Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa August/September 2019 | Page 13

LEAH KNOTT
F
or this month’s Master Investor we sit down with a
women leading the inner city redevelopment and reju-
venation of Johannesburg CBD, Leah Knott.
Knott is currently serving as the MMC for the City’s
Department of Economic Development along with being
the Ward Councillor for Ward 97, which includes Ruimsig,
Poortview, Wilgeheuwel, Honeydew and Radiokop. Knott
holds a legal qualification and prior to becoming a councillor
worked in the property development planning industry.
Born and raised in Johannesburg, Knott explains that she
was not into the traditional female sports such as tennis and
netball, and found that go-karts and football were more her
forte at the age of 14.
“I completed a basic competitive motorsport training course
through Isondo Racing Academy in 1997 and went on to race
for Bankfin and then Mercedes. I played social outdoor football
under the Rand central League for several years and started
coaching Little League and Districts,” said Knott .
Knott was an avid reader from young age. “I loved reading
from an early age, my parents taught me this skill from the age
of 3, to the point of distraction and have to curtail myself in this
respect otherwise I would get nothing done,” she said
and VTC Africa Investments, a company which focused on the
architectural, construction and development sectors. Initially
being placed in an assistive role with the company, Knott was
later promoted to Project Coordination, Management and
Client Liaison.
Knott gained valuable experience while working at these
companies. “I was fortunate to have great mentors at this
company and learnt most of what I know from relationships
that were developed during this time. I feel this gave me a
credible advantage when I decided to join Council.”
With experience in the municipal sector, for several
years Knott worked as a ward-based community activist
and volunteered in Ward 89 under the Ward Councillor
Ingrid Reinten, Constituency Head – MPL Kate Lorimer
and Constituency Chairperson Patrick McGee. Under the
mentorship of these heads within the sector, Knott comments
on what she learned while working with them.
“They taught me that women can hold strong leadership
roles within their communities and drive change effectively
through government (and yes one of them is a man – men play
just as important a role in women realising they are worthy and
important!),” said Knott
“They taught me that
women can hold strong
leadership roles within
their communities and
drive change effectively
through government ...”
Knott spent most of her formative years at Wits University
where her father lectured in Fine Art and Sculpture along
with helping her mother, an interior designer with painting
restoration and decorating homes. “It helped me with the
ability to see the beautiful in everything and everyone,”
comments Knott.
Completing her schooling career at Jeppe High School for
girls in 2000, Knott pursued her tertiary studies at the University
of Johannesburg (UJ). Knott initially wanted to study law as her
history teacher, Mrs Edwards was the inspiration behind the
dream but was advised to pursue more of a business orientated
career and selected to study Marketing. Knott explains that
studying marketing did not fulfil her.
“Due to dissatisfaction in the career I had decided on, as it
didn’t truly resonate with the need I had to make a difference,
I withdrew from University in 2002 and enrolled for an LLB at
Unisa, my true passion. Due to financial constraints I was not
able to complete my degree and committed to working full
time.”
A few years later, Knott was offered the opportunity to
further her studies. A developer which Knott was working for
offered her the opportunity to complete her law degree at their
cost . “I will forever be grateful to them for seeing the potential
I had as I would not be where I am without their assistance.
Further education not only opens doors employment wise but
it increases your confidence to dream bigger than what you
had considered before,” said Knott
Career
Knott spent 12 years working at Verissimo Tavares Consulting
The invaluable support from these three women helped
push Knott to pursue a position as the candidate for Ward 97
in the 2016 local government elections. Knott was successful
in the elections and became Ward Councillor for Ward 97. Ward
97 covers areas such as Ruimsig, Poortview, Wilgeheuwel,
Honeydew and Radiokop.
Her rise up the ladder did not stop there as Knott explains
how she became MMC for Economic Development. “Within my
first year as a Councillor I served on the Section 79 Development
Planning Oversight Committee until the Executive Mayor,
Councillor Herman Mashaba, requested that I join his cabinet
as the MMC of Economic Development. I still hold my position
as Ward Councillor in addition to this role.”
In response to if she considers herself a success, Knott shares
some words of wisdom from her personal experience in the
industry and as a business women. “I wouldn’t consider myself
a success yet – I continuously strive to do more and achieve
more – if I will ever stop doing so I don’t know and I hope
not. If one means success in terms of happiness then yes I am
successful – I have a job I love that is challenging but fulfilling,
a department with phenomenally motivated people, an
YEAR 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19
Unaudited
INVESTMENT R2.6 billion R3.2 billion R4.538 billion R4.451 billion R8.69 billion R16.355 billion
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
11