Zonnekus, Erstwhile Home of the Graaff Family

 

In November 1928, Sir David Graaff offered to purchase property on the “island” between the lagoon and the sea. His intention was to erect a high-class private residential property at an estimated cost of £10,000 as practical proof of his confidence in Milnerton Estates and in the belief that such development should provide an incentive to development generally. The architects were Messrs Waldgate and Elsworth and the builders Messrs H. Wier & Co.

 

The gracious Mediterranean-style mansion was built by Italian artisans in 1929. It offers over 1000m² of living space, including five grand reception rooms and seven bedrooms, plus a wine cellar, private gym, large country kitchen and a private boardwalk which supplies direct access to the beach. Garaging is provided for eight vehicles, and there is a separate guest cottage plus two staff quarters on the property. The substantial garden is watered by computerised irrigation and includes a large swimming pool overlooking the beachfront. It has views across Table Bay to the city and the mountain.

Zonnekus was used by Sir David Graaff and his family as a seaside residence until his death on 13 April 1931. Thereafter, it was leased to the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Sir Herbert Stanley. Sir De Villiers Graaff, who had inherited his father’s Baronetcy, then took up residence there until he went off to war in 1940. In 1951, a portion of the land, including the buildings, was sold to David Graaff, Sir De Villiers’ younger brother, who occupied the property until his death.

The mansion then remained unoccupied for some years and was badly damaged by vagrants. It was then bought by Cape Town businessman Gary van der Merwe, who had it fully restored, retaining most of the original features such as the gleaming wooden floors and ceilings. He subsequently lived there for almost 30 years.

However, due to a spat with SARS, Mr van der Merwe was forced to put the property on the market in 2011, but he continued living there, leasing the home. He then made it available for occasional rental for social occasions, such as weddings and parties, and as a “premier conference and events venue”, capable of accommodating up to 150 delegates or available to rent for up to 16 guests on Airbnb at R96,604 per day.

Earlier this year, following a protracted legal battle that went all the way to the Constitutional Court, Mr van der Merwe and the other occupants were ordered to vacate the property and it was auctioned by the liquidators. The auction, held at 11 a.m. on 2 July, attracted local and international buyers. The highest bid was R15.5 million, far lower than the R40 million expected and the R50 million municipal valuation.  

When I was a boy in the 1960s, Zonnekus was the only residential property on the “island” and it was approached via a long drive through thick bush. My friends and I once trespassed on this property, but as we approached the house, guard dogs heard us and started barking. They must have been restrained somehow, but we did not know that. We ran for our lives, terrified that we were about to be mauled to death and were relieved to reach the bridge unscathed. Two men who had trespassed in December 1939 were not as lucky. Sir De Villiers Graaff caught them “shooting at wild fowl on the lagoon” and handed them over to the police.