field, a golf driving range, a tennis court, and on-site medical care.
The eco-conscious estate includes a Schrebergärten (community garden) and in-house nursery to encourage the consumption of locally-grown produce, with fresh bread delivered to homes via Tuk Tuks daily, extending the job opportunities in an innovative and ecologically sensitive way.
Community Projects at Serenity Hills
Serenity Hills also includes the Sweetdale Skills Center which develops and coaches emerging entrepreneurs to promote self-sustainability and job creation. This is dedicated primarily to unemployed youth from the area who do not have opportunities to further their education after matric. The Center consists of various workshops, dorm facilities, classrooms and communal areas. As part of the practical training for qualified artisans, the Skills Center provides services to Serenity Hills and, through this partnership, homeowners can employ these talented individuals for gardening and landscaping, carpentry, maintenance, housekeeping and hospitality.
Forming part of the Center is the Sweetbike Community Project, a non-profit organisation that provides vulnerable schoolchildren with upcycled bicycles. Quality bicycles are imported from Europe and refurbished at the Sweetbike Workshop, employing and upskilling people from the local communities. Once ready, these bicycles are donated to children attending rural schools from Umzumbe to Port Edward, with recipients given training in mechanics to maintain and look after the bikes.
Ayanda Masengemi, Associate Director at Serenity Hills who oversees the project, is one such beneficiary of the Serenity Hills upskilling. He works closely with local principals and local authorities to identify the children who would benefit most from bicycle donations.
Masengemi explained that the ground-up approach is making a real difference: “We are working closely with the municipality, TIKZN, and local ward councillors in the area to prioritise partnerships with small local businesses as much as we can and employ local labourers to uplift the livelihoods of the local community. Construction is only temporary so we at Serenity Hills are thinking beyond creating sustainable and long-term job and business opportunities within and around the estate that will lead to economic growth.”
Other Serenity Hills beneficiaries include:
– An electrical technician who is now employed by a large local electrical business
– A carpentry trainee who has since opened his own coffin business.
– A trainee chef working in The Packshed Restaurant.
To find out more and book a viewing at Serenity Hills, visit www.serenityhills.co.za. For regular updates, follow @serenityhillsecoestate on Facebook and Instagram.
