Forever Resorts, a longstanding player in South Africa’s hospitality industry, has been acquired by Benus Trade and Invest, an investment company associated with Prof. Anna Mokgokong and Joe Madungandaba’s Community Investment Holdings, as the resort operator enters a new phase of ownership and growth.

The transaction, announced on September 15, 2026, brings Forever Resorts under the ownership of a significant South African investment group while retaining the hospitality company’s existing brand and operating identity.

Forever Resorts retains its established hospitality brand

The partnership provides a shared understanding of South Africa’s diverse landscapes, communities and consumers, creating a foundation for the next phase of the business under new ownership. Forever Resorts also said the acquisition combines its established heritage and market presence with the local investment and market knowledge of Benus Trade and Invest

Despite the change in ownership, Forever Resorts will continue operating under its existing name, with its resorts, hotels and guest offerings remaining central to the business.

The group operates 16 resorts, hotels, lodges and retreats across South Africa, spanning destinations including Warmbaths, Gariep, Leopard’s Trail, Loskopdam, Phalaborwa Safari Park and Plettenberg.

Its portfolio extends beyond accommodation, with conference centres, wedding and function venues, water parks, spas and other leisure facilities forming part of its hospitality offering.

The company said the continuity of the Forever Resorts brand will ensure that its established properties and guest experiences remain at the centre of its operations under the new ownership structure.

Community Investment Holdings expands hospitality exposure

Benus Trade and Invest is associated with Community Investment Holdings, a South African investment group founded in 1995 by Professor Anna Mokgokong and Joe Madungandaba.

CIH describes itself as a 100% black-owned, women-led investment group with group turnover of R20 billion.

Its portfolio includes investments and businesses such as Afrocentric, which includes Medscheme, Temp Coal and Jasco Electronics.

The acquisition gives the investment group exposure to South Africa’s hospitality and leisure sector through a business with a nationwide portfolio of resorts and tourism-focused properties.

For Forever Resorts, the transaction brings the business under the ownership of a locally focused investment partner as it seeks to build on its existing operations and pursue additional growth opportunities.

Forever Resorts targets next phase of growth

Anna Mokgokong is the executive chairperson of Community Investment Holdings, one of the largest Black-owned investment groups in South Africa, and chairs Tamasa Energy Group among a portfolio of commercial board positions. She serves on the boards of multiple JSE-listed companies and has been a consistent voice in South African business leadership circles for more than two decades.

Forever Resorts Managing Director Eugene van Jaarsveldt said the acquisition creates opportunities for the company’s continued strategic development while allowing it to build on the strength of its existing business. He said Forever Resorts has been part of South Africa’s hospitality landscape for several decades and that the company intends to preserve that heritage while exploring new avenues for growth.

Under the new ownership, the resort operator plans to continue developing its established reputation while working with Benus Trade and Invest to identify opportunities to expand the business. The transaction marks a new chapter for Forever Resorts while maintaining the brand, properties and hospitality offerings that have defined the group’s presence in South Africa’s tourism and leisure market.