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Fortress Real Estate Investments reaffirms distributable earnings forecast for FY2026 and provides FY2027 guidance
Fortress Real Estate Investments has reaffirmed its FY2026 distributable earnings guidance of at least R2.15 billion, while forecasting a further 7.4% increase in FY2027. Strong demand for logistics and retail assets continues to drive performance, with vacancies falling to 2.3% and retail vacancies remaining exceptionally low at 0.8%. Supported by a robust development pipeline, strategic acquisitions, energy investments and R7.6 billion in available liquidity, Fortress remains well positioned for continued growth.
First businesses secured for the new Rietvlei Business Park
Rietvlei Business Park in Pretoria East has reached a key milestone as Abland Property Developers welcomes its first long-term occupiers. Rugged SA has opened a 2,200sqm showroom, office and warehouse facility, while Package It will begin operating from a 6,700sqm warehouse in July 2026. Positioned at the R21 Nellmapius Drive interchange, the park offers premium-grade industrial space, strong accessibility and exceptional highway visibility for growing businesses in Pretoria East’s market.
The Marine reopens its doors, revealing a refined new chapter of coastal elegance
The Marine in Hermanus, one of South Africa’s landmark seaside hotels, has reopened after a refurbishment of its ground-floor public areas. The refresh reimagines reception, the cocktail bar, Pavilion Restaurant and connecting spaces, preserving the historic building’s character while introducing understated luxury. Inspired by Hermanus’s fynbos landscape, the design blends hand-painted botanical murals, warm lighting, terracotta floors and contemporary finishes to renew the hotel’s timeless elegance and coastal hospitality experience.
Brahman Hills breaks ground on one of Africa’s most ambitious wellness developments
Ground has been broken for the expansion of the Healing Earth™ Transformative Wellness Spa at Brahman Hills — set to become Africa’s first fully integrated spa and garden wellness destination. The multi-million-rand development will extend into Brahman Hills’ record-breaking 22-hectare Serenity Garden labyrinth, weaving together treatment spaces, thermal rituals, reflective walking paths and garden rooms. Rooted in regenerative Blue Zone principles, the spa reopens towards the end of 2026.
GrandWest Mall development breaks ground
Flanagan & Gerard and GrandWest have broken ground on the R650 million GrandWest Mall, a 22,000m² convenience shopping centre within Cape Town’s GrandWest precinct. With over 70% of space already let, the mall will include Checkers FreshX, SuperSpar, Dis-Chem, Clicks and leading fashion retailers. Designed with Western Cape inspiration, the development prioritises local procurement, community employment and integration with GrandWest’s entertainment, dining and leisure offering.
Managed rentals hold key to agency growth
South Africa’s rental market remains resilient, with strong demand, low vacancies and high agency optimism supporting confidence in 2026. However, PayProp warns that stabilising rent growth and strained tenant affordability mean agents must look beyond market conditions to grow successfully. Expanding managed rental portfolios, investing in automation and adopting trusted PropTech and AI tools will be critical to building scalable, sustainable and more profitable agency businesses over the year ahead.
The fixer-upper: financial trap or untapped treasure?
South Africans are increasingly seeing fixer-uppers as accessible entry points into the property market, but BetterBond warns that renovations should be planned with long-term value in mind. Bradd Bendall says buyers should prioritise upgrades that improve liveability and resale appeal, from energy and water independence to kitchens, bathrooms, curb appeal and functional space conversions, while budgeting carefully for hidden costs, delays and financing risks.
Investing in Women-Led contractors is investing in infrastructure resilience
South Africa’s infrastructure future depends on building a stronger, more diverse contractor base, with women-led firms playing a critical role. The cidb argues that sustainable empowerment requires more than access, demanding investment in skills development, technology, mentorship, finance and market opportunities. Through initiatives such as the BUILD Programme and ERWIC Awards, the organisation aims to strengthen capability, accelerate transformation and support women-led contractors in delivering resilient infrastructure and long-term industry growth.
The EQ of AI – why it will enhance, not replace, property agents, says Seeff
Artificial intelligence is set to transform the real estate industry by automating routine tasks, accelerating property searches, improving marketing and streamlining transactions. However, according to Seeff chairman Samuel Seeff, AI will enhance rather than replace property professionals. While technology can improve efficiency and provide valuable market insights, the complexity, emotional nature and financial significance of property transactions mean that human expertise, negotiation skills and local market knowledge remain indispensable.
cidb Opens ERWIC Awards Entries with New Academics Category
The Construction Industry Development Board has opened entries for the 2026 Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction Awards, introducing a new category recognising female academics and researchers in the built environment. The awards aim to advance transformation, innovation and skills development while highlighting women’s contributions to South Africa’s construction sector. With women representing only 10% of the industry workforce, the programme seeks to promote greater inclusion, visibility and leadership opportunities.
Etana Energy, Growthpoint Properties and the City of Cape Town pioneer pooled renewable electricity wheeling
Growthpoint Properties, Etana Energy and the City of Cape Town have achieved a South African first with the successful implementation of pooled renewable electricity wheeling across multiple properties on the municipal grid. The initiative allows renewable energy generated remotely to be allocated across a portfolio of buildings, improving flexibility, scalability and efficiency. The project marks an important milestone in the property sector’s transition to cleaner energy and positions Cape Town at the forefront of municipal energy innovation.
Vukile accelerates growth through retail excellence and European expansion
Vukile Property Fund reported strong FY2026 growth, with funds from operations and dividends per share rising 9.3%. Its portfolio expanded to R63.7 billion across South Africa, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, with 66% located in Europe. Strong retail performance, low vacancies, and strategic acquisitions supported growth. Through Castellana and new Italian investments, Vukile strengthened its European presence while maintaining a robust balance sheet and positive growth outlook.
Launch of Restilridge Farm Estate ushers in a new era of coastal farm living
Renishaw Coastal Precinct has launched Restilridge Farm Estate, a secure coastal residential offering within the 1,300-hectare Scottburgh development. Blending restored Crookes Brothers pioneer homes with modern farm-style residences and sectional-title units, the estate combines heritage, conservation-led planning and lifestyle amenities. With trails, equestrian facilities, clubhouse, solar-ready design and self-reliant services, Restilridge targets families, retirees and investors seeking community-focused KZN Mid-South Coast living.
ABB and Samsung partner to connect building intelligence with enterprise IoT
ABB and Samsung Electronics have expanded their partnership by integrating ABB Ability™ BuildingPro with Samsung SmartThings Pro, creating a connected platform for smarter building management. The solution enables building owners and operators to access real-time data, analytics and controls across lighting, climate, energy and access systems through a unified interface. The collaboration also extends to hospitality environments, helping improve operational efficiency, enhance guest experiences and support sustainability goals through intelligent building technologies.
Gauteng’s rescue starts beyond its borders
John Loos warns that fixing Gauteng and Johannesburg requires looking beyond provincial borders. While Gauteng remains South Africa’s biggest economic engine, its weakening labour absorption and infrastructure pressures are tied to underperforming inland neighbours. Stronger regional economies, smaller cities and surrounding provinces are needed to spread population growth, deepen economic capacity and reduce over-reliance on Gauteng and the Western Cape as dominant growth and employment engines long into the future nationally.
SA REITs hold steady in May as a busy results period confirms stronger balance sheets and recovering distributions
South African REITs delivered a modest 0.7% return in May 2026, supported by improving distributions, stronger balance sheets and lower funding costs across much of the sector. While the South African Reserve Bank’s unexpected rate hike tempered sentiment, the underlying recovery in listed property remains intact. Corporate activity accelerated, offshore expansion continued and rolling 12-month distribution growth held at 9.4%, reinforcing confidence in the sector’s longer-term prospects.
NAD malls bring the FIFA World Cup closer to home
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gathers momentum, New Africa Developments’ community malls are giving shoppers a front-row seat to the action. From Mams Mall to Acornhoek, Dwarsloop and Jumbo Mall, big screens are turning everyday shopping trips into shared football moments. Free, familiar and close to home, these centres continue to serve as places where communities gather, celebrate and belong throughout the tournament as excitement builds across South Africa.
Property auction market poised for 50% growth as Galetti records R328m in May sales
South Africa’s property auction market is evolving beyond traditional sales platforms, driven by data, targeted marketing and stronger industry engagement. Galetti Corporate Real Estate’s move to a new auction venue in Rosebank reflects this shift, creating a more interactive environment for buyers, sellers and investors. With auction activity gaining momentum and transaction volumes growing, success increasingly depends on market intelligence, strategic positioning and relationships that connect the right opportunities with the right buyers.
Reside Summit 2026 proves housing is no longer a siloed conversation
The Reside Summit 2026 highlighted a growing shift in South Africa’s residential property sector: collaboration is becoming essential. Bringing together developers, financiers, municipalities and investors, the summit explored affordable housing, climate-smart development, construction technology and institutional investment. Speakers stressed that solving the country’s housing backlog will require integrated partnerships, scalable delivery models and faster implementation. The message was clear — residential property can no longer operate in fragmented silos.
Fritz Swanepoel: A commercial leader reframing Leapfrog’s growth story
Fritz Swanepoel’s appointment as CEO of Leapfrog Property Group signals a strategic shift toward performance-driven growth and operational discipline. With a background in insurance and large-scale sales leadership, he brings a systems-focused approach to a changing residential market. His leadership comes at a pivotal time as agencies evolve into data-driven, client-centric platforms within an increasingly competitive and digitally enabled property landscape.
Launch of Menlyn Mix in Pretoria redefines ‘business-meets-leisure’ accommodation
The Beekman Group has launched Menlyn Mix in Pretoria, expanding into urban hospitality to meet rising business travel demand. Positioned in the Menlyn precinct, the development blends self-catering accommodation with meeting facilities and lifestyle amenities. Targeting the growing “bleisure” market, Menlyn Mix offers business travellers a flexible, integrated environment aligned with Pretoria’s role as a key corporate and conferencing hub.
Historic Newlands (Cape Town) property selling fast, demand surges for luxury retirement
Newlands is experiencing rapid sales momentum, with homes selling in under two weeks and prices approaching R10 million on average. High-value transactions now dominate, driven by limited stock and sustained demand. A notable shift is the rise in luxury retirement living, with developments like Cannon Brewery addressing a gap for affluent downsizers seeking independent, high-end urban lifestyles in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs.
Growthpoint sharpens portfolio for growth
Growthpoint’s nine-month update points to a business sharpening its portfolio while maintaining operational resilience. Asset disposals are ahead of target, vacancies have improved across the South African portfolio, and logistics and retail remain key strengths. The V&A Waterfront continues to deliver strong performance, while disciplined capital management, improved funding margins and growing renewable energy investment support unchanged FY26 guidance for distributable income and dividend growth in a tougher market environment.
Emira delivers 4.1% full-year income growth for shareholders
Emira Property Fund delivered a resilient set of results for the year ended 31 March 2026, increasing its total dividend by 4.1% to 129.01 cents per share. The diversified REIT benefited from disciplined capital recycling, improved portfolio metrics and growing contributions from its international investments in Poland and the United States. A strengthened balance sheet, lower vacancies and continued strategic acquisitions position Emira to pursue further value-accretive growth while maintaining stable, long-term returns for shareholders.
SA REIT Association unveils Third Edition Best Practice Recommendations
The South African REIT Association has unveiled the Third Edition of its Best Practice Recommendations, introducing the most significant reporting framework update since 2019. Effective from January 2026, the revised guidelines enhance transparency, comparability and investor confidence across the sector. Key changes include the formal adoption of SA REIT Funds from Operations (FFO), standardised debt and risk metrics, and new operating measures aligned with international REIT reporting standards.
Levy arrears, AGM reporting and POPIA: How much detail should trustees disclose?
At AGM time, trustees must balance financial transparency with owners’ privacy when reporting levy arrears. PMR 26 requires annual financial statements to show arrears by member and period, while POPIA demands minimal disclosure. A practical, POPIA-compliant approach is to report arrears by section or unit number, highlight total debt, cash flow impact and recovery action, and avoid naming owners unless legally necessary at AGMs overall.
What the R3 million primary residence CGT exclusion means for South African homeowners
South Africa’s 2026/27 Budget introduces a significant tax relief measure for homeowners, increasing the primary residence CGT exclusion from R2 million to R3 million. Effective from 1 March 2026, the change reduces taxable gains on property disposals, reflecting inflationary pressures and rising house prices. While beneficial, accurate record-keeping and professional advice remain essential to fully realise the exemption’s value.
Storing fuel at home poses serious fire and legal risks
South Africans are being warned against stockpiling fuel at home as prices surge, with safety experts cautioning that storing more than regulated limits significantly increases fire risk and insurance exposure. ASP Fire highlights that petrol’s volatility, combined with improper containers, can trigger catastrophic incidents. Non-compliant storage may also void insurance claims, leaving homeowners financially exposed, while posing additional health and environmental hazards.
Click on the cover of
the new look Rode SA Property Trends to view the publication
In this issue, we report that the outlook for the SA property market is promising under the most likely future scenario. Positive factors include improved investor sentiment towards South Africa and lower interest rates resulting from the country’s new inflation target. However, don’t be overly optimistic, as political uncertainty and a potential fiscal cliff could undermine the medium-term outlook.
Click on the cover of the
Rode Retail Report
to view the publication
In this issue, we report that retail sales growth still outpaced inflation in the first quarter of 2026. Looking ahead, the short‑term outlook for consumer spending and retail sales has deteriorated, weighed down by weaker‑than‑expected economic growth and the mounting cost of living. This, of course, is due to the impact of the Middle East conflict, which triggered a sharp spike in fuel prices and related costs, some of which are yet to be seen at the till.
Click on the cover of the
Rode Report 2026:1
to view the publication
In this issue of the Rode Report, we highlight that the SA property market continued to reflect improved fundamentals in the first quarter of 2026. However, the short-term outlook has darkened due to the conlict in the Middle East.
