The central, friendly suburb of Val-De-Grace presents a great opportunity to buy a home for renovating. Val-De-Grace in Pretoria-East is a peaceful well-established family-friendly suburb with large houses and gardens and excellent community spirit. This colourful suburb filled with jacaranda trees and azalea bushes is situated between Brummer Street in the north, Wildevy Avenue in the south, Ysterhout Avenue in the west and Moreleta Spruit to the east.
This suburb offers easy access to the N4 highway, to visit Pretoria city and Witbank, and to the N1 highway, to get to Johannesburg. The Moreleta Spruit winds its way around the east side of the suburb, creating green spaces with abundant vegetation and birdlife in the area.
Louis Pieterse, a 45-year-old resident of the area for nine years, says this suburb is special because the houses are mostly old and situated on large stands, many of which include swimming pools and tennis courts. He says the area is being rejuvenated and that some of the old houses can be bought at reasonable prices and then renovated, and that this is attracting many new families to the area.
Louis says, “Residents are compassionate and always lend a helping hand, standing together to protect each other. Joggers, cyclists and pedestrians enjoy safe and secure streets, and they will greet even if they don’t know one another personally. Residents are actively involved in helping the local police and in assisting the municipality and surrounding suburbs with keeping the area clean, peaceful and beautiful. There are also regular social gatherings, such as braais, potjies, picnics, Youth Day celebrations and carols by candlelight in the park.”
Interesting features
Interesting features of the suburb include the offices of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the South African Police Union (SAPU) being located in the area. The SIU was established by the government to recover and prevent financial losses to the state caused by acts of corruption, fraud and maladministration. The SAPU, meanwhile, contributes to the improvement of conditions of employment, professional, economic, social and cultural interests of its members within the policing cluster.
Mandy Coetsee, the 43-year-old security manager of Lynn De Grace Residential Estate, has lived in Val-De-Grace for nine years. One of highlights of living in the area, she says, is the top-notch security. She says they are “blessed” to have little crime in the area and that residents successfully manage their own “in-house security” with a team of security personnel.
“Residents decided six years ago to do something about crime, contribute time to make the security initiative work and maintain systems, including CCTV cameras, a control room and an armed-reaction vehicle. There is active collaboration between our neighbourhood and surrounding neighbourhood community watch projects. The radio network between community members and different neighbourhoods is effective in helping reduce crime,” says Mandy.
The Val-De-Grace Dierekliniek is a much-loved institution in the suburb, staffed with dedicated and loyal staff members. For human friends or family in distress, there is a Lifeline branch in the area.
Lifestyle and entertainment options include Watermeyer Park Shopping Centre (Woolworths Food, Mimmos, Clicks, Cycle Mania and Virgin Active are some of the tenants).
Schooling
A number of good schools catering for English and Afrikaans learners are situated in or close to Val-De-Grace, including the St Paulus pre-primary and primary schools, Ladybird Nursery School and Laerskool Skuilkrans. Parents considering enrolling their kids in schools in the area will find a good balance of academic, sports and cultural amenities.
For a peaceful family lifestyle in an entrenched suburb with good security, restaurants, lifestyle amenities, schools and outdoor opportunities, Val-De-Grace is a wonderful choice. Its residents actively care about the suburb and each other. It is great opportunity for putting down roots.
Things to do in and around Val-De-Grace
- Pick out a bicycle or cycling accessories at Cycle Mania at Watermeyer Park Shopping Centre.
- Have a picnic while the children play on the swing sets at Maroela Park.
- Get involved in the community security initiative.
- Enjoy a bite to eat at Mimmos at Watermeyer Park Shopping Centre.
Demand
- Properties listed for sale in the Val-De-Grace region comprise approximately 1% of the total sale listings in the Pretoria East region.
- Approximately 1% of the interest (views) in properties for sale in the Pretoria East area is attributable to properties listed for sale in Val-De-Grace.
- Properties listed for rent in the Val-De-Grace comprise approximately 1% of the total rental listings in the Pretoria East area.
- Approximately 1% of the interest (views) in properties for rent in the Pretoria East area is attributable to properties listed for rent in Val-De-Grace.
Median asking prices for Val-De-Grace properties
R1,723m: For a typical property (three-bedroom house)
R1,47m: For a property in a complex
R1,74m: For a house
Median monthly asking prices for Val-De-Grace rentals
R6,000: For a typical rental property (four-bedroom apartment)
R8,200: In a complex
R12,000: For a house
R4,200: For a flat
Property types for sale
88% Houses
12% Complexes
Property types for rent
20% Flats/apartments
60% Houses
20% Complexes
Experience Pretoria East here:
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
