BEE verification body calls for guidelines on fronting, regulator ‘to root out bad potatoes’

The Association of Black Economic-Empowerment (BEE) Verification Agencies (ABVA) believes that fronting is rife and has, thus urged government to come up with fronting guidelines and establish a... 

Smaller-sized, higher-density housing to experience the greatest demand

Absa Home Loans senior property analyst Jacques du Toit says that housing affordability will remain a key factor in future. 

Absa home loans unit to focus on improving customer management effectiveness

Absa Retail Bank product head Saks Ntombela says that one of the institution’s home loans focus areas this year, is improving the effectiveness of its customer management activities with an aim of... 

Sexwale’s 600 000 home-loan vision seen as a tall order

Government will needs to address several pressing challenges if it is to meet its target of 600 000 houses for middle-income families by 2014, First National Bank (FNB) has cautioned. Nevertheless,... 

Retail property figures on the rise, company survey shows

In it latest retail barometer for shopping centres larger than 20 000 m2, multidisciplinary property services company Broll reports that retail sales figures in the first-quarter grew by 9,92% when... 

First sanitation technology demonstration centre launched in Pretoria

A centre that displays various sanitation technologies has been launched at the Pretoria campus of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).  

SA to realign empowerment rules to combat fronting, boost local content

Black economic-empowerment (BEE) has come under increased scrutiny over recent months. There is much criticism from all quarters, with many viewing it as a reward scheme for individuals connected... 

Black-empowered property fund makes JSE debut

The first black-managed and substantially black-owned property fund to successfully list on the JSE, Rebosis, has a market capitalisation of R2,2-billion. “The fund offers diversity to the... 

R500m Bryanston shopping centre to open in 2012

The new R500-million Nicolway Bryanston shopping centre is set to provide convenient everyday shopping with easy access from William Nicol drive. 

Ansys confident better times lie ahead

AltX-listed technology and engineering company Ansys says it is on a path to recovery after a disappointing 2010 financial year. 

Afrox opens its R198m re-engineered gases operation centre

An unsafe and unproductive site that did not meet its customers’ requirements has propelled industrial gas and welding products group African Oxygen (Afrox) has invested in a R198-million... 

Sapoa members urged to find new ways of recovering from the 2008/9 slowdown

Outgoing South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) president and Liberty Life Properties CEO Samuel Ogbu told the forty third Sapoa convention in Cape Town, earlier this month that Africa... 

Consultant lauds new code of good practice for the property sector

The recently released sector code of good practice for the property sector unveils brave new broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) targets for the industry, says BBBEE consulting firm... 

Sapoa studying 90 laws it views as impeding property sector

The South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) president Kevin Roman says that over the past year, Sapoa had been looking at over 90 pieces of legislation that it viewed as an impediment to... 

Africa needs functioning infrastructure to perform well economically

A well-functioning infrastructure is essential for Africa’s economic performance, and many argue that improving efficiencies could result in major improvements in the daily lives of people on the... 

Too early to call effect of global disasters, crises on SA economy

The effects on the South African economy of recent events in other parts of the world, such as natural disasters, political unrest and economic uncertainty, are as yet still unsure, says... 

Hostile labour environment impeding job creation, economist asserts

Poor education, a shortage of skills and an unfriendly labour environment for employers are some of the key impediments to job creation, cautions Dr Azar Jammine, director and chief economist for... 

Housing market weakness attributed to consumer stress

The property market is performing at a relatively low level at this stage in terms of price growth to a large extent driven by the financial positions of many consumers, Absa Retail Bank secured... 

CEO confidence index continues to tick up

The Merchantec CEO Confidence Index has maintained positive momentum as the first quarter survey indicated a 2,28 point increase to a score of 63,99, reflecting signs of confidence slowly returning... 

Eleven key boardroom agenda topics for 2011

The bar keeps rising for boards and directors. Board responsibilities continue to grow amid increased scrutiny of their activities and heightened expectations of their performance.  

Property developer says affordable housing market is improving

AltX-listed property developer Calgro M3 Holdings says recent improvements in the affordable housing market has helped to increase the size of its medium-term project pipeline to around R5-billion.... 

Sapoa to recognise excellence, innovation in property development

Excellence and innovation in property development is set to shine at the South African Property Owners Association’s (Sapoa’s) forty-third annual International Convention and Property Exhibition. 

Emerging property fund says commercial sector is rebounding

The Dipula Income Fund has secured over R85-million in commercial property leases during the first quarter of 2011, which resulted in a positive impact on the company’s rental income streams and... 

Property industry exploring all carbon-reducing solution

Independent property services company JHI says that, in view of the ‘green revolution,’ role players in the property industry are seriously exploring all possible avenues to contribute by reducing... 

Sexwale stresses importance of property ownership

Human Settlement Minister Tokyo Sexwale on Thursday emphasised the importance of property ownership at the 43rd South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) convention in Cape Town. “Everyone... 

Sapoa wants clarity on implications of new Consumer Protection Act for property leases

The South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) has cautioned property practitioners, rental agents and brokers to be vigilant until questions regarding property leases and the new Consumer... 

Limpopo’s largest shopping centre opens its doors to the public

The single largest real estate investment and development in the Limpopo province to date, Mall of the North, opened its doors to the region’s consumers last month. 

Investec Property lists fund on the JSE

Investec Property, a division of Investec Bank has re-entered into the listed property sector through the listing of the Investec Property Fund on the Real Estate Holdings and Development sector of... 

Holistic approach to infrastructure design vital in tackling risks posed by climate change, urban growth

The need to address risks posed by climate change, urban growth and other factors need to be addressed holistically, through a multidisciplinary and integrated approach to design, if solutions are... 

Real estate market bounces back to double-digit growth

South Africa’s commercial real estate market has bounced back to double-digit yearly performance with a 13,3% what?, from 2009’s 11-year low of 8,8%, according to the South African Property Owners... 

Drought relief interventions help avert water shortages in Eastern Cape municipality

Drought relief interventions amounting to R31-million last year have prevented the drought-stricken Ndlambe local municipality from to experiencing water shortages during peak season demand, for... 

Israeli technology said to be capable of reducing costs of operating, maintaining wastewater facilities by 70%

Israel based Mapal Green Energy states that its Floating Fine-Bubble Aeration System can significantly reduce the operations and maintenance cost of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment... 

R11bn development planned for Cape Town’s Century City

New development estimated to cost R11-billion is in the pipeline for Century City, in Cape Town, where total investment to date has topped R16-billion. 

Absa Welcomes reduction in transfer duty rates

Absa has welcomed the reduction of transfer duty rates as announced in the Budget Speech by the Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan. 

Sandton skyline ‘rapidly evolving’ as shopping centre extension progresses

The skyline of the Sandton central business district is rapidly evolving with the swift progress of the Sandton City Shopping Centre extension.  

Tembisa seeks to draw lessons from some of Soweto’s rejuvenation successes

Tembisa (promise in the Nguni language), north-east of Johannesburg, is receiving a facelift, that seeks to reverse apartheid-style planning from a dormitory-type of township to an area that meets... 

City of Joburg launches new CBD rejuvenation initiative

City of Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo says the launch of an Inner City Property Scheme (ICPS) is part of a broader strategy by the city to ensure that its goals of urban renewal and rejuvenation... 

Tembisa seeks to draw lessons from some of Soweto’s rejuvenation successes

Tembisa (‘promise’, in the Nguni language), north-east of Johannesburg, is receiving a facelift that seeks to reverse apartheid-style planning from a dormitory-type of township to an area that... 

Objections lead to delays in the awarding of tender for Durban’s R950m Western Aqueduct project

The awarding of the tender for the construction of Phase 2 of eThekwini Water and Sanitation’s (EWS) R950-million Western Aqueduct (WA) project has been delayed. 

R200m corporate park also benefiting from wastewater works developed by Gauteng’s Lanseria Airport

Lanseria Airport has developed and commissioned a wastewater treatment works (WWTW) plant, which has attracted the participation of Lanseria Corporate Estate.