Family. Noun | /fam.i.ly/: people in your life who are close to your heart, who bring out the best in you, who laugh, celebrate, and dream with you, who love you infinitely. Now, if one were to consider this definition in light of the Sakwa family, one might be persuaded to augment it with the addition of warmth, giggles and a comfort borne of an indelible bond. Meet James, Susan, Kina and Nyishe!

It was 2007, and James and Susan were living in Ballito. Their twin daughters were not born, yet, and the couple was looking to move into a gated community. On a balmy Sunday afternoon, they drove to an estate in Tinley Manor to view property. There, they met original Simbithi resident and property practitioner, Daisy Govender. “We started chatting, and she told us she had somewhere else to show us,” Sue remembers. “So, we hopped into Daisy’s car and drove to Simbithi, where she showed us five plots.”

This, of course, was just three years after Simbithi’s launch, so the Estate was still in the beginning stages of development. “We came to this site on Bushwillow Close and I looked at James and said, ‘sweetie, this is it’,” Sue smiles. “There was no question, we were not on the fence at all. We knew this was where our home would be.”

After purchasing the land, which had the perfect view of sun and sea, as he puts it, James shares how they began conceptualising their home. “We started building in October of 2010, and what a journey it was,” he recounts. A few highlights include six builders, and an architect who saw the steep site and asked ‘so, how much money do you have’?

Eighteen months later, in May 2012, the Sakwas moved into their stunning home, which looks as if it was created to perch on a hill, overlooking the natural wonders of Simbithi. Dipping slightly below road level, the home opens into a reception area bathed in natural light. The double-volume glass façade at the staircase invites a spoonful of outside, in, a trend that continues into the downstairs living area, where the family spends most of their time.

Interestingly, when they first moved in, their furniture did not quite match the home’s aesthetic. “But, we tried it first,” Sue chuckles. “Clifton Smithers of Union3 helped us create the palette we have, now.” Warm tones of blue and green are undergirded by swathes of grey, which bounces beautifully off the light wood of the kitchen cabinetry.

The twins, they share with identical grins, are 10-year-old Simbithi babies: born and raised within our community. “This is a wonderful place to raise a family,” James looks over at his daughters, cuddled on the window seat across from him. “There’s a sense of community in Simbithi that is incomparable, and the Estate has been cleverly designed so nothing feels too crowded.” The family adores their mini community in Bushwillow, which is characterised by a street WhatsApp chat, and a braai or two, every so often.

For Kina and Nyishe, the fun of Simbithi lies in driving around the Estate and participating in community events – they have traded at nearly every Simbithi Kids’ Market in the last five years! They share a favourite community centre, the Heron, which is solely because of “the chicken nuggets”.

Sue concurs, mentioning the joy of being greeted daily by our friendly gate officers. “When I come home, there is a distinct energy I feel as I drive through Simbithi. It is a serenity that centres me.”