September 27 2023
By Alistair Anderson
The South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) announced that JSE-listed group Attacq’s Chief Executive Officer, Jackie van Niekerk as its new president at its 2023 Annual Convention and Property Networking conference in Sun City last Thursday.
Van Niekerk joined Attacq as chief operating officer and was appointed to the board in June 2018. She has over 14 years of experience in the property industry and prior to joining Attacq, she was the CEO of Pivotal Property Fund. At the end of 2016, she played a role in the merger between Pivotal Property Fund and Redefine Properties.
Attacq has exposure to assets in the Waterfall City precinct including The Mall of Africa.
Saopa, which celebrates 57 years since its launch in 1966, also named its elected board members: CEO Neil Gopal, Pareto CEO Malose Kekana, Redefine CEO Andrew König, Fortress MD Steven Brown, Vukile Property Fund MD Itumeleng Mothibeli, Equites CFO Leila Razack, SA Corporate chief operating officer Nomzamo Radebe and Dipula Income Fund FD Sudesh Moodley.
Sapoa represents almost 90% of the country’s commercial and industrial real estate owners and promotes the interests of its members 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, real estate research, conventions, seminars, and workshops on matters of topical interest.
Van Niekerk takes the reigns from Malose Kekana, the outgoing president.
Speaking at the convention, Kekana CEO of property company Pareto, said Sapoa the association is part of the economic recovery plan being spearheaded by business for South Africa. It has established work streams focusing on five areas: energy, rail and port infrastructure, water, investment in infrastructure and crime and corruption.
Van Niekerk said that despite the property industry facing tailwinds, the sector remained resilient and encouraged by South Africans’ resilience and tenacity.
alistair@propertyflash.co.za
