Grammy Award-winning producer and DJ Nkosinathi “Black Coffee” Maphumulo has bought South Africa’s most expensive home — a R157 million mansion on Clifton’s Nettleton Road, known as one of the most exclusive and costly streets in the country.
According to News24, a company registered to Maphumulo, Little Ark Holdings, purchased the property earlier this year. The five-level glass-and-concrete structure, known as The Pentagon, was designed by world-renowned architect Stefan Antoni and boasts panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Apostles mountain range.
The mansion features five en-suite bedrooms, each with private balconies, a cinema, a gym, and an expansive deck with a rim-flow pool. It also includes staff quarters, five parking bays, and a lift connecting all levels of the home.
Estate agent Lance Cohen, who handled the sale, confirmed the property was sold for R3 million less than its original R160 million asking price — still setting the record as the highest-priced property deal closed in South Africa this year.
Deeds Office records confirm that Little Ark Holdings, with Maphumulo listed as the sole director, made the purchase.
Public records also indicate that no mortgage bond has been registered, leaving open the possibility that the Black Coffee’s Clifton mansion was bought in cash.
The property has a colourful history. Since 1980, it has changed ownership seven times, with its value rising from under R10 million in the early 2000s to over R100 million by 2015, when it was sold to a company linked to businessman Danny Mackay.
Mackay’s son, Jehan, a former executive at IT group EOH, was later embroiled in corruption allegations involving former ANC MP Zizi Kodwa. Those charges were later withdrawn by the National Prosecuting Authority.
Cohen described Nettleton Road as “South Africa’s millionaire’s mile,” with fewer than 40 homes, many owned by high-profile businesspeople and celebrities.
“You’ve got very wealthy and well-known people — and some even more famous than Black Coffee — that want to buy in that road,” he said.
The street’s exclusivity, combined with its ocean views and proximity to Clifton Beach, has kept demand high despite limited availability.
“There’s a buying frenzy in Cape Town’s luxury property market right now,” Cohen added.
“The lifestyle is unmatched, and compared to many European cities, Cape Town remains relatively affordable and secure.”
The acquisition comes shortly after Black Coffee’s divorce from actress and fashion designer Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa was finalised earlier this month. Mlotshwa confirmed the news on social media, telling her followers she was officially “Miss Mlotshwa” again.
While the DJ’s publicist declined to comment on the purchase, saying he “maintains as much privacy as possible,” the deal cements Maphumulo’s position not only as one of South Africa’s most successful artists but also as one of its most prominent property investors.
He already owns several homes in Johannesburg and Pretoria, collectively worth around R30 million.
