Super top-end estate homes for sale in Brakpan

When one imagines a lavish property carrying a significant price tag in South Africa, a beachfront villa on the Atlantic Seaboard or KwaZulu-Natal coast, an ambassadorial residence in the old east of Pretoria or a stylish mansion in Sandton immediately jumps to mind.

And while Brakpan may be an unlikely contender - not generally synonymous with glitz and glamour - you can go right ahead and add that to the list as well.

This is according to Michael van Heerden, Seeff’s Manager in Brakpan and Springs, who says Helderwyk Estate in Brakpan is widely regarded as the ‘Sandton of the East’ as it offers a level of opulence and splendour that is not only unrivaled for the Springs-Brakpan area, but for many other areas as well.

The estate is located just off the N17, opposite Carnival City Casino, and is approximately a 25-minute commute to O.R. Tambo or the Gautrain Station, and 30 minutes away from Johannesburg. The upmarket regional Carnival Mall is situated only 3km from the estate. 

According to Lightstone, Helderwyk Estate consists of almost 600 full title properties and approximately 240 sectional title units. Most freestanding homes in the estate boast an average stand size of around 1 067sqm. 

Shane Brown, the developer of the estate, says Helderwyk is the place to be for the more wealthy folk who place a high premium on security and quality schooling and who work in the East Rand, but prefer to live close to work.  

He says not only does Helderwyk have a Curro nursery, primary and high school, it also has an art gym. He says the gym has a permanent gym manager who assists and trains all the residents and provides several training options. There is also an impressive clubhouse for functions of any kind and a scenic park offering peace and tranquility. The estate has tennis courts and sport fields, and there is a viewing gazebo to enjoy the wetlands and wild buck which roam the estate, he says. 

Brown says the total value of homes on the estate is currently around R650 million, but once completed, will be more along the lines of R2.45 billion. 

Professions of people who reside in the estate include the likes of electrical engineers, advocates, entrepreneurs and attorneys, and the average price of a home is R2.9 million, while the average house size is 567sqm. 

According to van Heerden, one of the most upmarket homes on the estate - as well as being the second biggest at 1 000sqm - is currently on the market for R8.5 million.  

Van Heerden says this five bedroom home with double-volume entrance hall has six-and-a-half bathrooms and entails every luxury, exquisite feature and custom-made fitting imaginable.

It has a gas fireplace, stylish walk-in liquor cabinet, central vacuum system, top-of-the-range alarm system with motion sensors and beams, an intercom system installed in the master bedroom for communication with the rest of property, a patio and pool area paved with smart stone and manicured garden fitted with a sprinkler system.

"Additional features include, but are not limited to, a cinema room, staff quarters, storage rooms, generator connections which come in handy when there is load shedding, sparkling pool with chlorinator, automated garage doors and a gate," he says.

The house also comes with Caesarstone countertops and a spacious walk-in scullery, two oven units (one gas, one conventional), double-volume shower in the en suite master bathroom, top-of-the-range finishes and features in all the bathrooms, stylish built-in cupboards and desks in the bedrooms, a spacious linen cupboard, gym room with en suite bathroom and steam room, as well as an entertainment area fitted with a gas braai.