SAPOA helps Namibian property owners establish industry body
The South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) is assisting the Namibian property owners in establishing the Namibian Property Association (NPA), an industry organisation similar to SAPOA.
Last week, NPA’s first President, Ben Jooste, attended the 2023 SAPOA Annual Convention at Sun City.
SAPOA CEO Neil Gopal says the organisation assisted the NPA in signing memorandum of understanding (MoU) arrangements with the universities of Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and the CEA (Career Excel Academy) to provide property courses for the NPA.
“The purpose of the MoU is to record that the NPA and the educational institutions are serious about negotiating with one another to agree to terms of which the educational institutions shall provide certain educational services to the NPA,” Gopal says.
Last week, SAPOA, which celebrated 57 years in 2023, named its elected board members – Chief Executive Officer of Attacq Mrs Jackie van Niekerk as its new President, Vukile Property Fund Managing Director Itumeleng Mothibeli as the SAPOA President Elect, SAPOA CEO Neil Gopal, Pareto CEO Malose Kekana, Redefine CEO Andrew König, Fortress Managing Director Steven Brown, Equites Chief Financial Officer Leila Razack, SA Corporate Chief Operating Officer Nomzamo Radebe, and Dipula Income Fund Financial Director Sudesh Moodley.
SAPOA represents almost 90% of the country’s commercial and industrial real estate owners and promotes member interests by representing them on matters affecting the property industry at national and local government levels.
The association also provides an extensive programme of educational activities, conventions, seminars, and workshops on matters of topical interest.
The NPA President, Mr Ben Jooste, who is also the Managing Director of Oryx Properties Limited in Windhoek Namibia, stated that the Namibian market is desirous to invest and focus on skills development for the sector.
He indicated that the NPA would like to support the Namibian property sector to :
– Increase knowledge and skills in the property industry.
– Ensure that the content of programs/workshops and other educational interventions are aligned with the Namibian property industry needs.
– Raise the employability and/or competence of the practitioners and professionals in the industry.
– Reduce the costs for local companies to upskill employees in the property sector.
