“ T
he business world is a roller coaster ride . You have to be willing to firmly hold onto the bars and never let go .” It ’ s this sentence that seems to encapsulate Xoliswa Daku ’ s approach to life . The CEO of Daku Group of Companies has come a long way . Born in the small industrial town of Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape , Xoliswa spent her childhood in several rural villages . Today , she heads up a 100 % female owned company , specialising in investments and developments . Ranging from commercial and residential properties , to facilities and project management , Xoliswa isn ’ t standing back for anyone .
Education plays a key role in this game-changer ’ s life . “ It ’ s essential to broaden your knowledge through professional learning and education ,” she says . Having attained an executive MBA , a LLM , B . Proc , MDP Diploma , postgraduate diploma in Project Management , and a diploma in Human Resource Development , it ’ s clear that this is a woman who values knowledge .
Her journey to property happened organically : “ I was practicing as an attorney before joining the trade and investment space . There was a clear focus on local and foreign direct in-
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Location will always be important , along with capital and resources . Look at what the property offers and whether or not it falls within high-demand categories .
“ vestments across sectors . Gaining knowledge through this exposure fanned the flame for developments . I developed a passion for packaging and developing CBD business models and strategising public and private sector structures . After landing a partnership in a multi-billion Rand project , I gained insights into the private sector property development cycle . Since most partners were international , this placed things into a global context .” Established in 2003 , the Daku Group of
Companies today boasts a portfolio worth in excess of R600 million . But , Xoliswa explains , success doesn ’ t come without some tough lessons :
MASTER INVESTOR
“ When I was starting out in property development , a mere regulatory delay on planning led to significant cost overrun , a legal battle , and having to sell shares to sustain the development .” But , she continues , the thrill of being able to run a business that ’ s “ all about innovation and thinking ahead for ways to create spaces for people to relax , live , work , and play ” has made it worth it . After more than 20 years in the business , Xoliswa says she ’ s wiser and possesses a sense of business maturity - but she ’ s quick to point to a quote by Winston Churchill : “ Success is not final , failure is not fatal : it is the courage to continue that counts .”
2017 Has been a big year for Xoliswa , winning the Standard Bank Top Woman in Property Award , the WPN Business Woman of the Year Award , as well as the 2017 Top Performing Entrepreneur National Business Award . “ It ’ s shown me that hard work pays . I ’ ve managed to remain focused on the goals I set for myself , allowing me to run a property development company that we can be proud of ,” she says .
The Daku Group has big plans , explains Xoliswa : “ We have a focus on asset development and growth in Africa . We also have an exciting mixed-use masterpiece development on the south coast coming up . It ’ s going to be a game-changer for small towns , and that ’ s what we love .” As has been clear over the past few years , mixed-use and affordable properties are becoming hot commodities in Africa . Xoliswa echoes this : “ Many reports are indicating that worldwide population growth over the next few years to 2020 will be driven by developments resulting from far-reaching economic and social changes . It ’ s already happening . It ’ s leading to more diverse opportunities , some with higher risk , but showing a strong growth . We ’ ve also seen more and more developers partnering with the government to mitigate such risks .”
Xoliswa ’ s focus has been on direct investments in mixed-use residential development precincts , since they offer attractive living spaces and good investment opportunities . “ We ’ ve also found that provinces and metropolitan municipalities around the country have adopted densification as core to their urban development strategy . Johannesburg and Cape Town have gone further , encouraging the development of mixed-use precincts around major transport nodes and along major transport corridors ,” she adds .
It ’ s clear that the Daku Group is about more than returns : “ Whilst we are very clear of our investment reward in developments , I strongly believe in creating developments that have an impact on society at large . This is why we focus on emerging , untapped markets . I have a strong belief in taking the risk on these markets , investing in new nodes , and focusing where no one else seems to be paying attention . We ’ ve seen time and again that this approach yields results .”
It ’ s been stated many times that the African continent offers many opportunities for those willing to think outside the box ( and beyond borders .) Xoliswa highlights two key sectors showing strong growth : “ The retail property sector continues to be a major focus for development activity , which means the shopping mall concept is taking root in an increasingly wide range of
XOLISWA ’ S TOP BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT TIPS
• Know your investment domain - gain knowledge about the sector you ’ re investing in .
• Gain business intelligence to navigate your investment track record .
• Diversify your investments and clients - never rely on just one .
• Keep an eye on the money - never lose sight of your financial health .
• Reinvest in talent and technology as you grow and build your brand .
• Stay on top of legal matters that affect your investment .
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018 9