Useful links

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

SA Property Owners Association
The voice of commercial property.
Apart from hosting an annual convention, Sapoa offers various educational courses, and issues publications. Contact chief executive officer Neil Gopal at (011) 883-0679 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Its website address is www.sapoa.org.za.

SA Institute of Black Property Practitioners
The SA Institute of Black Property Practitioners has become increasingly active. Its publications are available on www.saibpp.org.za or contact (011) 838-6722. E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Women's Property Network (WPN)
This networking forum has grown considerably, with chapters in Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape. Visit its website at www.wpn.co.za or contact the WPN National Co-ordiantor Nicky Chetty on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SA Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC)
The council publishes a detailed shopping-centre directory, with information about retail malls throughout SA. Its annual shopping-centre convention takes place in October every year. Call (011) 884-8940 or visit its website is www.sacsc.co.za.

SA Institute of Valuers
The professional association of valuers maintains a website at www.saiv.org.za with pertinent information. Alternatively, contact its general secretary, C S van Staden, at (031) 464 6932.

African Real Estate Society (Afres)
Afres is a continent-wide organisation to promote education, networking and research throughout Africa. Details of Afres's activities are available at www.afres.org.za.

The Property Charter
The property charter has a website, www.propertycharter.co.za, on which updates and other information are posted occasionally.

LISTED PROPERTY IN SA

Association of Property Unit Trusts (Aput)
Its website, www.put.co.za, offers a range of information. Contact James Templeton at (011) 775-1000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Property Loan Stock Association
The industry body's Web address is www.propertyloanstock.co.za, or contact chairman Norbert Sasse at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (011) 286-7303.

RESEARCH & ANALYSIS

Investment Property Databank (IPD) SA
IPD publishes industry investment benchmarks, and it provides useful, disaggregated data for asset managers and investors. It is part of an international benchmarking organisation and has helped bring SA property closer to international standards of performance measurement. It holds a highly rated property-investment conference every year around October. Go to www.ipdindex.co.uk, or contact Stan Garrun at (011) 883-4977 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Viruly Consulting
A consulting firm of property economists and advisers, headed by Francois Viruly, a professor of real estate at the University of the Witwatersrand. Call (011) 728-0751 or visit www.viruly.co.za; e-mail Francois at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Rode & Associates
The oldest property consultancy in SA, Rode & Associates has some of the most comprehensive databases of SA property indicators. Contact Erwin Rode at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (021) 946-2480, or visit the website at www.rode.co.za.

Urban Studies
Property and urban market researchers, and specialists in retail property. Contact MD Dirk Prinsloo at (011) 888-2169. Visit the website at www.urbanstudies.co.za or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Market Decisions
A retail research house, Market Decisions specialises in store location and relocation analysis, customer demographics, and research into retail market potential. Contact MD Sheny Medani at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , call (011) 326-3090, or visit its website at www.marketdecisions.co.za.

Urban Econ
Development economists. Contact MD Judex Oberholzer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (012) 342-8686, or visit www.urban-econ.com.

Douglas Parker & Associates
Research specialists in retail, tourism, casino and gaming sectors. Visit its website at www.douglasparker.co.za.
Contact Shelley Howell at (021) 762-0570 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bureau of Economic Research (BER)
BER publishes quarterly reports on the construction sector. Contact Ester Manefeldt at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit its website at www.ber.sun.ac.za, or call (021) 887-2810.

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN SA

Estate Agency Affairs Board
The EAAB is the industry regulator responsible for the training and licensing of estate agents.
Contact CEO Nomonde Mapetla on (011) 731-5600, visit its website at www.eaab.org.za, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Institute of Estate Agents
The IEA is the professional association for estate agents in SA.
National co-ordinator Kate Colsell can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (021) 531-2074.
Visit the institute's website at www.ieasa.org.za.

Residential Property Owners' Association
Respoa is the residential arm of Sapoa. Contact Joe Pelser at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on (011) 267-5757.

Property Owners & Managers Association (Poma)
Poma is dedicated to ethical inner-city property management and ownership. Contact president Brian Miller at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (011) 484-7530.

Social Housing Foundation
As the custodian of social housing in SA, the SHF makes available resources and support to players throughout the sector. Contact financial process consultant Timothy Tau at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , call (011) 274-6200, or visit its website, www.shf.org.za.

Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC)
Headed by Taffy Adler, the Johannesburg Housing Company was recently awarded a UN Habitat Award for its innovative and successful approach to this segment. Visit www.jhc.co.za, call (011) 241-6900, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

URBAN REGENERATION

Johannesburg Development Agency
The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) is responsible for kick-starting urban economic activity throughout the city.
Contact Adam Goldsmith at (011) 688-7850 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Visit its website at www.jda.org.za.

Blue IQ
Gauteng economic project office with 11 catalytic projects to develop. Contact Jameel Chand at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , call (011) 689-1600, or visit its website at www.blueiq.co.za.

Central Johannesburg Partnership (CJP)
Under the leadership of Johannesburg urban revitalisation doyen Neil Fraser, the CJP was the first initiative to establish city improvement districts (CIDs).
Contact executive director Anne Stefny at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , call (011) 688-7800 or visit www.cjp.co.za.

Trust for Urban Housing Finance (Tuhf)
It will finance the purchase of properties only in the Johannesburg suburbs of Joubert Park, Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville.
CEO Paul Jackson and his team understand more about property than most of their borrowers, and offer vital advice along with their funds.
Contact CEO Paul Jackson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , call (011) 276-1440, or visit its website at www.tuhf.org.za.

Cape Town Partnership
Led by Andrew Boraine, the Cape Town Partnership creates improvement districts and works with urban management.
Telephone (021) 419-1881 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Visit the Partnership's website at www.capetownpartnership.co.za.

Urban Development Zones
An initiative of the treasury, urban development zones (UDZ) are designated urban regeneration areas that offer accelerated depreciation allowances as an incentive for new development and refurbishment projects. UDZs have been approved in Johannesburg and Cape Town. For Johannesburg, call Lebo Ramoreboli at (011) 358-3437 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
For Cape Town, call Peter Henshall-Howard at (021) 400-2049 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

LOCAL ONLINE RESOURCES
Online data, reports, research and information for the local property market.

SA Cities Network
This website has a wealth of information on SA cities. It is essential reading for developers. Visit www.sacities.net.

E.Prop Online
E.Prop Online is a news and information website that was previously part of Sapoa.
The website address is www.eprop.co.za, with subsidiary address www.thepropertyinvestor.co.za.

SA Reserve Bank
The Reserve Bank offers a wealth of information for property-related analysis. Visit www.reservebank.co.za to get it all online.

SA Property Transfer Guide
This is a useful database for tracking data from the deeds office as well as monitoring sales and prices. Visit its website at www.saptg.co.za.

Development Bank of SA
The DBSA acts as a financier, adviser and partner for projects throughout Southern Africa. Go to www.dbsa.org.

Absa Housing Price Index
Visit www.absa.co.za, click on economic research, then choose the property research option for both current and archived reports.

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
The following are merely a sample of many overseas property websites. See also the global property page.

Cities Alliance
SA is a member of the Cities Alliance, a global coalition of cities targeting poverty reduction. Visit www.citiesalliance.org.

National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit) |
This organisation represents the interests of the US listed-property sector and posts a wide range of news, research and seminars on its website at www.nareit.org.

BOMA
The Building Owners Managers Association. Visit its website at www.boma.org.

Urban Land Institute
Visit this excellent resource at www.uli.org.

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Department of Human Settlements
Information or updates on the Rental Housing Act, the Housing Act or the highly controversial Prevention of Illegal Evictions From Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, can be found on www.housing.gov.za or call 0800 1 HOUSE (46873).

Land Affairs Department
The website of the land affairs department offers a wealth of excellent data, such as geographic information systems, spatial planning information, and details about land claims.
The land affairs department's website is at land.pwv.gov.za. Call (012) 312-8911 or (021) 426-2947.

Public Works Department
The property and construction charters are both managed through this department.
Visit www.publicworks.gov.za or call (012) 337-2255.

METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT

City of Johannesburg
Website is www.joburg.org.za, or call (011) 375-5555.

City of Cape Town
Website is www.capetown.org.za, or call (021) 400-1111.

Tshwane Bunicipality
Website is www.tshwane.gov.za, or call (012) 358-7911.

Ethekwini Municipality
Website at www.durban.gov.za, or call Obed Mlaba on (031) 311-1111.

Ekurhuleni Municipality
Website at www.ekurhuleni.com. Click on customer care centres to find the contact number for your centre of interest.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
A lively website for the former Port Elizabeth area. Visit www.mandelametro.gov.za or call (041) 506-5555.

EDUCATION, TRAINING & ACADEMIC

YDL Property Investment
YDL offers workshops on the property market. Call Yvonne de Leeuw on (011) 465-7356 or visit www.ydl.co.za.

Property Studies At University
Information can be obtained from Chris Cloete on (012) 420-4545 at the University of Pretoria; Francois Viruly on (011) 717-7658 at the University of the Witwatersrand; or Valmond Ghyoot at Unisa on (012) 429-3111. At the University of Cape Town, contact Paul Bowen at (021) 650-3445.