JHI's expansion of its property management services beyond the borders of South Africa has received a major boost, having been awarded a contract to manage the R100-million Lesotho ministry of finance property portfolio.

Not with standing the fluctuations in the rand and the interest rate hikes in the first quarter of the year, conditions are increasingly stable re-establishing the platform for ongoing interest in property as an asset class in 2002.

JHI’s expansion into property management beyond the borders of South Africa has received a major boost, having recently being awarded the contract to manage the R200 million Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) property portfolio. 

Joint report by Herbert Smith of Metroscape Town and Regional Planners & Development Consultants and JHI Professional Services, with country-specific input from JHI's International Division.

Expansion across South African borders is a topic that has received much attention in recent years, especially from retailers who are generally perceived to be leading the charge into Africa. But while there is good potential for both property investment and development in countries as far apart as Mauritius and Ghana, the decision to invest in Africa is not one to be taken lightly - especially in the case of a tangible investment such as real estate.

Cape Town's commercial landlord game has changed radically in the last five years. CBDs, once the only position in town, has become the place not to be. The priority busy corner, on a trunk transport route, has shifted to building in the veldt and away from the main trunks. In the process CBDs have died and main roads have been abandoned for emergent nodes like Durbanville Hills, Century City et al.