'You don't have to lock your front door at night'

The Coves estate on the Hartbeestpoort Dam offers residents water sports, walks through a mini forest, a restaurant, and a working farm, all in a secure environment, writes Lucille Davie.

- Lucille Davie

I wonder what Andries Pretorius would think of what has happened to his farm, Grootplaats, on the western edge of the Hartbeespoort Dam – now a residential estate called The Coves, under the embrace of the ancient Magaliesberg mountains in Gauteng.

These days, it consists of 417 freehold and sectional title properties, ranging in size from 650m² to 3 000m², with a mix ranging from modest townhouses to luxury two-storey mansions on the water's edge.

In December 2024, The Coves celebrated its 20th anniversary with a flurry of events to unite the community. It was “an opportunity to get out of our homes to connect with our neighbours, something our community is renowned for”, resident Andrew McGregor says on The Coves website.

STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY

“It’s a fabulous place. Residents can roam around and be safe. There is a strong sense of community here,” McGregor stresses.

To illustrate this, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the parents of one family were struck down badly. Without hesitation, the community rallied around and created a roster – making meals for them, collecting medication, and caring for their children.

The squash court was turned into a dormitory for the security staff, and when the call went out for donations, they were flooded with items like books and puzzles.

In early February 2025, a heavy downpour and fierce storm blew the roof off the squash court. Residents turned up to clear water from the court, helping to salvage the wooden floor. It’s like that old farmer mentality of turning up with bales of hay for farmers suffering in a drought.

STILL A WORKING FARM