Retirement Villages · Bergvliet, Cape Town Southern Suburbs
Evergreen Bergvliet
Evergreen village in Bergvliet with a busy social calendar, from bridge and book club to weekly social dinners.
- Life right
Retirement Villages · Diep River, Cape Town Southern Suburbs
Evergreen Diep River
A smaller Evergreen village of 57 one- and two-bedroom apartments, close to Mediclinic Constantiaberg.
- Life right
Local knowledge
Living in Cape Town Southern Suburbs
The Southern Suburbs (Rondebosch, Claremont, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Plumstead, Bergvliet and Constantia) have some of the oldest retirement villages in the province. Families choose them to keep a parent close to where they already live, near GPs, specialists and private hospitals such as Netcare Kingsbury and Mediclinic Constantiaberg.
Most of the area is about 20 to 30 minutes from Cape Town International. Expect older, well-established villages with long waiting lists for frail care beds, so it is worth getting a name on a list early.
About retirement villages
A retirement village is a secure community of houses, cottages or apartments for independent older people. Most have a clubhouse, a dining room or coffee shop, maintained gardens and 24-hour security, and many add a frail care centre so residents can move into care later without leaving.
What to ask when visiting a retirement village in Cape Town Southern Suburbs
- 1Which ownership model is offered (life right, sectional title, rental), and what is repaid when the unit is vacated?
- 2What does the monthly levy cover, and how much has it gone up in each of the past three years?
- 3Is there frail care on site? Do residents get priority for a bed, and is there a waiting list?
- 4Who manages the village, and is there a residents' committee?
- 5What happens if one partner needs care and the other stays independent?
Nearby towns
Questions families ask
Retirement Villages in Cape Town Southern Suburbs
How does a life right work in a retirement village?
You pay a once-off amount for the right to live in a unit for life. You do not own it. When the right ends, the village resells it and repays an amount set out in your agreement, which may be a fixed share of the original price or of the resale price. These schemes are regulated by the Housing Development Schemes for Retired Persons Act.
Is there a minimum age for a retirement village?
Most villages set a minimum age, commonly between 50 and 60. Check with the village, because the rules differ and some allow a younger spouse.