SAPOA Online, the commercial property website, has launched The Property Investor investment hub, an online resource to make commercial and listed property investments accessible to a broader set of investors.

The South African Property Owners' Association (Sapoa) has added its voice to the growing discontent over the housing department bringing 38 Cuban architects and engineers to SA to train local people to build their own homes in townships and rural areas.

Despite average GDP growth of 2,7% in the 10 years since 1993, close to 2m m² of new A- and B-grade office space was built in Johannesburg's northern suburbs. Even allowing for the 550 000 m² space that is vacant because of over development - and the 400 000 m² that lies abandoned by companies that fled the Johannesburg CBD for the suburbs - that is about 110 000 m² net take-up/year in the past decade.

Gauteng's South African Property Owners' Association (Sapoa) members are increasingly concerned about the "chaos" prevalent at the Johannesburg City Council.

Leading property developers say it is time for the National Home Builders' Registration Council (NHBRC) to be fully reassessed. Clients are suffering, they say, because of the 1,3% levy the council charges on all homes built, irrespective of their value.

The SA Property Owners' Association (Sapoa) has honoured Menlyn Park Shopping Centre in Pretoria for developmental excellence, and Westlake Estates in Cape Town for its contribution to society.

The international division of construction and management consultants Turner & Townsend has won the group's Queen's Award for Enterprise. This recognises exceptional high standards of service in every country in which T&T operates.

The new South African Property Owners' Association (Sapoa) executive committee, which was elected at the annual convention at Sun City, is made up of the following members:

The main message to come out of this month's South African Property Owners' Association (Sapoa) 35th Annual International Convention, held at Sun City, was one of positive change and cautious optimism for the future. A record number of 720 delegates attended.

The SA Property Owners' Association (Sapoa) is demolishing industry stereotypes and installing its first woman vice-president.