A year into development, the luxurious high-end Lefika Villas development at Sun City is 85% complete and will be ready to host guests for the 2023 Nedbank Golf Challenge.
Sun City resort general manager, Brett Hoppe, says, “The development could not have come at a more opportune moment. With the Nedbank Golf Challenge starting on 6 November and the end of year holidays fast approaching, we are facing unprecedented demand. Luckily all ten of the four-bedroom villas and 65% of the three-bedroom Villas will be available from November. The remaining villas will come on board by mid-December, just in time for festive season bookings.”“[W]e are facing unprecedented demand.”The villas are all already fully booked for Christmas and New Year. Sun International’s R295-million development consists of 48 three-bedroom and 10 free standing, four-bedroom villas, all en-suite. The new luxury villas form the first phase of a 5-star plus timeshare for the Sun Vacation Club, with a club house, new restaurants, and other amenities to follow. Since its inception in 1996, the Sun Vacation Club has grown to become one of the leading self-catering accommodation offerings in South Africa, selling luxury units on a 5- or 10-year rotating holiday club membership basis.

Lefika Villas construction and design
Lefika means ‘stone’ in Setswana, the local language, and the name pays homage to the adjacent stone-walled Itlholanoga heritage site – the real ‘Lost City’ of the greater Sun City resort. Boogertman + Partners architectural team manager, Lila Gouws, says, “The expansive mountain views from the villas evoke a feeling of being in nature, built in the trees on a mountainous site, overlooking the valley below, with design inspiration generated from the local flora and fauna.”
“Our contemporary South African interpretation adopted a very bespoke approach to the site and there are many elements which have been specifically custom designed for the project.”“Our contemporary South African interpretation adopted a very bespoke approach to the site and there are many elements which have been specifically custom designed for the project,” adds Lila. “The natural environment was used as a driving factor in all decisions and influenced the colour and material palette; from the external natural stone walls to the interior art, soft furnishings, cutlery and crockery, creating a unique and truly contextual aesthetic.” In total, a team of 15 architects and designers from Boogertman + Partners and Boogertman Interiors Turnkey spent the past 18 months designing and supervising the construction of the villas. They also procured furniture and fixtures for the building, landscape, and the interiors.
Local is lekker
Lila says, “We used very site-specific natural materials in the design and procurement process – natural stone from the site for the walls, concrete tables, dark wood to emulate bark of the trees, blown glass, timber beads, felt and jute in the interiors. The result is a space which is peaceful and immersed in nature, where you can relax with family and friends.”Artworks, furniture, surface finishes and lighting by local artists were prioritised, while the crafts and cultural heritage from the North West Province – including weaving and bead work – are also proudly on display.
Designed with everyone in mind
Meanwhile, two of the three-bedroom villas have been designed for the mobility impaired, custom-made to be wheelchair-friendly, with grab handles and height of basins adapted. “There are also emergency buttons within the villas to call should assistance be required,” notes Lila.

Keeping it clean and green
Green design principles were also implemented in the building of Lefika Villas. Passive design principles make the villas energy friendly, reducing heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. These include ideal orientation, thick stone walls which keep the day’s heat out and create warmth at night, maximised natural light, thermal insulation to underside floors and on top of roof slabs, and large overhangs. Large glazed areas also allow for ample natural lighting, while strategically placed windows create effective cross ventilation and an ideal level of comfort. Water saving sanitary fittings with energy efficient cold start taps, heat pumps for effective water heating, and the use of LED lightings all contribute to the energy efficiency of the villas.

Key statistics
- 100% South African suppliers and 95% South African products were used, making Lefika Villas proudly South African
- 13 local fine artists’ work have been used in the reception and villas
- 1 168 contractors were on site during construction
- A 30% local spend percentage has been maintained by using approximately 50 subcontractors, service providers, and local labour
- Materials used for the first phase include 2.2 million bricks, 4 200 m³ concrete, and 370 tonnes of steel.