By Property Reporter
A government accredited training academy has been launched as a key driver of transformation within the real estate industry. The academy is the product of an agreement between the Jigsaw Group and the Property Chamber of the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta).
Housed at the Development Institute and Training Academy of Southern Africa (Ditasa) in Johannesburg, the academy will begin with 1 750 students. "Ditasa is set to change the face of the industry," said Jigsaw CEO Neville McIntyre. "It is a practical solution to raising standards through transformation in an industry that has more than 40 000 registered estate agents.
"We are determined to uplift the entry level to the benefit of the consumer and stakeholders, and have accordingly developed the most advanced NQF (National Qualifications Framework) qualifications in the industry." The Jigsaw Group comprises Realty1 Elk, Aida and ERA. Ditasa will offer qualifications endorsed by the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB). Ditasa's infrastructure comprises five sectors: training, human resources, management information systems, strategic development and a call centre. "Our intention is to provide agents with a nationally recognised and accredited qualification," said McIntyre. "It is anticipated that once the real estate charter is in place, estate agents will not be able to practise or write the industry board exam unless they are officially accredited."
Training McIntyre said in addition to offering elevated levels of brand-specific training to members, Ditasa would also handle staff recruitment, manage and co-ordinate workplace skills plans and development, in line with the requirements of the Department of Labour, and assist in the recovery of skills levies paid by franchises to the government. The call centre offers an agent's information hotline, a referral management system and an inter-group multiple listing system. Ditasa's strategic development arm will deal with the arrangement of conventions and synergy events, among other things. The initiative comes in the wake of the biggest housing demand the country has experienced in several years.
"We now have the lowest interest rate in 30 years and the largest-ever entry into the market place by an emerging black middle-class," said McIntyre. "Total residential real estate sales amounted to about R128 billion last year - 18.2% of which, or R20 billion, was contributed by emergent buyers. This is a significant amount compared with the previous year, when emergent buying comprised about 6% of the total." McIntyre predicted growth in excess of about 25% over the next 18 months.This article was originally published on page 3 of The Sunday Tribune on May 30, 2004
Publisher: Sunday Tribune
Source: Sunday Tribune
Academy will act as driver in transformation
Posted On Friday, 28 May 2004 02:00 Published by eProperty News
A government accredited training academy has been launched as a key driver of transformation within the real estate industry.
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