From Julius Malema’s millionaire Sandown mansion to the houses of Jacob Zuma’s wives - here’s the hottest, best-connected suburbs in South Africa right now… Sandown Hot favourite of the tenderpreneur crowd, JuJu has put this posh Joburg suburb on the tip of every South African’s tongue. He bought his three-bedroom house in Sandown for R3,6 million in December 2008, thanks to the generous people of Limpopo and their multi-million rand tenders. Of course you also need to have a house back home to show your commitment to your poor roots - hence his R1 million Polokwane mansion. Property agents will tell you JuJu is not the first to bring controversy to this neck of the woods – controversial insurance businessman Douw Steyn’s former family home in Sandhurst is now the ultra-luxurious Saxon Hotel, while drug kingpin Glenn Agliotti used to stay just down the road in Bryanston.
Get in the game: a four bed, two bath will set you back R3,45 million, or settle for a one bed apartment for R1,15 million. [And if you’re a bit rubbish at this whole tenderpreneur thing, you might be better off trying to champion lifestyle audits with Cosatu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi in the slightly cheaper Sunninghill] Houghton Formerly the exclusive suburb for those with old English money, it is now the place for retired state presidents. Both Madiba and Thabo Mbeki live here, with Madiba also maintaining a homestead in Qunu in the former Transkei. With a little help from his friends, Jacob Zuma also has a pozzy next door in Forest Town, in addition to his homestead in Nkandla in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
Get in the game: R12m for a four bed, three bath house, or pick up a three bed apartment for R1,55m [For something cheaper and with a lot more street-cred, move close to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s mansion in Orlando West, Soweto] Morningside, Durban With some more help from his friends, Jacob Zuma’s wife nr. 2 has been staying in Millionaire’s Row in Morningside for a number of years. Property agents won’t be able to guarantee any visits by the extremely well-connected Shaik brothers, but it can’t hurt to be close to the Indian consulate either, can it?
Get in the game: a nine bed, eight bath is yours for R4,5m Bishop’s Court, Cape Town Forget about Rosebank, Western Cape premier Helen Zille’s ‘hood. Even ignore Oranjezicht, with a bit more political influence. As most really serious rainmakers are either living on wine estates in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek or in monstrous beachhouses in Llandadno or Clifton, aim for the slightly more achievable: Bishop’s Court. Long favoured by slightly disgraced British aristocracy, including Charles Spencer, brother of the late princess Diana, and Mark Thatcher, coup bankroller and son of former UK Prime Minister Maggie, this is where the action’s at – and where your kids should go to school.
Get in the game: Property agents should be able to show you a six bed for R13m