10 minute read

Networking

from South African Property Review Dec19-Jan2020

from South African Property Review Dec19-Jan2020, page 82

Off the wall Holograms You Can...

SAPOA Western Cape’s end-ofyear get-together, hosted by Rabie

SAPOA Western Cape Chairman Simon Nicks welcomed guests to the final networking event of the year, which was held at Century City Square on 14 November and hosted by Rabie Property Group

Words and photographs by Mark Pettipher

SAPOA Western Cape Chairman Simon Nicks

Simon Nicks outlined that it had been a tough year, both for the property industry and for South Africa as a country, and acknowledged the team that keeps SAPOA going. He reiterated that SAPOA’s role is to be a facilitator between the industry and the local government. He mentioned that the Mayoral Committee was finding it more difficult to meet, and that SAPOA would need to be more innovative in finding ways of engaging with Cape Town’s city council.

Looking forward to 2020, SAPOA will be holding a Budget Breakfast with Brian Kantor in February, where the question of transport and the challenges of dealing with the city council will be hashed out.

Nicks then handed over to Rabie CEO Colin Anderson, who also welcomed the guests. He told us that the Century City

FROM LEFT: Natalie Du Preez (Rabie), Rabie CEO Colin Anderson, Christiaan Barnard (Spear REIT Limited) and Lara Schenk (Improvon)

development is not only a place to work, but also a place with opportunities to live and play.

He highlighted that Rabie has opened its “Long March to Freedom” – a hundred bronze statues depicting and paying homage to icons of South Africa over the past 350 years. It is one of the largest collections of statues in the world. There followed a lucky prize draw, which was won by Christiaan Barnard of Spear REIT Limited and Engela de Villiers of Abland.

Limpopo Breakfast Seminar

The country’s economy is showing signs of improvement, and if educated and employable people are produced by the system, confidence in government institutions is restored and jobs are created, there is no reason why the economy cannot grow to a sustainable level. This was the opinion expressed by Nedbank economist Isaac Matshego, when he addressed guests at the Limpopo Breakfast Seminar at the Pietersburg Club on 15 October 2019. He also said the ball is now in the hands of the people, and that the government cannot be the only entity expected to provide job opportunities

Words and photographs by Barry Viljoen/Polokwane Observer

FROM LEFT The two speakers – SAPOA-appointed town planner Jaco du Plessis and Nedbank economist Isaac Matshego – with SAPOA CEO Neil Gopal and SAPOA Limpopo Chair Paul Altenroxel

Town-planning expert Jaco du Plessis, appointed by SAPOA as an adviser, said property owners and prospective investors can only be attracted if the city’s long-term water challenges are addressed adequately. He urged Polokwane Municipality to do all it can to resolve the short- and long-term water challenges.

Du Plessis said that despite the current water challenges, there are some exciting developments coming to Polokwane in the near future – such as the 488- bed academic hospital that is to be constructed at a cost of R3,9-billion during the 2019/2020 financial year.

“The funds will come from the national budget, and the estimated operational expenditure will be R1,3 billion, creating 2 917 job opportunities,” Du Plessis said, adding that the project could add R2,3- billion in new business sales and R900- million in gross geographical product.

Other projects that will also have a positive impact on the city’s economy include the Leeto la Polokwane public transport system. “Construction of SANRAL’s N1 bypass road, which resumed in September, will also create many local jobs and spin-offs,” said Du Plessis. SAPOA is participating in, among other projects, the municipality’s annual review of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), the Spatial Development Framework, the Local Economic Development Strategy and the review of municipal policies.

Networking

Frikkie Brooks of Brooks Facilitation Services

Dube Tradeport CEO Hamish Erskine

Planning for optimal impact in KwaZulu-Natal

At the Dube Tradeport breakfast seminar and networking event on 23 October, SAPOA KwaZulu-Natal delegates were privileged to listen to the highly entertaining and informative Frikkie Brooks of Brooks Facilitation Services, a valued member of the KZN Provincial Planning Commission

Words by Anne Schauffer Photographs by Val Adamson

Nobody would argue that the great breakfast enjoyed by delegates at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club was a mere entrée to Frikkie Brooks’s brilliant presentation and commentary on “Planning for Optimal Impact”. His lively, shoot-from-the-hip delivery, extensively researched presentation and willingness to share his deep knowledge and experience after 40 years in government planning structures had everybody deep in discussion long after they should have been back at their own grindstone.

The morning kicked off with Hamish Erskine, CEO of the sponsor Dube Tradeport, who provided good insight into the progress and vast opportunities that the Durban Aerotropolis offers, and stressed the potential that this project offers not only to Durban but to the entire province. It was officially launched a few weeks ago to senior ministers and, more recently, to the president.

Erskine pointed out that Durban is the fifth wealthiest city on the continent, and the primary access point to the SADC market. Referring to the recent visit by the president, he said that the Chamber of Commerce worked very hard to get the port of Durban working properly again. The Aerotropolis’s comprehensive booklet details key elements of its 50- year masterplan, and the new app allows users to scan across the main pages and bring out augmented reality elements, providing more detail of the zones.

Erskine also spoke about Dube Tradeport’s new visitors’ centre with its full scale model of the Aerotropolis and similar augmented reality elements. Connectivity was a solid theme, and he highlighted its importance to the world on every level, as the only way a city can grow.

“Tourism is the lowest-hanging fruit,” he said. “Greece used it during its financial crisis, to claw its way back. KZN has this opportunity to make Durban the entry point – we have the most amazing product, but it needs a central point from where that product is served.”

He urged the property industry to engage more extensively with the city and its new management, and to be part of the creation of these catalytic zones.

Frikkie Brooks had everybody laughing from the outset. “One thing I can brag about is that I’ve survived eight different premiers in KZN!” That aside, he’s very pleased to have been invited to serve as a member of the

planning commission – and he certainly has a wealth of experience to contribute. As somebody deeply involved in planning over the past four decades, he says that the thing that’s distinguished KZN from all others is the silver thread that has cut through everything – the provincial growth and development strategy plan. After all those years of planning the theory, he said, “I’m equally glad to be involved in a number of catalytic projects, like the Cato Ridge project. Now I can apply all that planning at project level – because nothing will come to fruition if we don’t get the strategies and plans on the ground through meaningful projects.”

He began his presentation with a slide entitled ”In an Ideal World”, which listed some ideal scenarios: that of government collaborating with the private sectorand NGOs/ NPOs through reliable and effective stakeholder engagement structures; budget allocations that have optimal impact; intergovernmental relations that are fully functional; and all government and non-government agencies having the capacity to meet their obligations, and striving to achieve a common vision.

Wishful thinking? He wasn’t so sure. “We’re not there, but how close are we?” he said, acknowledging that we’d most probably never get there – but that many governments don’t. “Still, that’s what we need to strive for,” he said.

Brooks also focused on the Provincial Spatial Development Framework, the progress made with implementation, and then, importantly, catalytic projects. “Those are the ones that are starting to get us where we want to be, but we won’t get there without the infrastructure,” he said. “We are a major gateway into Africa, but will we be able to retain that into the future?” He sees two major disruptive factors as potential obstacles to our goals. “One is the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which could sink us if we get it wrong,” he said. “And it is coming, like it or not. The second is climate change. If we can’t manage the changes, we may lose our competitive advantage.”

His presentation delved into all the factors – good, bad and ugly – that form part of the current KZN landscape. But he’s an optimist. “Are we getting there? We are not just getting there, we are excelling at the moment,” he said.“ We get so embroiled in the negativity that we start to believe everything’s bad, because we don’t get to see things that are beyond our line of sight.”

It was a successful networking morning. Brooks’s presentation elicited a raft of probing questions and extensive answers. From the massive complexities of the Ingonyama Trust Board lands to alternative funding models, mechanisms and responsibilities for bulk services for developments like Cato Ridge, the Q&A session was stimulating and informative.

As SAPOA KZN’s Regional Councillor, Bernadette Khumalo said, in wrapping up and giving thanks to both Brooks and Erskine, that it had been a worthwhile and very fruitful morning.

Gauteng Brokers’ Forum

On 24 October 2019, the Johannesburg Land Company (JLC) hosted the Gauteng Brokers’ Networking Forum at the Bryte Insurance Building in Marshall Street, Johannesburg

Compiled by Jenny Rose/SAPOA Gauteng Brokers Committee

Founded in Johannesburg in 2002, the JLC is one of Johannesburg’s leading property investment, management and development groups. The group owns and manages 160 000m2 of prime commercial space in the heart of the Johannesburg CBD – or Inner City, as it has become known – and has rights to develop approximately 220 000m2 of additional premises.

JLC is a specialist in, and a committed promoter of, the Inner City. It was instrumental in the formation of Main Street Mall, which has won several awards. There were two guest speakers who presented to all in attendance. Anne Steffny, Director of the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership, is passionate about working with the public and the private sector towards the development of “Special Places”, and the sustainable urban management thereof. She shared some insights on Johannesburg with the delegates present.

Councillor Graham de Kock, sitting Councillor at the City of Johannesburg, Chair of the Section 79 Oversight Committee on Development Planning and the Johannesburg Development Agency, and Deputy Chief Whip of Council, was the second speaker. He highlighted the value of public-private partnerships, and shared the vision of the Council and the 2040 Spatial Development Framework.

After the presentations, all 60 brokers in attendance headed up to the building’s rooftop for a bird’s-eye view of the city. This was followed by beer tasting and networking at the Mad Giant Brewery.

We would like to express gratitude to Johannesburg Land Company for their generous contribution to making the event possible.

Anne Steffny, Director of the Johannesburg Inner City Partnership