Investors are generally experiencing a yield famine, but for those aiming to wring out that little extra, ApexHi is yielding about double bank deposit rates

Empowerment companies favoured for R13bn of work

Pretoria - Vukile Property Fund, the second listed initiative by Sanlam Properties, was listed on the real estate sector of the JSE Securities Exchange yesterday.

THOSE of us who live in SA's major cities (37% of us, according to a new report) know very well the dramatic contrasts which make up our large urban environments, but we seem to struggle to come up with new ways of thinking about where we are going.

Pipes valued at more than R10-million and weighing over 1 500 t were recently manufactured by Group Five Pipe, in Meyerton, to fulfil a variety of contracts in Gauteng.

Pretoria - A new property giant with assets of about R2 billion is due to be listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in mid-May.

The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI’s) new campus-style head office in Pretoria is 70% complete.

Local and national government are devising plans to reverse urban decay.

A historic gem that government has been hoarding in its R220-billion property portfolio for 120 years is being sold off to the public.

Now called Fort West, the Victorian village - on 389ha 10km west of Pretoria along Church Street - is being converted into a secure estate. It will not be the preserve of the rich, promise development agents Amtrad.

A first phase of 314 development stands was launched for sale on Heritage Day this week, priced from R95 000 to R150 000.

Buyers will build houses costing between R340 000 and R450 000, including the land. And middle-income Gautengers have just as much appetite for buying as the rich (see main story).

Amtrad chief executive Grahame Lindop said 103 stands had been sold by lunchtime on the launch day. Another six townhouse and cluster sites with potential for about 400 units sold to developers in a flash, he said. Twenty of the Victorian houses have also been sold.

The project eventually will have 2 100 homes, 24 000m² of shopping, 12 000m² of offices, a school and a hotel.

A 71ha "hidden valley" will include animal clinics, stables, horticulture and organic farming.

Pretoria - Unit holders in Shops For Africa, the listed property loan stock company, have approved the sale of the company's entire property portfolio to listed property company ApexHi for R415.3 million.