Listed property loan stock company ApexHi Properties says the responsibilities of its empowerment partner, Isivuno Apex, have been expanded to include handling the leases of all its government-tenanted buildings. The role of Isivuno, which was formed in August last year and is 100% owned by property player Dumisani Mene, was initially to manage a R500m property portfolio owned by ApexHi in Pretoria. By managing this specific portfolio, Isivuno was to handle all lease negotiations with government tenants.

It has taken only ten weeks to put together the new nine-person Madison Property Fund Managers development team, formed as a result of Madison taking over the former Spearhead Property Holdings development and leasing divisions in December 2006.

APEXHI Properties, the second- largest property company on the JSE with a market capitalisation of R9,3bn, said yesterday it had acquired three industrial properties from Investec for R245m.

Shares in South African property group, Bonatla (BNT), were halted on the JSE on Tuesday afternoon following the publication of an article with "price sensitive" information.

The market can expect to see even more consolidation in the South African listed property sector this year, with bigger players acquiring smaller companies and friendly mergers between others.

CBS Property Portfolio has completed a remarkably successful maiden year as a JSE-listed property loan stock investment and holding company.

Martprop Property Fund commenced trading on the JSE under the new name of SA Corporate Real Estate Fund from Monday, December 11.  The JSE share code will be SAC and the abbreviated name SA Corp.

In order to capture further potential gains in construction companies in the new year one will have to be a brave investor, according to Old Mutual's Faroz Basa.

The turnaround story in Johannesburg’s central business district (CBD) is making headlines in several leading newspapers — a stark contrast to the doom and gloom that pervaded just 10 years ago.

In a surprise turn of events, ApexHi Properties’ new C units, which were introduced on to the JSE’s main board six weeks ago, have doubled in value in the first month of trading.