Words: Betsie Loock-Van der Merwe
The Reeds is an established value-for-money neighbourhood offering a diversity of affordable homes and a superb location conveniently close to Gauteng’s economic hubs
With the current housing market being favourable to buyers in the hunt for affordable, well-located, value-for-money property, the well-established suburb of The Reeds in Centurion’s southwestern parts, is a worthy option to consider.
This suburb will particularly appeal to residents working in either one of the economic hubs of Pretoria, the greater Centurion area, Midrand, Sandton, Ekurhuleni and even Joburg or Krugersdorp.
The Reeds is literally wedged between the N14 (Krugersdorp and Lanseria International Airport) and the N1 (Pretoria/Joburg), and within super-quick access of the Old Pretoria/Joburg Road (R101) and the R55 (Sandton), while the M31 connects The Reeds to Pretoria’s eastern suburbs. It also links with the R21 to OR Tambo International Airport. The suburb is close to the Centurion Gautrain station.
Being mainly a residential suburb, The Reeds boasts a tranquil ambiance offering a community-oriented lifestyle within easy access of amenities such as medical services, churches, schools, shopping and entertainment opportunities, as well as other professional and business services. There’s a library, post office and municipal clinic close by.
Property
The Reeds has a well-established core comprising free-standing houses with sizeable wooded gardens and tree-lined streets established in the early 1980s. This centre is surrounded by newer extensions made up of modern residential estates and townhouse complexes like the cluster of Thatchfield developments, Arundo Estate, Woodwind Estate and Brooklands Lifestyle Estate.
The bulk of properties in The Reeds meet the middle-income price bracket in the property market, e.g. a typical three-bedroom standard free-standing property sells for between R1,3m and R1,5m, while a typical lock-up-and-go townhouse in a complex will sell for, on average, just under R1m.
That said, the area offers multiple entry-level and first-homebuyer opportunities in the form of apartments (average around R600,000) and small townhouses ranging from around R700,000+. On the other hand, there are also bigger, more luxurious family homes reaching the higher-income range.
The demographic profile of the area displays a young, dynamic cosmopolitan community with approximately 90% of recent buyers being younger than 50. Of these, around 58% falls in the age category 18 to 35.
Schooling
The Reeds and its well-established neighbouring suburb Rooihuiskraal provide ample educational opportunities for kids of the area. This includes a myriad nursery schools, pre-primary schools and daycare facilities catering to preschool children of all backgrounds.
Uitsig Primary School is conveniently located in the heart of The Reeds. The school played a pioneering role in introducing the first designated African (isiZulu and Setswana) languages classroom at a government school in Centurion. Jacaranda College and Pre-primary is an independent school in the suburb offering education to learners from Grade RR to Grade 7, and Laerskool Rooihuiskraal Primary is situated a few kilometers to the north of The Reeds in Rooihuiskraal.
Hoërskool Uitsig is also located in The Reeds offering quality secondary phase education to over 1,100 learners, while Curro Thatchfield Independent School offers private education from Grade 1 to Grade 12. Highly commended Centurion high schools like Hoërskool Zwartkop, Lyttelton Manor High School, Hoërskool Centurion and Southdowns College are also within easy access from The Reeds.
Play
If you’re a golf playing resident or visitor to Centurion, The Reeds and its surrounds is a golfer’s paradise. The area boasts several great courses like Thatchfield Par 3 Golf Course, Copperleaf Golf Course, Blue Valley Golf Course, Midstream, Irene Country Club and Zwartkops golf course. Cricket enthusiasts will enjoy the proximity of SuperSport Park while fans of motor sports will appreciate the nearby Zwartkops Raceway.
Picnicking is another popular weekend activity and residents can enjoy the family-friendly facilities of The Rooihuiskraal Historical Terrain & Animal Farm.
With several shopping centres in the area including the super-regional Centurion Mall, Forest Hill City, Mall@Reds and Mall of Africa not too far away, there are plenty of indoor entertainment opportunities like watching a movie, doing shopping and eating out.
I love the many beautiful trees in the area, there is a stream running through The Reeds and it just creates such a peaceful feeling in the neighbourhood
Anita Greeff, resident
Medical facilities nearby
- Medi-Clinic Midstream
- Netcare Unitas Hospital
- Blu Valley Medical Centre
- Medipark 24
- Rooihuiskraal Municipal Clinic
Shopping
- Blue Valley Mall The Reeds
- Centurion Lifestyle Centre
- Centurion Mall
- Mall@Reds
- Oriental Plaza, Centurion
Eat
- RocoMamas Centurion Lifestyle Centre: hamburgers at its best
- Grey Owl Spur Steak Ranch: family-style grill restaurant
- Eugene’s Casa Portuguesa & Pub: child-friendly piece of Portugal
- George’s Pizza: delicious takeaway pizzas
- Ca Rouge Restaurant & Wine Cellar: upmarket dining experience and walk-in wine cellar
