Online Reporter
Society Reporter
WHILE he has been hogging headlines for spoiling people across the length and breadth of Zimbabwe with lavish gifts, the country’s unapologetically flamboyant tycoon Wicknell Chivayo recently decided to spoil himself by officially moving into the ultra-exclusive ranks of the world’s elite.
In a move that has left onlookers completely gobsmacked, the Harare businessman has splashed out a cool R160 million (about US$10 million) on a jaw-dropping clifftop villa located on Nettleton Road in Clifton, Cape Town.
Known for his insatiable appetite for the finer things in life, Chivayo has consistently lived a life of sheer opulence, but this latest acquisition truly takes the biscuit.
To say Chivayo does nothing by halves would be a massive understatement.
His immense fortune funds a lifestyle that is the very definition of living in the lap of luxury.
For his daily commute, he bypasses ordinary traffic entirely, choosing instead to glide between continents in a US$34 million state-of-the-art Gulfstream G550 private jet.
When his feet are firmly on the ground, his garage is absolutely choc-a-block with some of the most expensive cars on the planet.
His multi-million-dollar fleet features a stunning array of top-tier engineering, including multiple Rolls-Royces (the Phantom, Ghost and Cullinan), alongside high-performance Mercedes-Benz Maybachs and roaring Lamborghinis.
A dedicated follower of fashion, his sartorial choices are just as extravagant.
His wardrobe is positively bursting at the seams, boasting hundreds of pairs of designer shoes and custom-tailored shirts that cost a pretty penny.
Yet, it is his eye-watering generosity that frequently sets social media alight.
Netizens regularly wake up to find he has dished out fleets of luxury vehicles — ranging from sleek Mercedes-Benzes to rugged Range Rovers — alongside stacks of cold, hard cash to musicians, religious leaders and political figures.
A proper posh pad in Clifton
Just when the public thought they had seen it all, Chivayo pulled this spectacular rabbit out of his hat.
The new four-storey architectural masterpiece is perched precariously on the slopes of Cape Town’s glamorous Atlantic Seaboard — a coastal strip widely recognised as Africa’s most expensive golden mile.
By moving into this tightly held enclave, Chivayo is now rubbing shoulders with serious high society.
His new neighbours include influential sports stars, African business magnates, international tech billionaires and the world-renowned musical maestro DJ Black Coffee.
Even South African President Cyril Ramaphosa holds significant real estate ties to this exact stretch of coast.
Designed to the nines
The villa itself is an absolute triumph of modern luxury real estate, striking a flawless balance between cutting-edge design and natural serenity.
The structure was conceptualised by the internationally acclaimed South African firm SAOTA, renowned for creating properties that blend seamlessly into their environments.
The inside of the home is equally impressive, styled to the nines by Stephen Pelerade and his team at the prestigious Pelerade Design House.
Every stick of designer furniture and custom fixture was delivered with meticulous attention to detail. The home makes extensive use of soaring high ceilings and vast glass walls to create an open, airy sanctuary.
The warmth of the interior is elevated by solid French Oak wide-plank flooring and a grand front door crafted from Muraba wood.
A state-of-the-art Kone lift glides effortlessly between all four floors, servicing a tailored Eurocasa kitchen, a private gym, a vintage wine cellar space and a custom home theatre.
The layout features three en-suite bedrooms flanked by a cozy pajama lounge on the middle levels, alongside a dedicated children’s play area for family life.
The crowning jewel is the penthouse-style master suite, which serves as a private haven complete with a dressing room, an en-suite bathroom set within an indigenous garden, and its own private deck.
Outside, a sparkling pool deck offers front-row seats to the most dramatic scenery the Cape has to offer.
Because the property directly borders the pristine Table Mountain Nature Reserve, Chivayo and his family enjoy total privacy while soaking in unobstructed, panoramic views stretching across Table Bay all the way to Robben Island. This coastal sanctuary adds to an already sprawling real estate portfolio, which features a massive Harare mega-mansion in Chishawasha Hills (complete with its own helipad and tennis court), alongside luxury pads in Dubai.
Chivayo is certainly not one to hide his light under a bushel.
