Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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One of my favourite views on a drive is to come over the hill as you enter Hartbeespoort, see the mountains in front of you, the dam and all the red top roofs of the houses in Pecanwood Golf Estate amongst the trees.
It is truly a magnificent view and it is somewhat surprising that Hartbeespoort, which was extremely popular 15 years or so ago, has done so badly recently. You can buy houses in Pecanwood at the same amount that you could 10 years ago and you can rent them for about 20% of what the bond would be. My biggest financial disaster of my life is next door to Pecanwood and that is The Islands Estate. When you factor in interest as well as levies that I had to pay, on a piece of land there I lost a big sum and the worst part is that at one stage I was offered R1 million more than I paid, but didn’t accept the offer and then the market there headed south in a very dramatic way. I don’t know whether it is the dam and the dirty water, or that it is far away, but the promise that Hartbeespoort once had seems to have dwindled and there is so much over-development and over-supply in the area, it is probably going to take another 20 years to take up all the slack before prices will start rising again.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Thursday 14-Nov-13
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Comments
Cindy said:
on Wednesday 20-Nov-13 03:41 PM
I lived in Pretoria from 2008 till a month ago. We used to go to Harties twice a month and you could actually see it getting worse and worse. You take a hour and a half to get from one side of the bridge to the other. The restaurants food was surely not up to standard any more! It is really sad because it is such a pretty place! I think it must be one of South Africa's biggest tourist attractions or used to be.
Iola said:
on Wednesday 20-Nov-13 10:29 AM
I think Ive only ever been there once or twice but havent been there in a long time so wouldnt know the condition but after reading the comments I dont think I want to go there
Alexis said:
on Tuesday 19-Nov-13 04:52 PM
I have family who stay around there and although their place is amazing, the dam just ruins it - i remember going there at least monthly in order to go swim and have fun as a kid. I hope the place gets sorted out
Sinead said:
on Monday 18-Nov-13 01:56 PM
We went to the Dam when I was younger and we haven't been back since. We normally just drive through to get to our vacation spots.
Thembi said:
on Friday 15-Nov-13 04:50 PM
I have never been there but it seems the place that used to be a biggest attraction has turned into a shocking state.
Thabitha said:
on Friday 15-Nov-13 04:47 PM
From the picture its beautiful; the beauty of the place its good business, safety, nice food and cleanest of it.
Joyce said:
on Friday 15-Nov-13 04:41 PM
It sounds like Hartbeespoort used to be a very nice place and sounds like lots of people enjoyed going there.
Henrietta said:
on Friday 15-Nov-13 04:35 PM
It really is sad to see such an awesome place falling so badly behind. About 2 years ago we took my cousins children to Hartbees snake park what a disappointment. I mean the entrance is more than you pay at the JHB Zoo and they have less animals than the zoo. We made the best of it but I won't be going there again for a while...... Maybe it will be back to normal again, one can always hope.
Catherine said:
on Friday 15-Nov-13 03:53 PM
It is sad to see a place that was once so promising dwindle to such a dilapidated state.
Yolandi C said:
on Friday 15-Nov-13 12:09 PM
I use to love going to Harties but after our recent trip, I was really dissapointed. Harties has so much potential but got so neglected.
sheena said:
on Thursday 14-Nov-13 12:19 PM
As a Child we used to go there quite often. I have not been there in a while. Its so sad that such a beautiful place got so neglected.
Simone said:
on Thursday 14-Nov-13 10:46 AM
Some time in 2012 my boyfriend and I also stayed there for the weekend. The hotel was really not up to standard at all... Johannesburg does not have the best places to get away to, besides the fact that Durban isn't too far away. On the other hand there is Cape Town which has the beautiful West Coast, Franschoek, Hermanus, etc etc etc...
Brenda said:
on Thursday 14-Nov-13 08:55 AM
Harties also used to be one of our favorite spontaneous Saturday trips. It was just one of the most beautiful places to go that's not too far to travel. But the deterioration of the dam and the surroundings has made one more spontaneous to take a 10 step walk to the pool in your garden and have a picnic in the garden, in the comfort of your own, clean environment. Its very sad, because it was a major tourist attraction.
Helen said:
on Thursday 14-Nov-13 08:46 AM
When I came to South Africa I think it was one of my favourite places to spend family time. But telling the truth I will never buy property there or even no interest to go over the weekend anymore, Surprising that the water on the picture looks still pretty blue, I remember from the last visit this water was smelly and very green. I can not even imagine how many mosquitoes in summer time on that side! This place really can be very attractive for tourists, does government knows about, care?
Helen said:
on Thursday 14-Nov-13 08:46 AM
When I came to South Africa I think it was one of my favourite places to spend family time. But telling the truth I will never buy property there or even no interest to go over the weekend anymore, Surprising that the water on the picture looks still pretty blue, I remember from the last visit this water was smelly and very green. I can not even imagine how many mosquitoes in summer time on that side! This place really can be very attractive for tourists, does government knows about, care?
Lucretia said:
on Thursday 14-Nov-13 08:31 AM
It is the unkempt water and the stink that comes from it that is driving people away. We have family there who have a beautiful home on the dam but sitting outside for a braai, is no longer pleasant.
bianca said:
on Thursday 14-Nov-13 08:24 AM
I used to adore going to Harties, but now, the dam is so extremely disgusting - that is enough to put me off Harties for life! The area needs a major clean up and revamp before it will become popular again.
Kaylee said:
on Thursday 14-Nov-13 08:13 AM
Its such a pity because Harties used to be the place to go over weekends. I guess nowadays, flights are more reasonable and you can fly to other destinations for the weekend. I also find that Harties has gone to shambles a bit, and honestly I would rather spend extra money and fly to places like CT for the weekend.
Sorea said:
on Thursday 14-Nov-13 08:05 AM
It is the dam. The dam was one of the biggest attractions and is now one of the biggest repellents as well.
Juliet said:
on Thursday 14-Nov-13 07:11 AM
I have been to Harties a few times, my most recent trip was December 2012 and I can say that these are the top 3 things that put me off going there again: The extremely dangerous road you drive along to get there, the filthy water in the dam, and the terrible food served at the restaurants there. And I do not even want to talk about the "zoo" there. Disgusting. My sister and her husband booked a weekend at a hotel there last year, they left on Friday afternoon and were back home by Friday night. They said it was so shocking and not at all like the website had made it out to be. With such little social time one has, why would one drive to a place like this when there are much better places to spend your weekends.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
