CAPE TOWN'S SAFEST HOUSE PUT ON THE MARKET

A BRITISH COUPLE FRUSTRATED WITH THE EVER ESCALATING CRIME RATES IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, HAVE BUILT A UNIQUE HOUSE THEY CLAIM IS BURGLAR-PROOF. EILEEN MIJLOF SAID SHE HAD LOST COUNT OF HOW MANY TIMES SHE WAS BURGLED IN AND AROUND HER HOME. SO WHEN SHE AND HER HUSBAND, JELLE, DECIDED TO MOVE, IT WAS TO A CUSTOM-DESIGNED Y-SHAPED FORTRESS THAT THE PAIR CLAIM IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK IN TO. UNUSUAL FOR MOST MIDDLE-CLASS SOUTH AFRICAN HOMES, THE PROPERTY AT THE FOOT OF TABLE MOUNTAIN DOES NOT HAVE A BURGLAR BARS, ALARMS, ELECTRIC FENCING OR TRELLIS SECURING DOORS, BECAUSE THE FIRST FLOOR IS NEARLY 50ft ABOVE GROUND. THE HOUSE LOOKS AS IF IT IS PRECARIOUSLY BALANCED ON TOP OF A SECURE GARAGE, BUT THE FOUNDATION IS 20ft DEEP, AND 10ft BY 40ft LONG. MIJLOF WHO IS ORIGINALLY FROM LIVERPOOL, SAID: 'WE FEEL VERY SAFE IN THE HOUSE. WE LOST COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE GOT ROBBED IN OUR PRIVATE HOMES AND THE HOTEL WE RAN. THEY WERE NEVER VIOLENT, BUT IT JUST GOT TOO MUCH, WHICH IS WHY JELLE DECIDED HE WOULD BUILD THIS PLACE.' MIJLOF GOT THE IDEA TO CONSTRUCT THE TWO STORY HOUSE AFTER SITTING IN THE GROUNDS OF THE PROPERTY. 'I WAS SITTING BY THE TREES AND LOOKED UP AND SAW THE SQUIRRELS RUNNING UP AND DOWN THEM AND THE BIRDS SINGING. I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE SQUIRRELS GOT TO THE END OF BRANCHES, THEY LOOKED SECURE BECAUSE THEY KNEW NOTHING COULD FOLLOW THEM BECAUSE THEY'D BOTH FALL OFF. THE SQUIRRELS AND THE BIRDS LOOKED SAFE AND I THOUGHT WE SHOULD FEEL THE SAME.' HE COMPLETED THE HOUSE IN 2000, AND THE COUPLE, WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED 20 YEARS, ARE NOW SELLING THE FORTRESS IN THE HIGGOVALE SUBURB TO MOVE TO THE WHALE-WATCHING TOWN OF HERMANUS. THE HOUSE, WHICH ENJOYS PANORAMIC VIEWS OF CAPE TOWN AND THE OCEAN BEYOND, IS ON THE MARKET FOR £1.1 MILLION.