IN a first of its kind event at Durban’s ICC recently, three leading property organisations joined forces with government with the aim of fast-tracking transformation in the multi-billion-rand sector in KwaZulu-Natal.
The breakfast, hosted jointly by the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), Women’s Property Network (WPN) and the South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP). was sponsored by Beier Group and the Durban ICC.
Keynote speakers shared insights on land expropriation, bulk infrastructure, catalytic projects and other challenges facing the industry on a national level.
“We wanted to break down the stereotypes and show a united front in KZN,” said Bernadette Khumalo, regional chairperson of SAPOA in KZN and CEO of Rokwil Civils. “Each association faces and deals with the same challenges and working together on common issues is better than each trying its own approach.”
Queen Mjwara, KZN chairperson for WPN said, “Considering the property sector charter and its codes, we are making slow progress towards the benchmark. This breakfast was a reminder for our three organisations to prioritise and drive transformation in the property industry.”
National keynote speakers were Portfolio Committee Acting Chair and ANC Whip, PJ Mnguni from Land Reform and Rural Development, and eThekwini Municipality Deputy City Manager of Economic Development, Phillip Sithole.
Key topics for Sithole included urban renewal, improving bad building practices, redressing the social housing backlog and public space management to attract investors and tourists. He said the City was committed to working with the private sector and had already hired a head of catalytic projects to assist with unlocking developments and the necessary bulk infrastructure.
The KZN Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs’ Provincial Acting Deputy Director General and Chief Director, Dr Sixtus Sibeta, spoke about transformation and empowerment.
SAIBPP Director and KZN Chairperson, Andile Mnguni who is also a Portfolio Executive for Tongaat Hulett Developments said, “The breakfast was a great success providing us with the platform for government at all levels to share and advise on the latest developments and challenges facing them to strengthen and build relationships between government and private sector organisations.”
Approximately 200 people attended the event and the mix of delegates included brokers, attorneys, executive property developers, banks, property owners, managing and estate agents, eThekwini municipal officials and executives from government owned enterprises such as Dube Tradeport and Transnet.