WIKUS LATEGAN
WIKUS LATEGAN
Wikus Lategan is the recently appointed CEO of Calgro M3 , a turnkey residential property and Memorial Parks developer that seeks to bridge the gap between the subsidised market segment , social housing , GAP housing , rental and the affordable market segment in South Africa .
About Calgro M3 As a leader in the integrated development segment of the residential market , Calgro M3 ’ s target market is not only driven by investment but also by the critical need for sustainable housing solutions to address the lack of supply of adequate , lower cost housing in the country .
Per the company ’ s 2016 Annual Report , “ 44 % of the total residential market [ in South Africa ], estimated to be worth R5.2 trillion , is made up of lower cost housing ”, with some 63 % of the residential market made up of properties valued at less than R600 000 .
Calgro M3 ’ s integrated development model , with respect to housing development , seeks to offer homeowners “ a platform to acquire a property , in line with their financial standing ”. Here , the key focus is enabling homeowners to remain in their communities as role models ‒ both to enhance social upliftment and develop more sustainable and integrated suburbs in the largest metros across the country .
The man behind the title Wikus took over the reins as Calgro ’ s CEO in March this year . He began his career at Calgro as a technical IFRS expert consultant at the end of 2007 . He jokes about his involvement in property being more accidental than anything else : “ I was brave , young and possibly stupid enough to join a property company during the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression ,” he says .
Wikus officially joined Calgro as the Group Financial Director in 2008 and , in August 2009 , added Group Company Secretary to his portfolio . He took up the position of Group Managing Director in April 2015 .
Beginnings Wikus ’ journey to success in the property sector has involved several twists and turns along the way . After spending more time on the sports field than in front of his books at school , he continued to prioritise his sporting career during his first years of study at the University of Pretoria , culminating in a longer than anticipated varsity journey .
“ I had to write board exams QE1 and QE2 three times each , but I eventually passed ,” says Wikus . This has taught him the value of perseverance and of striving hard to achieve his goals . And he isn ’ t afraid of putting in the hard work to make things happen either .
“ We believe that the sky is the limit and the official number out there is to build a R15 billion business in the next five years .”
“ I worked every holiday , from the end of my matric ( grade 12 ) year to the year I finished my studies to assist with the payment of my tertiary education . I worked in the back office at the old SG Frankel Pollak , a stock broking firm that was later split between Sasfin and Societe General .”
It was while working at the firm that Wikus was introduced to the lucrative money making machine called ‘ Speculating in Warrants . Here he learned how important it is to do his own homework on potential investment opportunities . “ Don ’ t just rely on someone else ’ s opinion . Only invest in products or assets you understand well , markets you understand better , and principles you understand even better ,” he advises .
www . reimag . co . za MARCH 2017 SA Real Estate Investor 7