HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
VAL DE VIE HOA TRUSTEES
Jonathan Bloom
Jonathan and his wife, Marinda, have been proud residents of Val de Vie Estate since 2018, and he has served as a homeowner-elected trustee ever since. They are blessed with two children—one already actively contributing to the economy and the other studying Data Science at Stellenbosch University. Originally from Paarl, Jonathan moved to Stellenbosch for his studies, where they lived until they settled at Val de Vie Estate.
He holds four degrees, including a Ph.D. in Corporate Finance from Stellenbosch University. Throughout his career as a professor of Corporate Finance, specialising in Real Estate Investment and Financing, Jonathan has had the privilege of advising a variety of JSE-listed companies, real estate developers, Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the renewable energy sector, and government departments at all levels. He has also contributed his expertise as an analyst and advisor in state capture corruption investigations.
As a trustee, Jonathan focuses on the long-term strategic sustainability of the Estate, with a particular emphasis on its financial portfolio. He is committed to proactively addressing the strategic and operational challenges of managing an Estate of this size. Under his leadership, the HOA Finance department has evolved into an independent function within the Management Company.
Rudi Eggers
Rudi and his wife, Lynn, were both born in Durban. In September 2016, on a visit to Val de Vie Estate, they purchased a stand in Le Domaine, which then was a sand patch. They built their home and have enjoyed living a joyful life in Val de Vie Estate since 2017. They are proud parents. Rudi and Lynn both enjoy travelling locally and internationally.
Rudi started as a Detective in the South African Police in 1979. He completed a degree in Economics and began his business journey. In 2000, Rudi co-founded International Slab Sales, the largest distributor of quartz and natural stone surfaces for the construction industry in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In March, Rudi took over the reins as Chairman and is now semi-retired. As Managing Director, he led the growth of the surface industry through product innovation and strategic business development. As a leader, he drives success and believes in guiding and supporting his team members, helping them unlock opportunities and reach their full potential.
With over 16 years of experience as a trustee at various HOAs in Johannesburg and Durban, Rudi is experienced in community management and living. Rudi is passionate about the Estate and has served the Val de Vie Estate community as a Trustee since 2022. He is the Chairperson of the Facilities, Assets and Landscaping Committee and a member of the Building Environment Committee.
Stephen Whitehead
Stephen is a qualified architect and retired from one of the largest commercial practices in South Africa, where he had been a director after twenty-four years of service. He continues to act as a consultant to the practice and manage other ongoing property and development responsibilities in his personal capacity. He is registered with SACAP, a member of SAIA and CiFA and a previous winner of an Institute of Architects merit award for design work and an Institute of Timber Construction award for residential work.
In addition to a stint lecturing design at the university level, he served as the Building and Development advisor to the Newlands Residents Association in Cape Town for over twenty years, liaising and negotiating with applicants, residents and the Local Authority in this role.
Stephen’s involvement with Val de Vie Estate stretches back to original land use applications and infrastructure development, and he has been involved in the built infrastructure of the Estate over an extended period. Stephen was first elected as a homeowner-elected trustee in August 2020, and he serves on the Super Estate Sub-Committee and various other committees. Stephen has been married to his wife, Beverley, for over 30 years, and they have two adult children
Steven Hassel
Steven is happily married, with two stepsons and two grandchildren, and he thoroughly enjoys the facilities and lifestyle that Val de Vie Estate offers. Passionate about community, he is eager to contribute his time to reinforcing the value of the Estate. An avid, if not expert, cyclist, Steven also enjoys travelling and experiencing new cultures. He has an MBA from the University of Cape Town, a BCom Acct from UNISA and an Advanced Certificate in Shopping Centre Leadership from the University of Pretoria. He also qualified as an estate agent in 1985.
With over 35 years of experience in large-scale property development and management, Steven has worked extensively in South Africa and abroad, spending 24 years in the UK and EU working with mixed-use developments. He previously served as Chair of Trustees for a residential Body Corporate in Tokai. He was a member of the Audit & Standards Committee at Elmbridge Borough Council in the UK. He also chaired the UK’s second-largest Urban Regeneration Company, where public and private sector collaboration was crucial.
Steven believes the Estate’s maturity is at a point where the controls needed by the Developer no longer apply, and it is time for homeowners to become more engaged and to shift the trustees’ focus to maintaining and enhancing the overall value exclusively for the homeowners. He has no prior or current association with the Developer or any of the supply chain. As a trustee, Steven is committed to addressing the critical issue of power supply and utilities, working toward securing this for the Estate, all the while fostering a unified and harmonious community and working towards creating an environment where the goal of a super Estate can eventually proceed.
Fred Swanepoel
Fred has been happily married to Colette for over 14 years and is the proud father of two adult sons working in Cape Town. Originally from Johannesburg, Fred studied at Stellenbosch University and has owned property in the Western Cape for the past decade. An extrovert passionate about people and the community, Fred enjoys rugby, tennis, water sports, performance vehicles, and aviation. He has served as a Trustee of the HOA at Tedderfield Airpark, an aviation estate south of Johannesburg, for nearly nine years.
With over 35 years of experience in Property Development, Finance, Banking, and IT, Fred brings a wealth of expertise. He holds a B.Com Honours from Stellenbosch University, an MBA from the University of the Witwatersrand, and has completed advanced programs at Harvard Business School.
Fred’s distinguished career at Nedbank began in 1996 as Divisional Director of Group Technology and Support Services, eventually culminating in his role as Group CIO. He gained local and international recognition for spearheading the modernisation and digitisation of Nedbank’s technology landscape, driving business value through innovation. Under his leadership, Nedbank received numerous awards for its leadership in the digital space, successfully commercialising several market-leading products and services, with an ongoing pipeline of innovations that continue to enhance the bank’s market reputation among analysts and stakeholders.
As a driven servant leader, Fred is committed to serving the Val de Vie Estate community. His vision is to help Val de Vie Estate become the world’s leading lifestyle Estate, recognised for excellence by all stakeholders, including homeowners, tenants, retirees, business owners, and personnel. He acknowledges the diversity of interests within the community but is determined to focus on finding common ground and achieving optimal outcomes for everyone.
Riaan Crafford
Riaan is an accomplished senior executive security specialist with a wealth of experience from a distinguished career spanning over three decades. Throughout his career, Riaan has led diverse security strategies across multinational organisations, earning a reputation as a versatile and highly skilled professional.
His expertise is in crafting tailored security solutions encompassing various facets such as Physical Security, Investigations, Risk Management, Technical Security Strategy, and Security Engineering Management. Riaan’s leadership style is characterised by a belief in the strength of collaborative partnerships, both within the organisation and with external stakeholders.
With a keen eye for policy development and cross-enterprise frameworks, Riaan navigates the complex landscape of security protocols, ensuring alignment with evolving global trends while meeting specific business requirements.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Riaan’s commitment extends to his community. He assumed the role of Chairperson of the Security Committee after being co-opted as a homeowner trustee. His vision as Chair is to ensure a safe and secure environment in partnership with our greater community by delivering a dynamic and fit for purpose security service.
His educational background, including a Bachelor of Technology specialising in Criminal Justice and Police Science, along with a strategic leadership course from the renowned Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and an ISMA Strategic Leadership Program at Georgetown University, underscores his dedication to continuous growth and knowledge enhancement.
In his personal life, Riaan finds joy in family moments with his wife, Sandra, and their three accomplished children, each having completed their studies and embarking on their careers. Passionate about outdoor activities, Riaan and Sandra savour the many opportunities this magnificent estate provides. Their love for the exquisite wines of the Winelands has made this picturesque location their cherished home since 2021. Riaan is a horse-riding enthusiast and an avid golfer
MARTIN VENTER
Martin Venter is the founder and CEO of the Val de Vie Group of Companies. He has sufficient experience and knowledge to lead the development and professional team for the conceptualization and implementation of any size of property development. His qualifications include BLC (Law), LLB (UP), Hons., MBA (US) and R.E.E.S, Private Equity and Venture Capital (Harvard Business School). Martin gained extensive experience in property development and property investment as one of the founding directors of Atterbury Property Cape (Pty) Ltd. As developer, he has completed many successful residential and commercial property developments. He was awarded the ABSA Entrepreneur of the Year in 1994. He focuses on deal-making, business development and strategic planning.
RYK NEETHLING
Ryk Neethling / Marketing Director and Shareholder of the Val de Vie Group of Companies
Ryk Neethling has played an instrumental role since his appointment in 2009 as the Marketing Director & Shareholder of the Val de Vie Group of Companies. Ryk’s business career started while he spent time in the real estate industry in the USA, assisting in the development, management and sales of various commercial properties in Arizona and California. This experience equipped him to establish Cape Winelands Properties, the official on-site property agency for Val de Vie Estate, with his business partners. His strategic approach to implementing brand and marketing plans is evident in the numerous successfully sold-out developments of the Val de Vie Group of Companies. Under Ryk’s leadership, the Val de Vie brand has internationally been positioned as pioneering in the world of luxury property development. Ryk holds a BA degree in Psychology and Business from the University of Arizona. He is a Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Ambassador, founder of Learn to Swim Academies, three-time World Champion and an Olympic Gold Medalist.