Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa August 2018 | Page 56

ADVICE
not an alarm system that is linked to a reputable armed-re-
sponse company or the on-site security. Another factor that
women buyers take very seriously is home maintenance and the
need to avoid any unnecessary complications in that regard.
With this being said, most women buyers tend to buy new
homes or homes in very good condition. As with most other
demographics, they also pay special regard to homes that are
eco-friendly and feature smart design.
Ultimately, the statistics available point to the fact that wom-
CELEBRATING SUCCESS
Women’s Property Network (WPN) hosted the Western
Cape region for the fourth annual South African
Women in Property Awards (SAWIPA), in conjunction
with Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) at the
beginning of August.
The economic participation of women in the prop-
erty sector is of vital importance and the WPN has
demonstrated its commitment not only in driving the
inclusion of women in the sector but also recognising
the progress that women have made in the diverse
role they play. The subject of gender diversity is a
worldwide challenge but significant strides are being
made in various industries.
“Women still endure hardships and discrimination in
corporate boardrooms of property companies. We
must work together as an industry to accelerate the
change needed to increase the number of women
in leadership roles, and encourage the growth and
development of future female leaders in the property.
According to this year’s report released by Property
en are playing an increasingly important role in the property
market. Women are choosing to establish themselves in their
careers and as a part of that process they would be building up
a wealth portfolio including investment property and, in some
instances, diversifying their property by investing in different
types, sizes and property locations.
Women in the property market are becoming a force to be
reckoned with and is an accurate indicator of the changing so-
ciety that we live in.
Sector Charter Council (PSCC), it has shown that the
rate of women participation in the sector is low,” says
the MD of AZZARO and Chairperson of WPN, Sandi
Mbatuma.
The South African Women in Property awards honour
women’s leadership and talent in the property sector.
They are aimed at inspiring women, to ensure growth
in women participation and transformation in the
sector.
“Airports Company is very proud of our continued
relationship and involvement with WPN and SAWIPA.
We know that the property sector is dynamic, evolving
and economically impactful, but still very much un-
transformed from both a race and gender perspective.
We, therefore, need to invest in generating long-term
value for the industry, ensuring that we attract, keep
and recognise highly impactful, skilled and motivated
women, so that the change we talk of and want to
see is effective and sustainable.” says ACSA’s Senior
Manager Infrastructure and Property Development,
Zinhle Ntanzi.
THE WESTERN CAPE REGION 4TH SAWIPA WINNERS ARE
Young Achiever
category - Maryke
Hennig, Associate,
Smith Tabata Bu-
chanan Boyes
Business Woman of
the Year category
- Sibongile Booi,
Managing Director,
Second Office
Professional of the
Year in the Private
Sector category -
Chloe Merrington,
Senior Associate,
Norton Rose Ful-
bright
Professional of the
Year in the Public
Sector category -
Gisela Kaiser, Execu-
tive Director, City of
Cape Town
THE JUDGES OF THE WESTERN CAPE REGION AWARDS WERE:
Liezel Conradie,
Regional Director
of the Western and
Eastern Cape Region
for JHI Properties
(Pty),
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine
Nonhlanhla Mayise-
la, CEO of Izandla
Property Fund.
Dorah Modise,
CEO of the
Green Building
Council South
Africa (GBCSA)