INDUSTRY FOCUS: PROPERTY
difficult enough trying to develop in Johannesburg when you are based in Cape Town so we certainly will not be rushing,” he adds. Just last year, various market research and businesses development organisations recommended that successful SA companies look beyond the country’s borders for significant growth opportunities in order to mitigate against the weak economic backdrop in South Africa. Lacking confidence, corruption, political uncertainty and shortages of water, as well as massive unemployment, continue to drive negative feeling in the economy, and business over a range of markets could be the perfect extenuation. However, despite economic conditions, Ehlers remains positive about the future in South Africa. “I have the philosophy of ‘when everybody’s scared you become brave’,” he says. “There are always opportunities.
When people start sitting on their hands land becomes cheaper and competition becomes less. Without being overoptimistic, there is still enough opportunity and we can see that through the developments we are rolling out now and the pipeline that we have.
“Property projects take years to get out of the ground so if you don’t start now, by the time there is an upturn, you’ll be caught behind. “We have gone through our challenges politically but we have a good strong president now and I am
Hein Ehlers
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