Lifestyle and Decor

What it’s like to live in Milnerton

Private Property South Africa
Kit Heathcock |
What it’s like to live in Milnerton

KFM radio personality, Sechaba G, tells us about her neighbourhood in Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs.

Sechaba Gqeba, aka Sechaba G, presents the lunchtime show on KFM. Her radio career began 10 years ago in Gauteng as a news intern for Eyewitness News, followed by stints on SAfm, Radio 2000 and Kaya FM. She came to Cape Town about four years ago, living in the Southern Suburbs before moving to Milnerton near Blouberg two years ago.

“There’s this whole thing about Cape Town, where people steer towards the central part and forget about all the surrounding areas,” Sechaba says, when asked what influenced her choice of neighbourhood. “There’s also the notion that the Northern Suburbs area is far out, and Milnerton is often counted in with the Northern Suburbs, but it only takes me 12 minutes to get to work. I’m a mother and a working woman, so being close to town and next to the beach was important. Also, the joys of having a house with a big garden was another factor that made us look outside the CBD.”

She has enjoyed escaping the congestion of the City Bowl. “There’s definitely less traffic and it’s less busy. It’s basically the suburbs.”

And while the beach is the main attraction in her neighbourhood, Sechaba loves exploring to discover Cape Town’s hidden gems. “We use the weekend to go on day trips, and Milnerton is very well placed to explore the whole of Cape Town, as well as Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.”

A self-confessed foodie, Sechaba loves the variety of restaurants on offer in and around Cape Town. “Some of my favourite places to eat are out of Cape Town; they’re in the Winelands. And Milnerton is great because we’re literally only 10 minutes away from restaurants like De Grendel and a few other wine farms in the Durbanville Wine Valley area, such as D’Aria; those are really good finds.”

Closer to home, there’s plenty to enjoy with her husband and their young son. “I love the Blouberg promenade, which many people overlook because they want to be on the Atlantic Seaboard side. An ideal day in Milnerton and Blouberg would be spent on the promenade; there are loads of quirky cafes along the Blouberg strip. I would recommend a casual walk on the beach followed by sundowners.”

We wanted to be close to the beach and have plenty of space with a garden. Milnerton is close enough to work without the congestion and the busyness of the CBD.

-Sechaba G.

About Sechaba G

Sechaba presents the lunchtime show weekdays from 1pm to 4pm on KFM, and has worked in radio for 10 years. She is also a seasoned emcee, does regular voice-over work for a variety of clients and is hoping to begin a TV career in the near future.

Where to eat in Milnerton:

  • De Grendel: for fine dining in the Winelands
  • Wang Thai: for classic Thai cuisine and sushi with a view
  • Maestro’s on the Beach: for sundowners
  • Fratelli Palmieri at the Italian Club of Cape Town: for sociable Italian feasts
  • Tessa’s Bakery: for delicious cakes and sweet treats

Things to do in Milnerton:

  • Surf, kitesurf, windsurf and stand-up paddle on the beach.
  • Play golf at the scenic Milnerton Golf Club.
  • Enjoy sundowners with glorious views of Table Mountain and Robben Island.
  • Watch theatre productions at the Milnerton Players playhouse.
  • Take long walks on the beach.
  • Look for great bargains at the Milnerton Flea Market on weekends.

property area info

This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.

View more of this neighbourhood here:

Explore neighbourhoods mentioned in this article

Milnerton
Magnificent Milnerton
Milnerton is a laid back, relaxed neighbourhood that's just a 15 minute drive away from the Cape Town CBD. The area has an abundance of natural beauty with Milnerton lagoon, Woodbridge Island, Rietvlei Nature Reserve and Milnerton Beach nearby. Residents take maximum advantage of the surroundings to participate in outdoor pursuits like canoeing, surfing, stand up paddling, kite surfing and running. The area is served by a number of shopping centres including Canal Walk, Bayside Mall and the Paddocks Shopping Centre. Century City offers both residential and business opportunities.The Ratanga Junction amusement park also offers entertainment options for the whole family.

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