Meet Us

Maree was born in Quebec, Canada in 1963. He completed his schooling at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch. He attended Stellenbosch University where he obtained honours degrees in Commerce and Accountancy. Maree qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1992. After five years with Price Waterhouse Coopers, Maree founded the Village & Life Group of Companies in 1994. Being an active sportsman, Maree plays tennis, is an enduro off-road motorbiking enthusiast and he jet ski’s and surfs as often as he can. Maree and his daughter, Emily, lives in Camps Bay.

Mariane grew up in Cape Town and attended Brackenfell High School. After matric she studied Hotel Management at Varsity College in Rondebosch for 3 years. While studying she worked as Assistant Manager at Caledon Villa Guest House in Stellenbosch. Mariane moved to Hermanus in April 2007 where she started working at Harbour House Hotel. She lives with her husband in Hermanus and enjoys reading, movies and outdoor activities.

Reneê was born in Durban and moved to Hermanus in 2001. She attended Hermanus High School. After matric she went to study hotel management at the Grootbos Hospitality Academy. After completing her studies she started working at Harbour House Hotel as receptionist in November 2008. She lives in Sandbaai (Hermanus) and enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to the blues, taking random photos and scrapbooking.

Carla was born in Worcester and studied at Granger Bay Hotel School. After traveling abroad to America and the UK, she returned to South Africa and settled in Johannesburg for seven years. Carla now resides in Hermanus, where she lives with her husband and son.

Thozamile Moses Stuurman grew up in Burgersdorp in the Eastern Cape. In 2000, after he matriculated from Siyaphakama High School in Sterkstroom, he enrolled in Ed–U–City Campus for Travel and Tourism. He went on to work at the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa as a wellness agent until 2010, when he left the company to start his own business. He has been living in Hermanus since 2001, and is happily married with two children, and another on the way.

Bronwan spent most of her schooling life in Hermanus until she moved to Nelspruit in Mpumalanga where her passion for the hospitality industry started. After finishing shool at Swartland High School she went on to study via correspondence through Intec College whilst working at Hermanus Golf Club. During her career she assisted in opening a 4 star boutique hotel in Hermanus and in 2011 assist the opening of a 5 star Hotel in Botswana. Being a former employee, she returned to Harbour House Hotel and joined the Village & Life team in 2012. She has a passion for the hospitality industry and loves working with all the guests and providing them with all the information regarding things to do in Hermanus. Her interests are to travel and experience the hospitality industry throughout the world

Jasper grew up in Pretoria and matriculated in 1999 from High school Eldoraigne. After school he qualified as Network and Hardware technician and was working in the I.T industry. In 2007 he came to visit Hermanus and decided to make this his home. He started his hospitality working career in 2008 as a waiter at Hermanus Golf Club the moved into the hotel industry as a Night Auditor at a small 4 star boutique hotel where he then spread his wings and assisted in the opening of a 5 star hotel in Botswana as a Night Manager and now has come to join the Village & Life team on January 2012 in the capacity of a Barman. His interests is to gym and one day he would love to travel the world.

Emmolese studied at Wynberg College of Cape Town and obtained her ITEC diploma in Beauty Therapy. Beauty is her passion and her favourite treatments are massage, manicures, pedicures and waxing. Do regular exercise to keep yourself young, drink enough water and take time out to relax is her wellness tip to all guests.

Dayyaan grew up in Westridge; Mitchell’s Plain and attended Westridge High School. After matric, he enrolled at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and studied towards a qualification in Internal Auditing. He pursued a career in accounting and worked at MWEB for over 3 years while studying part-time towards a qualification in Forensic Examinations at the University Of Western Cape. After working in accounting, he decided to work from home in the sales industry and submerged himself in personal development training and literature. Dayyaan joined Village & Life in May 2010 as the Hotel Accountant. He lives in Eerste River with his wife and coaches a senior cricket team; he is also a soccer fanatic whom supports Manchester United. Dayyaan plays baseball and was the Junior Western Province and South African Schools coach from 2001 – 2005.