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.

The Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed an application challenging South Africa’s Employment Equity Amendment Act and sectoral targets, affirming their lawful implementation. The ruling supports the Department of Employment and Labour’s position that the regulations are constitutionally sound and enforceable. With no interdict in place, designated employers are now required to align their employment equity plans with the prescribed five-year sector targets, reinforcing government’s transformation agenda.

Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) has called for urgent action following the tragic building collapse in Ormonde, Johannesburg, warning that preventable failures in compliance and enforcement continue to put lives at risk. CESA CEO Chris Campbell said South Africa’s regulatory framework is sound, but weak enforcement, limited municipal capacity and deliberate non-compliance undermine safety. He urged stronger accountability, improved public awareness and better-resourced oversight to prevent similar tragedies.

SAMRRA has welcomed the President’s proposed shift toward a housing model that includes rental subsidies, recognising rental housing as central to economic participation. With 4.5 million households renting, multifamily housing is increasingly vital, particularly in well-located urban nodes near jobs and transport. The sector, managing over 75,000 units, is well positioned to scale delivery efficiently, leveraging institutional capital and proven, professionally managed rental frameworks to expand affordable housing access.

Multifamily residential rental housing is emerging as one of South Africa’s most resilient and investable property sectors, supported by stable demand, improving economic conditions and growing institutional participation. Insights shared at a recent SAMRRA institutional capital breakfast highlighted strong occupancy levels, competitive rental growth and the growing importance of credible, data-led research in positioning multifamily housing as a core component of the country’s real estate investment landscape.

The South African Institute of Valuers (SAIV) has signed a Collaboration Agreement with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), strengthening professional standards and expanding knowledge-sharing across the valuation sector. Signed on 5 November in Johannesburg, the partnership aligns South Africa with global best practice while supporting skills development, CPD expansion, youth engagement and international recognition. Both organisations emphasised decentralisation, accessibility and advancing valuation excellence across South Africa and the wider African continent.

The Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) has announced Georgina Smit as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective May 2026, succeeding Lisa Reynolds. The announcement, made at the 18th annual Green Building Convention in Cape Town, marks a pivotal leadership transition. Smit, currently GBCSA’s Head of Technical, is a respected sustainability leader committed to advancing green building, ESG, and climate resilience across South Africa’s built environment.

The Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has endorsed the Property Point Real Estate Incubator Programme, a nationwide initiative empowering young South Africans—particularly women—under 35 to build sustainable real estate careers. Having drawn nearly 3,000 applications in Gauteng and the Western Cape, with expansion into KwaZulu-Natal, the programme offers funding, training, mentorship, and licensing support. PPRA’s backing underscores its commitment to transformation, youth empowerment, and inclusivity within the property sector.

Peter Verwer, Executive Chairman of Futurefy and a leading global REIT ambassador, will deliver the keynote address at the SA REIT Conference 2026 on 12 February at The Houghton Hotel, Johannesburg. Sponsored by Nedbank CIB Property Finance, the biennial event will explore global REIT innovation, sustainability and investment trends, linking South Africa’s REIT sector to international momentum following the relaunch of the Global REIT Alliance.

Palesa Mkhize, CEO of the South African Multifamily Residential Rental Association (SAMRRA), cautions against viewing housing purely through an impact-investing lens. While socially driven investment has advanced the multifamily rental sector, she argues that over-reliance on it limits growth. With 95%+ occupancies and near-perfect collections, institutional multifamily assets are proving their resilience. Mkhize says scaling the sector requires recognising its strong investment fundamentals alongside its social value.