IN a coup for the burgeoning South African property market, JHI Real Estate has appointed local businessman Bongani Aug Khumalo as its managing director with immediate effect.
 
The move also sees Khumalo acquire a stake in the 105-year-old company, representing a milestone in its history as, coupled with existing 37% black shareholding, JHI will become a black-owned entity.
 
Khumalo brings with him the wealth of business experience gained as Eskom deputy CEO, Transnet chairman and the current Grey Global SA and EDS chairmen and Anglo Platinum director.
 
He holds a Master of Arts degree from Fairfield University in Connecticut, a Master of Business Administration from Henley Management College UK and an Honorary Doctorate of Administrations from the University of Fort Hare. Khumalo is a member of the University of South Africa (UNISA) Council and chairman of its Graduate School of Business Leadership.
 
In making the announcement today, JHI chairman Les Weil said although Khumalo did not come from a property background, his business experience and substantial relationship base enables him to rapidly contribute to JHI’s activities.
 
“Khumalo has also expressed his commitment and confidence in JHI through the purchase of equity and coupled with the skills development programme and employment and procurement programmes, this reflects the group’s objective of a high score in the property and Department of Trade and Industry charters,” Weil said. JHI’s skills development programme Creating Real Advancement for Tomorrow has been operational for more than 10 years.
 
Khumalo expressed excitement at being involved in the property industry during a time of dynamic growth, but also welcomed the opportunity to work with an experienced team of executives and professionals heading up the various JHI departments.
 
Looking ahead, he anticipated expanding the activity base while boosting the group’s involvement in providing property solutions for the public sector. JHI already handles work for the Department of Land Affairs nationally and for the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.
 
Via empowerment subsidiary Katavi Housing, JHI’s developments in Alexandra, Ormonde and Soweto demonstrated its experience in the provision of several thousand housing units and Khumalo said the group would roll-out similar developments in South Africa and in neighbouring states.
 
“JHI is revitalising its business model which will again include greater entrepreneurial activity based on project developments for its private and institutional investor clients,” he said.
 
ends
 
 
CURRICULUM VITAE:
 
Bongani Aug Khumalo:
 
BONGANI Aug Khumalo is chairman of Grey Global SA and publisher of a governance, leadership and ethics magazine Aboveboard. He is the immediate past chairman of Transnet where amongst his key focus areas had been sound corporate governance, industry and enterprise restructuring and transformation, superior business performance, financial health and discipline, stakeholder relations and safety.
 
Khumalo has also served as a strategic adviser at the Presidency and is the former Eskom deputy CEO where his primary mandate was restructuring and transformation.
 
His professional and career background covers the disciplines of leadership, strategy, strategic and operational human factors management, corporate and political communications and humanitarian and philanthropic work.
 
He is also professor extraordinaire and chairman of the University of Stellenbosch African Centre for HIV/AIDS Management, chairman of the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership and Unisa Council member.
 
Khumalo is a director of a number of well known companies including Anglo Platinum, Electronic Data Systems and charity - MaAfrika Tikkun.
 

Publisher: JHI Real Estate
Source: JHI Real Estate