Sanlam Properties announced on Tuesday it had established a black-empowered property deal-making company with Robinson Ramaite at the helm.

Ramaite has a long-standing relationship with Sanlam Properties and has been involved in other empowerment deals facilitated by the group, including one concluded by listed property loan stock company Vukile Property Fund.

"We've established a sound relationship with Robinson over the last 18 months and he's proved to us he has the ability to do deals and add value, and that's why we are involved with him again and we're very excited about it," said Sanlam Properties MD Banus van der Walt.

Van der Walt said the new company would not have "any assets to start with" and would be focused on property deal making.

He said the company, called Khulela Properties, would be involved in "finding developments, property acquisitions, property services deals and investment".

Sanlam Properties would own 49% of Khulela, while the Simeka group of companies would own 51%. Ramaite is a significant shareholder in Simeka Investment Holdings and has been appointed as Khulela's MD.

Earlier this year, Sanlam Properties facilitated Vukile's empowerment transaction, which saw Clidet 598 buy a 25% interest in Vukile.

Simeka acquired 12% of Clidet.

Van der Walt said Sanlam Properties was the asset manager for Sanlam and for Vukile.

"One of our responsibilities is to grow these portfolios and we want to use Khulela to find these opportunities and help grow Vukile and Sanlam."

But Van der Walt said Khulela's services would not be "exclusive to Sanlam or Vukile" and that the company would also offer services to the broader market.

Ramaite is also the nonexecutive chairman of Vusani Property Holdings, a black economic empowerment holding company that will have a close association with Khulela.

Sanlam Properties also facilitated the formation of Vusani about a year ago.

Business Day