ABOUT VAL DE VIE ESTATE
MANAGEMENT TEAM
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.
RENIER SWART
Renier Swart is the Sales Director of the Val de Vie Group of Companies, as well as the Managing Director of Val de Vie Construction, Chairman and a shareholder of the MyRide Group. His qualifications include BCom Accounting Honours and CTA (University of Pretoria), BProc (UNISA), CA (SA), PPRE and MPRE. Renier joined Nissan SA in 1996 after completing his articles with PwC. He successfully started a number of Nissan, Ford, Mazda, UD, Fiat and Alfa Romeo dealerships and is a multiple franchise dealer of the year award winner. He also served and chaired a number of vehicle franchise dealer councils. His entrepreneurial skills were acknowledged in 2001 with the Pretoria Business Chamber Business of the Year award. Star Motor Group holds the current Nissan Dealer-Group-of-the-Year-Award. Renier also joined Paarl Boys High’s Raad van Beskermhere in 2018. Before joining Val de Vie Estate, Renier also successfully completed several large commercial property developments. His Valentia Manor house won the prestigious Best Residential Property in Africa award for 2016/17. His ability to implement a sales strategy was successfully honed in the motor industry and he oversees all property sales.
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.
SAREL ROSSOUW
Sarel Rossouw is the Financial Director of the Val de Vie Group of Companies. He has a wide-ranging background in auditing, finance, financial management, corporate governance, tax and reporting. He worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers until December 2007 where after he joined Val de Vie. Sarel is a qualified CA (SA). He is the Chief Financial Officer of all the companies in the group and is able to take care of the full financial cycle, from feasibility, finance and cash flow management to reporting.
Louis de Jager
Louis de Jager, who retired as Full Colonel as Provincial Head of Western Province Crime Intelligence, has been appointed as Val de Vie Estate’s full-time Risk Manager. Louis has spent 29 years working as a detective for the South African Police Service and 23 years in the private sector. During this time, he held various positions which included Canal Walk Shopping Centre Head Security, Woolworths Head Office Campus Head Security, Head Security for Cape Town Stadium during and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, as well as 4 years in Nigeria as Heineken Country Security Manager
Marius Herselman
Marius began his career with the Crime Intelligence Service, focusing on human intelligence networks to combat politically destabilising activities. In 1995, he transitioned to address serious organised crimes, notably in the Eastern Cape, dealing with armed robberies and taxi violence. Known for his expertise in human intelligence, Marius tackled various serious crimes, collaborated with international and national law enforcement, and handled high-profile VIP protection. In October 2021, Marius joined Val de Vie Estate as an assistant security manager. He became the security and risk manager in March 2023, overseeing the safety of Val de Vie Estate residents.
Naas Engelbrecht
After 10 years with Eskom doing contract management, 20 years were spent farming table and wine grapes, cattle and sheep farming, and developing a farm in the Wellington area. In 2011 he joined the Val de Vie team being responsible for facilities maintenance/management and the installation of new landscaping.
VAL DE VIE ESTATE
Watchman Properties
The property investment vehicle for Val de Vie Management.
Amdec
The Amdec Group is recognised as South Africa’s leading developer of new urban lifestyles. This includes developments such as Melrose Arch, and Evergreen Lifestyle Villages, South Africa’s premier retirement brand.
African Rainbow Capital
African Rainbow Capital (ARC), which was formed in 2015, is a fully Black-owned and controlled company of significant scale focusing on opportunities in the South African and African financial services and diversified investments (non-financial) industries.
Giflo
Giflo is a commercial property development company as well as a property investment company. Giflo are experts in developing commercial and medical property. This means businesses needing office space to rent are able to positively engage with the company about their specific requirements, secure in the knowledge their property goals will be more than adequately achieved.
Giflo prizes innovation and does not compromise on establishing anything other than high-quality, sustainable, future-proof developments. The company’s approach ensures low maintenance, highly functional, well-designed developments. The company creates buildings with purpose, featuring a low carbon footprint in line with the requirements of the Green Building Council of South Africa.
Star Property Group
Star Motor Group was established in 2008. The group today consists of three Nissan dealerships and five pre-owned dealerships, spread across the country.
