The most recent BEE office to be opened is the PGP Johannesburg West franchise office, conveniently situated in Protea Centre, along Mayfair West's main road, which is owned by Sheeny Gounden.
Gounden, who will manage the day-to-day running of the agency, was formerly a marketing specialist at Nedcor. The new office covers the areas of Bosmont, Brixton, Claremont, Crosby, Crown, Coronationville, Fordsburg, Longdale, Mayfair/Mayfair West, Montclare, Newclare, Newlands, Paarlshoop, Riverlea, Rossmore, Triomf, Vrededorp and Westbury.
Andrew Golding, CEO of the PGP group, explained: "A subset of Pam Golding Franchise Services, the company's empowerment division is a first of its kind in the South African real estate sector in that prior to this, very limited or virtually no interest has been expressed by a real estate group in entering the emerging market in order to offer consumers in this sector a best practice real estate listing, marketing and selling solution or experience."
PGP has identified approximately 24 territories in southern Africa for new empowerment franchise offices, with the focus on metro Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as areas in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The company provides new business opportunities for entrepreneurs from previously disadvantaged communities, which are being delivered to the emerging market through a turnkey franchise solution.
This means that the franchisees are provided with an interior and exterior building blueprint with furniture, fixtures, fittings, signage, as well as full office automation - all included in the franchise fee. They also enjoy the support and service infrastructure of the PGP group.
John Herbst, managing director of PGP's Empowerment Division, noted that a key aim is to unlock dormant potential among aspiring black people and to open the door to wealth creation through property ownership in the emerging market.
"Another important facet of this lies in facilitating the unlocking of land for new developments, whether these be projects in key areas identified in inner city areas, or new land made available for affordable housing," he observed.
Said Gounden: "A regional development framework has been approved for the Johannesburg West area, focusing on rejuvenation and regeneration, and including the addition of new housing stock in the area through the provision of infill and densified housing. The area is rich in history - it encompasses Sophiatown and Vrededorp - and has a strong tourist potential.
"The area of Riverlea is well situated near the FNB Stadium and could well enjoy positive spin-offs from the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We believe the main demand for homes will be in the Mayfair West, Brixton, Newlands, Triomf and Riverlea areas, with the bulk of purchasers being first-time home buyers and young executives who cannot afford the high prices of homes in the nearby northern areas.
"Here they can achieve value for money while still living within easy access of the amenities enjoyed by the northern areas. Other potential buyers include families living further south (such as Lenasia etc), wanting to live closer to their places of employment, and individuals that are relocating from other provinces," she concluded.
I-Net Bridge
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge
