MORE ABOUT BELA BELA

Can you find Bela Bela?

Geography

Bela Bela, formerly known as Warmbaths, is situated in the Bushveld of the Limpopo Province. Wikipedia describes the Bushveld as "a sub-tropical woodland eco-region of Southern Africa named after the term veld." The elevation of this region varies from 750 to 1,400 m.

Bela Bela

In Pretoria jacaranda trees line many streets.
In Bela Bela flamboyants adorn the streets.

By the way, There appears to be uncertainty about the spelling of the name of our town. Some people spell it "Bela Bela", and others, "Bela-Bela".

A significant mountain range in the region is the Waterberg that stretches from Mokopane in the east to Thabazimbi in the west. The name of the range is derived from the sandstone formations that retain rainwater in sufficient quantities to make a suitable environment for man and beast. As most of the region tends to be dry, the Bushveld is mostly cattle and game farming country.

The Waterberg range near Bela Bela

Climate

Bela Bela has a pleasant climate. The average winter temperature varies from a mild night-temperature of 7ºC to 24ºC in the day. The average for the summer ranges from 16ºC tot 29ºC. The town enjoys 286 sunny days on average. The average annual rainfall is 625 mm, which mainly occurs in summer.

Click HERE to view the daily weather forecast.

Medical facilities

Bela Bela is home to a number of very capable medical practitioners. In fact, one of the is dr. A B de Villiers, father of the Protea cricketer, A B de Villiers.

Bela Bela's most famous son. Can you guess who it is?

Moreover, a fair number of dentists, optometrists and pharmacies are to be found here.

The provincial hospital offers public health care. St. Vincent's is a very good private hospital. Click HERE to access their website. 

In addition to the above, Pretoria, boasting excellent health facilities, is about 100 km away. Click HERE HERE for more information.

Shopping facilities

Although local residents have access to basic shopping facilities, they sometimes find it necessary to visit large shopping malls in Pretoria and elsewhere.

However, the Bela Mall opened its doors in 2014, making it less necessary to visit large shopping malls elsewhere. Click HERE for more information.

Recreation

Game viewing near Bela Bela

Bela Bela and the surrounding countryside offers a large variety recreational activities, including hiking, game drives, visits to game parks, etc. Click HERE for more information.

Bela Bela offers some excellent restaurants to satisfy most palates. Click HERE for more information.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE VILLAGE HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR SELF-SUPPORTING PEOPLE. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Residents must be able to live independently and self-supporting. No meals are provided. There are no facilities for temporary or permanent frail care or persons who are no longer self-supporting.

WHAT SHOULD RESIDENTS DO IF THEY BECOME PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY INCAPABLE OF LIVING INDEPENDENTLY?

The Palms Retirement Village is well-appointed to provide frail care. Residents who reside in any of the retirement villages within the Renaissance Group are given preference at The Palms if they need it. Click HERE to learn more.

IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE FOR RESIDENTS?

Whether it be a single occupier or two separate occupiers, the minimum age for occupants is 50 years. In the case of  married couples, one of the spouses must be at least 50 years old.

ARE RESIDENTS ALLOWED TO EMPLOY PRIVATE WORKERS?

Residents may employ garden and/or domestic workers at their own expense, with the express understanding that they may not sleep in or stay overnight in units.

IS A RESIDENT ALLOWED TO MAKE CHANGES TO HIS/HER UNIT?

No structural or other changes may be made without the approval of the Management.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE UNITS?

Faults and defects on the outside of units are the responsibility of the Management Committee of the village and must be reported to the Administration Office.

The interior of units is the responsibility of the owner/occupier.

MAY RESIDENTS KEEP PETS?

No.

MAY RESIDENTS MAINTAIN A GARDEN?

The gardens and lawns are part of the common property. Residents may, in consultation  with their immediate neighbours and on a voluntary basis, establish and maintain a garden on the common property surrounding their unit.

HOW OFTEN AND BY HOW MUCH ARE THE LEVIES REVISED?

The levy is determined once per year when the budget is drawn up. The levy payable in respect of each unit is determined by the floor area.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I FALL ILL?

The nearest hospital is 10 minutes away. Serious cases can be transported to excellent medical facilities in Pretoria, which is an hour away.

ARE THERE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES IN THE VALLAGE?

There is an active Social Action Committee that regularly arranges social events.

HOW SECURE IS THE VILLAGE?

The security of the residents is of prime importance. Apart from the entrance gate, which is manned 24/7 by trained security guards, the village is fenced and guarded by means of infra red beams. A panic button is provided for each unit. This activates a distress signal in the guardhouse at the entrance gate.

ARE THERE DETAILED GUIDELINES AVAILABLE WITH REGARD TO DO'S AND DONT'S?

A perusal of our Constitution (click HERE to access) and our Rules of Conduct (click HERE to access) should do the trick.

VILLAGE MANAGEMENT

Introduction
The village is managed in accordance with the Housing Development Schemes for Retired Persons Act, 1988 (Act 65 of 1988) as amended, as well as the Sectional Titles Act (Act 95 of 1986) as amended.

The Management Association
The members of this Association are one representative of the developer and every purchaser of a unit in the village.

The objectives of the Management Association
The Management Association is responsible for the enforcement of the village Rules of Conduct (see link below) and for the control, administration and management of the village, the accommodation, the land, the common property, facilities, and services for the benefit of all members, through the Management Committee.

General Meetings
Annual General Meetings are held once every year to elect the Management Committee for the ensuing year and to approve the proposed budget. At least one Special General Meeting must also be held or more often if deemed necessary by the Management Committee.  

Budget
A detailed budget of expected income and expenditure of the Management Association, in connection with the proper control and operation of the village, is drawn up for the following year.

Levies
The annual levy payable in respect of each unit is determined by the floor area.

The Management Committee

A monthly session of the Management Committee in progress

The Management Committee consists of one nominated member representing the Developer, and seven to eleven elected members. The number may be increased by way of co-option. The Management Committee is responsible for the day-to-day management of the village.

Click HERE to access a detailed Constitution of the Warmbad Renaissance Retirement Village.

Click HERE to access the Rules of Conduct of the Warmbad Renaissance Retirement Village.

RECREATION

Residents have free use of a small library, which is well-patronized. It is situated in the administration block. It is open on Monday afternoons and is administered by a resident.

Hester Botes is our friendly librarian

The library is popular venue for book addicts!

A Snooker Club is in operation at set times. Players have access to a full-sized snooker table in one of the two recreation halls, commonly known as Die Lapa.

Hennie is ready to sink the green

On Thursday evenings the Darts Club have their weekly darts night in Die Lapa.

A darts game in progress

The village has a very active Social Action Committee which regularly organizes a range of social activities. These are held in the second recreation hall known as Die Nes.

 

The Valentine's Day Tea Party is held each year on 14 February

Talented residents often entertain their fellow-residents

Residents often travel to larger centres to attend shows

Lunches are often arranged at the drop of a hat!

The year-end supper is always well-attended

Village braais are popular with residents

INTRODUCTION

Entrance to the best kept secret of the Bushveld!

In the late eighties Renaissance Ontwikkelings (Pty.) Ltd. decided to develop their fifth sectional title security retirement village in the legendary tranquility of the picturesque Bushveld. And lo and behold: Warmbad Renaissance.

Inevitably people might speculate about the developer's rationale to use the name "Renaissance" for his development company. What relationship is there between South African retirement villages and the cultural movement of the same name that started in the late Middle Ages in Italy and thereafter spread to the rest of Europe?

In 2001 former Chairman of the Management Committee, Nato Britz, speculated as follows about the name, "If we consider the history of the word "Renaissance", then I prefer revival or renewal. After all, that is what is happening at Warmbad Renaissance; residents have relinquished the first phase of their life and started a second, or new, phase of life."

It appears that the construction of Warmbad Renaissance commenced in 1989/1990 when the rumble of heavy construction equipment shattered the Bushveld tranquillity.

The first residents were Ampie and Isabel Hattingh. They moved in on 1 April 1992.

 

Ampie and Isabel Hattingh

Below are a few photographs depicting scenes from the village.

While the grounds are cared for by a contracted gardening service,
house proud owners lay out and care for the gardens around
their units  

Indigenous trees abound in the village, thereby creating
a park-like ambience

Abundant bird-life is a feature of the village

Lanes crossing

A spectacular Bushveld sunset