Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa Real Estate Investor Magazine - November 2017 | Page 9

MASTER INVESTOR
J
ames Wilson, CEO of Amdec De-
velopments is a property developer
and investor, who recently unveiled
a major mixed-use development in
Cape Town. “We are confident in South
Africa’s future over the long-term and, in
particular, Cape Town” says Wilson. The
R10 billion development in the CBD,
Harbour Arch - at the southern en-
try-point of the Mother City - is set to
transform the city and spur much needed
jobs. Wilson shared his property career
and future of property in South Afri-
ca with Real Estate Investor Magazine
(REIM).
and selling for a profit. This morphed
into developing large scale apartment
complexes, and eventually to the devel-
opment of office blocks - most notably
Steenberg Office Park.
In 2005, Amdec purchased a 50% stake
in the iconic Melrose Arch a mixed-use
precinct in Johannesburg; while many
locals ridiculed the decision, the risk paid
off. Today, the precinct stands as a living
monument for how urban developments
can and should function.
As CEO of the Amdec Group, James
focuses mostly on overall strategic plan-
ning and team leadership.  It is also the
largest shareholder behind legendary
names such as Val de Vie and Pearl Val-
ley in the Cape Winelands and the driv-
ing force behind Evergreen Lifestyles
that has approximately 3 000 homes on
retirement estates in planning or under
construction across the country. Wilson
explains that they’re planning to build 10
000 homes nationally over the next few
years, 600 of which will be situated in Val
de Vie and Pearl Valley, taking advantage
of the breathtaking scenery and world-
class amenities.
The man behind the name
James Wilson is a qualified Chartered
Accountant. However renovating houses
was how he commenced his career from
his father’s garage in Cape Town. Joking-
ly, he compares it to the similar ventures
of both Steve Jobs and Mark Shuttle-
worth – each also starting their journey
to building billion-dollar companies in a
garage.
From humble beginnings in 1989
with his father John Wilson - a civil
engineer by profession - James has seen
the Amdec Group grow into one of
the country’s largest development firms
within 28 years.
Initially, Wilson explains, they focused
on buying single properties, renovating
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine NOVEMBER 2017
7