Latest news with #CollinsResidential
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Club Med ‘safari' starts to take shape in Zululand
Club Med 'safari' starts to take shape in Zululand The second phase of the highly-anticipated Club Med resort is under construction in an 18 000-hectare private game reserve near Pongola. Officially titled Mpilo Safari Lodge, the smaller 75-room resort will offer international guests a first-hand South African 'Big Five' experience, 45 minutes from the coastal site by charter plane. The lodge will host up to 225 guests a night, with 55 rooms accommodating families and 20 allocated for adults only. Developed by Collins Residential in conjunction with Club Med, Mpilo will sit on top of a hill overlooking the Mkuze River, with 220 construction jobs created and 120 full-time positions expected upon completion. Most workers will be hired from surrounding Zululand communities, while a local contractor known for sustainable construction is being used. 'The biodiversity is already here – it's a living, breathing reserve that's been largely untouched,' said Collins Residential CEO, Murray Collins. 'We're not just building a lodge; we're protecting a legacy. From anti-poaching patrols to community training initiatives, we're committed to a project that enriches both people and the planet. Our low footprint construction strategy is designed to preserve the natural terrain while promoting the use of local resources'. Guests can look forward to a number of activities both at the lodge and throughout the reserve. Global reservations will open in October. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Sheffield surges with swell of new development
A new private school, shopping mall and interchange are set to boost further growth in an already booming Sheffield. Seaton House, a private co-educational school which will eventually cater to children aged 3-18, was officially launched last week and will open for partial intake in January 2027. A new mixed-use development with 240 000m2 of retail, medical facilities and office space is planned for next door to the school and both will be serviced by the already under-construction N2 interchange, which is scheduled for April 2026 completion. The developments have emerged in response to a growing residential community in the area, largely in relatively new estates. According to Collins Residential, who are behind much of the new development, 3 000 families are forecast to move into estates within a 5km radius of Seaton House. As for the school itself, between 400 and 500 pupils are expected in the first intake in 2027. They will initially fill out Grades 0000-4 in the junior primary and Grades 8-10 in the high school. These pupils will be accommodated in the first phase of the not-for-profit school, which is expected to cost R105-million, while the full cost of the school is estimated at R250-million. 'As a registered non-profit, Seaton House operates differently from traditional private schools. We are not investor-owned, and all funding goes directly into building the school and sustaining its mission,' said project lead of the Seaton House project, Elwyn van den Aardweg – former headmaster of Kearsney College. 'About 70% of Phase 1 funding has already been secured through a combination of philanthropic support and soft loans from purpose-aligned partners who believe in what this school stands for – long-term, values-driven impact in a growing region.' Van den Aardweg said the school is still open to potential funding, while tuition fees will cover the cost once open. On that front, the school is pitched at the lower-end of equivalent independent schools on the North Coast. Per a fee structure published on the school's website, annual fees start at R42 000 for Grade 0000 and rise to R126 000 for matric, subject to annual increases. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
The Citizen
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
New school to open in Sheffield in 2027
New school to open in Sheffield in 2027 The new private school coming to Sheffield has officially been named Seaton House and will open for partial intake in January 2027. Originally confirmed last year, many more details about the school have been released following a media launch at the Manor House on Thursday afternoon (July 31). Situated off the P228 in Sheffield, the co-educational school is being built on a 25-hectare site that includes the old Seaton polo fields, which will be used for sports facilities. Construction is set to begin early next year, with development led by Collins Residential in conjunction with REACH-SA and Khanyisa Inanda Seminary Community Projects (KICP). The school plans to cater for Grades 0000-12, but will initially only open to pupils from Grades 0000-4 in the junior primary and Grades 8-10 in the high school, after which the grades will grow organically. High school pupils will follow the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) curriculum. 'Seaton House is a day-school for now, but there are plans for boarding in the future,' said project lead of the Seaton House project, Elwyn van den Aardweg – former headmaster of Kearsney College. 'We are going to be a value-driven Christian school, open to pupils of all faiths. 'We plan on being much like the Diocesan or Methodist schools in the Midlands that you are all familiar with.' The school plans to blend tradition with a forward-looking approach however, and Van den Aardweg says incorporating technology and artificial intelligence (AI) is a focus. 'We see AI not as an add-on but as a core strand of our curriculum.' 'We will recognise what AI is and what it is not, how it works at a high level and also its limitations. 'We believe AI should be taught methodically and with principle, starting off with AI literacy.' Teaching staff will be trained to model best practice in AI for their pupils and Van den Aardweg said a safety framework is already in place that aligns with global standards. 'Human oversight and human values will ensure that technology elevates rather than replaces the great teaching that we are going to offer,' he said. Outside of the classroom, dedicated facilities will support the school's 'core sports' of aquatics (swimming and water polo), athletics, hockey, netball, rugby, cricket, basketball, tennis, cross country and soccer. The site's past use for equestrian sports will also be considered, while a surrounding natural area will include cycling tracks and nature paths. Seaton House is a not-for-profit school and a fee structure published on their website puts it on the lower-end of equivalent independent options on the North Coast. Annual fees start at R42 000 for Grade 0000 and rise to R126 000 for matric, subject to annual increases. Looking into the wider North Coast community, the school's affiliation with KICP aims to upskill teachers in underprivileged surrounding schools with the goal of improving the standard of education across the coast, not only in its wealthy pockets. KICP executive director Judy Tate is part of Seaton House's leadership team to that end. For more information on Seaton House, visit the website at Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Club Med reaches peak construction capacity ahead of 2026 opening
The much-anticipated Club Med development in Tinley Manor is currently operating at peak construction capacity, with more than 1 400 workers on site each day. Working towards a grand opening next year, construction has been divided between seven contracting teams to ensure workflow continues and to avoid potential delays. That is how such a large workforce can be managed at once. 'Instead of going the traditional route and appointing the whole development to one or two contractors, we've divided the project into multiple packages, allowing us to maintain control, adapt to conditions on the ground, and focus on the skills that each contractor excels at, building stronger relationships with teams on site,' said Chris du Toit, project lead of Tinley Leisure Pty Ltd, the owners of the resort. 'Our model allows us to adapt, pivot and hold each contractor accountable in real-time. While it's a more involved approach from our side, it's how we believe we can best protect the integrity of this project.' Club Med is expected to open its global reservations in September, ten months ahead of the scheduled opening date. 'If you imagine 1 000 foreign guests arriving on opening day, we can't very well send them packing back to Europe because the resort isn't ready. We simply have to be ready,' said Du Toit. Significant progress has so far been made, with all bulk services including the roads, dam, water pipework and permanent electrical supply (with 3km of cabling) near completion. Most of the accommodation has already been built to roof height with the first layers of paint applied. Internal fittings will soon begin. Resort amenities and staff accommodation are also underway and on track, as is the first visible landscaping with large scale planting initiated. Local labour has been integrated throughout and a formal community forum with ward councillors, traditional leaders and project representatives has been includes in the process. 'We're investing in the local economy and people,' said Collins Residential CEO Murray Collins 'Our contractor teams are supported by strong local labour with many of the labourers sourced from within 10km from site, and every package has clear targets for community involvement.' Construction began in March last year and the resort is scheduled to open next July. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
