End of an era for Warmbaths and Badplaas in South Africa
The owner of Warmbaths and other popular resorts in South Africa, Forever Resorts, has announced the start of a new chapter for the group, following its acquisition by Benus Trade and Invest.
Under its new owners, the group said it will continue to operate under its iconic brands and longstanding heritage, but will also now look for new opportunities in the market.
Key to the acquisition, Forever Resorts said that it will largely be “business as usual” for tourists and visitors heading to its facilities, with the group maintaining its brand and operations.
“For guests, employees, business partners and stakeholders, this marks a seamless continuation of the Forever Resorts brand, whilst opening exciting possibilities for the future,” it said.
Forever Resorts owns several luxury spas and getaway locations around South Africa, including the iconic Warmbaths resort in Limpopo.
The resort is located in Bela Bela, north of Gauteng, and is known for its easy accessibility as an escape from city life.
It got its name from the natural hot springs found in Bela Bela, which can produce up to 22,000 litres of water per hour at 53 degrees Celcius.
Eight resorts currently owned by Forever Resorts were previously owned by Aventura, a state-owned company.
Aventura sold these properties to Forever Siyonwaba Resorts in 2003, which then transferred the ownership to Forever Resorts.
Ultimately, Aventura was liquidated, with the majority of its properties taken over by Forever Resorts in 2003. Now, Forever Resorts has been acquired by Benus.
Benus is an investment company associated with Community Investment Holdings (CIH), a diversified South African investment group.
CIH is a 100% black-owned investment group, founded in 1995 by Prof. Anna Mokgokong and Joe Madungandaba.
The group has interests across a range of sectors, including healthcare, technology and telecommunications, power and energy, mining, logistics and infrastructure development.
A key aspect of CIH’s acquisition of Forever Resorts is preservation.
“As the new custodian of Forever Resorts, CIH is committed to building on the brand’s proud heritage, preserving these treasured destinations and ensuring that they remain accessible and continue to benefit and be enjoyed by South Africans for generations to come,” it said.
New opportunities
The acquisition of Forever Resorts by Benus was announced at the end of August, when the groups got Competition Commission approval for the transaction.
According to Forever Resorts Managing Director, Eugene van Jaarsveldt, the transaction will ensure the group’s continued strategic growth and development.
He noted that Forever Resorts has been part of the South African hospitality landscape for several decades, becoming an iconic part of the country’s leisure sector.
Van Jaarsveldt assured that guests will be able to continue enjoying its facilities, and its portfolio is maintained.
The group will continue to offer a diverse portfolio of resorts, hotels, lodges, and self-catering accommodation, together with beautifully maintained caravan and camping facilities.
This is further complemented by premium conference, wedding, and function venues, as well as an exciting array of leisure facilities across the portfolio.
“Forever Resorts will continue operating under its well-known flagship brand, ensuring that all existing resorts, hotels, and guest offerings remain a core part of its ongoing operations,” he said.
Images of Forever Resorts locations
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