Property

The South African estate where one house sold for a record-breaking R60 million

Kirsten Minnaar • 8 October 2025

The historic Stillness Manor in Cape Town’s exclusive Zwaanswyk has sold for a record-breaking R59.8 million, setting a new benchmark for the suburb as demand soars for ultra-luxury, heritage-rich estates in the city’s Southern Suburbs.

Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty explained that the Zwaanswyk enclave has entered a new property stratosphere with the landmark sale of the historic Stillness Manor.

The substantial 14-bedroom estate, which sits on a four-acre plot with sweeping views, sold for R59.8 million, including VAT, officially shattering the suburb’s previous price record.

This record-breaking sale signals the intense demand for ultra-premium, secure properties in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs.

“This isn’t just a sale; it’s a seismic event for the Zwaanswyk market,” said Dawn Bloch, Zwaanswyk specialist for Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty.

“The price achieved for Stillness Manor resets the benchmark and underscores the unparalleled value placed on absolute privacy, immense scale, and irreplaceable heritage in this sought-after suburb.”

Bloch explained that properties in the suburb have always been in high demand, driven by several concurrent factors.

“Combine the dearth of available overall stock with the fact that more than 40% of current owners have been residents for more than 11 years, according to Lightstone, and it makes for a highly competitive market,” she said.

Bloch said intense buyer interest in Zwaanswyk is evidenced by the numerous queries flooding in with regards to another hero property on the market in the area, with an asking price of R25.95 million.

The expansive family residence is located at the end of a quiet country lane and surrounded by mountain views.

Stillness Manor

The manor features a formal open-plan dining room and sitting room with a wood-burning fireplace, which leads to a substantial conservatory with stackable glass doors. The conservatory is filled with natural light and showcases garden views.

The conservatory also features a built-in gas braai with extractor fan, kitchenette, bar fridge, plus a jacuzzi hot tub. Electric blinds at the front of the conservatory control the light levels and climate control.

The modern farmhouse kitchen has soft cream and sage green cupboards with glass cupboard doors for storage and presentation of glassware.

It also has Caesarstone countertops, Hans Grohe taps, a Smeg double oven and stove, a water filtration system and a generous scullery and laundry.

There are five bedrooms with built-in cupboards in Stillness Manor’s main house, with three situated upstairs.

The master bedroom is substantial, with built-in cupboards, an air conditioner, and a lounging area with picture windows providing views of the koi ponds, stream, and garden below.

The en-suite bathroom features a spacious corner Spa bath, vanity cupboard with two hand basins, a separate shower and a toilet.

North-facing sliding doors open to a large tiled balcony, with the Constantiaberg Mountain Range providing a backdrop.

In addition, the house has four other bathrooms, a guest cloakroom, a TV lounge with a gas fireplace and access to the garden deck.

Two large studies, with additional shelving units, are located in the North and South wings of the residence, both with guest bedrooms and en-suites.

Stillness Manor breaks records

Its record-breaking price tag places Stillness Manor’s sale in a league of its own. According to Lightstone property data, the 15 sales recorded in Zwaanswyk over the past 12 months totalled R259 million.

This translates to an average price of R17.27 million per property. The sale of Stillness Manor alone is worth nearly three-and-a-half times that annual average.

“The figures from Lightstone confirm what we experience on the ground: Zwaanswyk is a rarified market where the average household income exceeds R200,000 per month,” Bloch added.

“Buyers at this level are not just purchasing a house; they are acquiring a legacy estate with a profound sense of place and history.”

Stillness Manor, originally part of one of the first farms in the Western Cape, dating back to 1688, is a property of extraordinary proportions.

Bloch said the Stillness Manor estate boasts 10 North-East facing dwellings with a floor size totalling approximately 1,650 m². “Amenities rival those of a luxury boutique hotel, which was in fact the property’s previous incarnation,” she said.

The estate also has an indoor pool, two outdoor pools, a tennis court, a formal dining room seating 20, a wine cellar, and parking for 22 vehicles.

The jewel in the crown is the original manor house, featuring a classic Cape Dutch gable and uninterrupted views of the False Bay coastline and the Steenberg Golf Estate below.

“From its elevated position, Stillness Manor is truly one of a kind,” Bloch said. “It offers a rare combination of grand, historic architecture set on 4 acres of prime land with close access to the Tokai forest trails.”