Often, we meet families who are enraptured by the haven they create within Simbithi. Every now and then, we meet families who are not only passionate about the Estate, but who embody our values with authenticity, warmth and – dare we say – swag. A few hours with this family, and we feel as though we’ve known them for years! Meet the Nchoes: Mothelesi, Mamise, Kaelo (18) and Kaone (13).
The Nchoe (pronounced n-ch-weh) crew has crossed paths with #TeamSimbithi a few times by the time we sit down for an interview: first, they featured in our Simbithi Story video, and then the Nchoe ladies grace the cover of our Summer ’25 edition. On an impossibly gorgeous Saturday morning, over coffee, Mo and Mise begin to share their journey to Simbithi.
“In 2018, a business opportunity arose to relocate to Durban,” Mo begins. “I was due to start at the beginning of 2019, so the girls needed to be enrolled in schools and we needed to find a home.” At the outset, the Nchoes set their sights on settling in Ballito. “The company booked us a trip and scheduled visits to schools, and several gated communities here on the North Coast.”
Mo and Mise recall the kindness of Marietjie Rass, a property practitioner who was instrumental in their successful relocation. “Marietjie was an absolute star,” Mo shares. “She drove us through Simbithi, beginning with all the facilities and then showing us a few houses. The more we saw, the more it became clear that this would be our home.” The couple chose a home in Tamboti. “Marietjie even arranged a temporary unit for us, while we waited for our home to be ready to move into, and for our furniture to arrive from Johannesburg,” Mise remembers. “This created a soft landing for us, and for our girls, and it was our first taste of the kindness we now know to be part of Simbithi’s essence.”
The Nchoes became Ballitonians and, indeed, Simbithi-ans in 2019, with Kaelo and Kaone as founding learners of Reddam House Ballito. A year later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. “We wouldn’t have survived the pandemic anywhere other than in Simbithi,” Mise says, as she sips her coffee. Mo agrees, sharing how he was able to adapt to working from home. “Perspective and a deep sense of appreciation set in, then, because we were still able to run, to walk, to enjoy the view from our home, look at the beautiful wildlife…others were not able to do this during lockdown.”
Since 2021, Mo’s work has taken him back to Johannesburg, but the family is still firmly rooted in Simbithi. Mo playfully bumps Mise’s shoulder as they recount the reasons for this decision. “Mise said to me that she knew my work would take me away often, and she made it very clear that we are not leaving Simbithi,” he laughs.
For the Nchoe ladies, Simbithi is, quite simply, home. “I have the ability to call a neighbour and ask them to fetch the girls from school if I’m running late, and I have absolute confidence in that,” Mise says. “Elsewhere, you may just know your neighbour from a quick wave every morning, but here, it’s more than that.”
Watching their daughters grow up in Simbithi – Mo jokes that Kaone was still adorably toothless when they first moved in – to riding their bicycles to Heron Pizzeria to swim or enjoy pizza with their friends, has been fulfilling for the Nchoes. “They have made their own friends, and as their parents, we love watching them create that sense of independence,” Mise smiles. “They can take the shuttle around the Estate, especially when those group chats start buzzing with the ‘Heron in an hour’ texts between friends!”
Whenever they have friends or family visiting, the Nchoes are only too delighted to take them on tours of Simbithi (Mo’s brother has even bought the unit next door to theirs!). When Mo is home, he enjoys the golf course and mountain biking with Kaelo and Kaone. He and Mise are also members of the RUNSimbithi crew and often find themselves at Heron or the Fig Tree for dinner. “On Fridays, I regularly tell the girls to make sure they have everything they need,” she smiles. “Because the next time I’m driving out is when it’s time for school on Monday!”
Ultimately, what has captured the Nchoes’ hearts is the authenticity found within Simbithi. “When it gets a bit hot, we go through it together,” Mo says. “We may disagree, but then we come together and move forward because we realise we are all passionate about this place, and that we want to protect it.” Mise agrees, concurring that belonging is at the centre, because “Simbithi is ours.”
