Education Archives

Thrive Student Living to ease KZN’s student accommodation squeeze with 2,400 new beds in major R800m Growthpoint development

Thrive Student Living has started its largest student accommodation development yet. Representing a significant R800 million investment, the new purpose-built student accommodation development has commenced immediately adjacent to the main gate of the Howard College Campus of University of KwaZulu-Natal in Berea, eThekwini.

Undertaken by Growthpoint Properties’ specialist development division, the project will add 2,400 student beds in the region, which research shows has the biggest shortage of student beds in South Africa.

“Proprietary research commissioned by our team revealed that KZN remains undersupplied with student beds,” says Kobus Blom, Growthpoint’s KwaZulu-Natal Regional Development Manager. “The province has significant demand, and most students live in environments that are not conducive to student outcomes.”

In response to this need, Growthpoint has commenced the two-year development programme for the new building which is set to welcome its first students in January 2027 under the Thrive Student Living banner.

The new development was celebrated with a sod-turning ceremony, attended by the Honourable Mayor of eThekwini, Cllr Cyril Xaba, and the Chief Financial Officer of eThekwini, Dr Sandile Mnguni, as well as representatives of Thrive Student Living and the Growthpoint development team and its partners. This massive investment puts into action Growthpoint’s commitment made at the recent KwaZulu-Natal Investment Conference for R800 million of investment in the province over two years, which it is executing through this development for Thrive Student Living.

Amogelang Mocumi, Fund Manager of Growthpoint Student Accommodation Holdings, which operates under the Thrive Student Living brand, expresses the company’s commitment, “By prioritising student accommodation that supports better education outcomes, we are not only enriching lives but supporting employment and fuelling a more competitive economy. This investment highlights the transformative power of strong partnerships and underscores what is possible through collaborative efforts. To grow these achievements, we need a unified approach across all levels of government, together with private sector investment to support economic growth. Together, we can build a brighter future for young people and our nation.”

Growthpoint develops purpose-built student accommodation located and designed around students to help them succeed and make the most of their university experience.

In line with Thrive Student Living’s ethos of fashioning vibrant campus communities, each unique in its architecture and design to reflect and foster its specific community, it has shaped a beautiful contemporary design for the new 12-storey building incorporating the red face-brick that is an architectural signature in the Berea area.

The design also includes all the added amenities that Thrive Student Living accommodation offers, like study areas and games rooms, gyms and IT rooms, and backup power and water. Uniquely, it has also been designed to include a small element of ground-floor retail tailored towards daily convenience, which will serve building residents, other students, and the immediate community, as there is nothing else in the area fulfilling this need.

The development will also benefit from Growthpoint’s recognised green building leadership, creating healthy, sustainable environments and operating with a social consciousness that adds value to communities. Growthpoint’s developments boost job and economic opportunities, in addition to having long-term positive socioeconomic impacts of education support.

While this is its first purpose-built student accommodation project in KZN,Growthpoint has a proud track record of leading purpose-built student accommodation developments in the university cities of Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.

It was recently named the winner of the SAPOA Property Development Award for Innovative Excellence in Student Accommodation for its development of Thrive @ Horizon Heights, also for Thrive Student Living, at the bustling heart of Johannesburg’s student community. Thrive @ Horizon Heights opened for the 2024 academic year and was well let, proving popular with those from the nearby University of Johannesburg as well as the University of the Witwatersrand.

The Growthpoint development team is currently completing two new properties for Thrive Student Living for the 2025 academic year: Thrive @ Crescent Studios, a R300m 900-bed property located in Braamfontein, and Thrive @ Arteria Parktown, a R200m 500-bed located in Parktown, both ideally positioned for Wits University students.

Piling commenced at the eThekwini site in the first week of October 2024 in preparation for the main building contractor, which moved onto site today (Monday 18 November 2024), to begin construction.

Growsmart Educational Programme Celebrates Western Cape’s Top Learners at 2024 Finals

Cape Town, 09 October 2024 — The Growsmart Educational Programme, an initiative by Growthpoint Properties, celebrated the brightest young minds in the Western Cape at the pinnacle of its annual competition season. The final event took place at The Lookout, V&A Waterfront, where top-performing learners in literacy, mathematics, and story writing were honoured.

Launched in 2010, Growsmart is a nationally and internationally recognised initiative fully endorsed by various Education Departments and serves as the flagship programme of the Western Cape Department of Education. This impactful programme aims to enhance educational outcomes in underperforming schools by engaging learners in grades 4, 5, and 6 through a dynamic, curriculum-based competition. Focusing on literacy, mathematics, and story writing, Growsmart helps intermediate learners improve critical academic skills while fostering creativity and problem-solving abilities.

2024 Western Cape Competition

The 2024 competition kicked off in April, with schools from districts including Cape Metro and West Coast District participating. Following multiple rounds and semi-finals, the best 15 learners in literacy and mathematics and 10 learners in story writing advanced to the final competition.

In the Literacy Competition, the 15 finalists were selected from 327 participants and tested on their ability to spell, define, and use words in sentences, alongside their understanding of verbs, nouns, idioms, and adjectives. The winners are:

1st Place: Delft South Primary School
2nd Place: Teske Primary School
3rd Place: Dagbreek Primary School

This marks Delft South Primary School’s second consecutive win, earning the school an iPad Lab valued at R350,000, further enhancing its learning resources.

In the Mathematics Competition, 15 finalists out of the 321 participants tackled questions ranging from BODMAS to problem-solving and mental maths. The winners are:

1st Place Idasvallei Primary School

2nd Place Diazville Primary School

3rd Place Eikendal Primary School

The Story Writing Competition is a project-based, mentor-led event in which learners

submit their own original written stories. Nearly 166 storybooks were submitted. The

winners are:

1st Place Tuscany Primary School, Olwam Sondlo

2nd Place Helderkruin Primary School, Sobo Ndongo

3rd Place Kenmere Primary School, Jordan Theart

Most Creative Kenmere Primary School, Kylah Simons

The winning schools were awarded prizes to further support their educational efforts and enhance their students’ learning experiences.

Inspiring Future Leaders

Jewel Harris, Founder of Growsmart and General Manager of Growthpoint Properties Cape Town, applauded the dedication and talent of this year’s participants. “Congratulations to everyone who took part in this year’s interactive programme. It has been more focused, relevant, engaging, and innovative than ever before. Well done to the winning learners, mentors, and schools.”

Shawn Theunissen, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Growthpoint Properties, echoed these sentiments, adding, “The winning learners and mentors represent the leaders of tomorrow and today. We’re incredibly proud of them all. Investing in positive social impact across the entire education value chain not only transforms lives today but also shapes future generations.”

A Platform for Continued Success

Beyond the competition, Growsmart provides learners with additional opportunities through the Growsmart Bursary Programme, supporting their ongoing educational journey.

As Growsmart concludes its fifteenth year in the Western Cape, the programme continues to expand its reach and impact, celebrating growing successes in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. Growsmart remains dedicated to creating educational opportunities that empower communities and foster future global citizens within a more inclusive society.

Guests were greeted with a complimentary coffee generously sponsored by Vida e Caffè and served with a smile by their friendly baristas.

Congratulations to all the Western Cape winners!