It's inherently not 4x4 music, there's no kicks. I've always seen it as "weightless" house, in a way. Similar to how there was a weightless grime thing.
If you watch videos of actual South African DJ's playing it, it is almost always a daytime thing, well lit, at a Cafe or rooftop bar or something. It does not appear to be something that is being played in dark red light basements, at least at the source. so that matches you guys' description of it being balearic or mood based rather than straight up boom-boom dance music.