Johannesburg’s ‘first beach’: Five things to know

The city of Johannesburg will be getting its very first artificial beach next year. Here are five things you need to know about it…

With Johannesburg getting its first artificial beach next year, here are five things you need to know. 

ARE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT JHB’S FIRST BEACH? HERE ARE FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Residential property developer Balwin said its second clearwater lagoon is being developed at its Munyaka (Waterfall) estate and is expected to be completed during the 2023 financial year.

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HERE ARE THE FIVE THINGS

Here are five things you need to know about the artificial beach: 

1. Munyaka is located in the Midrand suburb of Waterfall, between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
2. It offers lifestyle apartments and a 30,000 sqm lagoon waterfront. That lagoon will be the size of seven rugby fields.
3. All apartments will be fibre-ready and include a Scandinavian-style kitchen, eco-friendly appliances, a balcony for outdoor entertaining, and pre-paid water and electricity meters.
4. The R9 billion gated development is expected to be completed by 2028, and will comprise 5,178 apartments, ranging from one-, two- and three-bedrooms to luxurious 3- and 5-bedroom lagoon-facing penthouses.
5. Each 1, 2 and 3-bedroom Munyaka apartment is mere meters from an inviting, crystal-clear lagoon.

It is not yet clear whether the public will have access to the man-made beachfront.

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NOT YET CLEAR IF THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS

This comes after the group’s first beachfront, the Blyde Crystal Lagoon, became operational in 2020. It allows for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding.

The lagoon attracted a lot of buyers to the Blyde Riverwalk Estate, who saw it as an opportunity to turn their investments into holiday apartments. 

According to reports, Balwin then introduced fees for visitors who booked a short-term stay on the estate. It later forbade short-term stays altogether allegedly because permanent residents were tired of “the unruly conduct” of short-term visitors.

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SHORT-TERM VISITORS BECAME SECURITY CONCERN AT OTHER GAUTENG BEACH

At the time, Balwin said the influx of short-term visitors had become a security concern. So, access to the upcoming lagoon in Johannesburg South will likely be influenced by the past events at Blyde Riverwalk Estate.

However, a report by News24 stated that things might be a little different in the South. This is as Balwin intends to apply for the status of a UNESCO World Heritage site for part of The Greater Thaba Development.

THE BALWIN GROUP WANTS TO BUILD A GREEN FLAG-RATED HIKING TRAIL

The group wants to build a Green Flag-rated hiking trail in the development and a bridge linking it to the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve.

 It is furthermore believed that various wildlife and game species will be incorporated into the reserve areas to attract tourism as part of the existing nearby Thaba Eco Hotel.

By: Corné van Zyl