Speaking at a Sapoa strategic review breakfast on Monday, Sapoa president TC Chetty said the property industry was growing and that the need for skills was increasing in line with that.
"Everyone we spoke to said we are doing great but there is a shortage of skills."
A survey of Sapoa's 860 members revealed the need for a "national centre of expertise in real estate," he said.
Chetty said Sapoa would like "tie in" with universities. An in-depth course programme that trained property managers in the basics of property management, was needed, he said. Three companies, Attfund, Gensec and RMB Properties, had already committed to sponsoring this.
He said that during networking sessions with Sapoa members last year, one issue raised was that major property owners who were members of the organisation felt Sapoa was losing "its focus on major owners. Owners as a grouping were feeling neglected."
Chetty said a new chairman needed to be appointed to the organisation's property owners committee.
Sapoa would also look at plotting a "new strategic way forward". This could include a possible indaba being hosted for major property owners, he said.