South Africa's listed property sector rallied 2% last week as the Rand strengthened and bond yields fell.

The local listed property sector declined by 0.7% in the first week of October, as international investor sentiment towards South Africa continued to deteriorate in the wake of further labour unrest. 

The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has launched the PILOT Energy and Water Benchmarking tool for the commercial property industry, which allows property owners to see how their building’s consumption measures up to industry norms

Growthpoint Properties Limited announced a 6.1% growth in distributions, to 139,0 cents per linked unit, for the financial year ended 30 June 2012, continuing its record of delivering distribution growth to its investors

Growthpoint Properties Limited has acquired a premium R121million office building, Willowbridge Place, in Tygervalley, Cape Town. Conveniently placed near the Durban Road on- and off-ramps, Willowbridge Place comprises two office towers and presently offers lettable area of 6,110sqm in one office tower and 495sqm of retail space

Bringing South Africa in line with international publicly traded real estate investments and creating greater investor certainty, SA National Treasury has tabled a unified approach to property investment schemes which analysts believe is set to create one of the most flexible regimes internationally.

Growthpoint Properties Limited has acquired a premium R210 million office building, Menlyn Corner, in Pretoria. The 10,000sqm AAA-grade asset located on the corner of Atterbury Road and Lois Avenue in Menlyn enjoys prime position on a landmark corner in the growth node of Menlyn

Growthpoint Properties Australia, a publicly traded ASX listed A-REIT (ASX:GOZ), has agreed to acquire A-Grade Canberra office buildings, 100% leased to the Commonwealth Government. It’s portfolio value has more than doubled over the last three years, from 24 properties valued at AU$662 million in June 2009, to 41 properties worth AU$1,6 billion (approximately ZAR13,5 billion) as a result of these transactions which incude a diversification from both a location and sector perspective

A custom developed 16,500sqm facility forming the new regional distribution centre for Ellerine Holdings Limited in Epping, Cape Town, was developed by Growthpoint who tailored the facility to client needs. The facility includes 2,000sqm of offices and a 14,500sqm warehouse and environmentally sound practices  were applied at every stage - from design and demolition through to materials and energy efficiency

Recognising the excellent quality of its market intelligence, the Investment Analysts Society (IAS) has awarded Growthpoint Properties Limited with its 'Best Reporting and Communications Award' in the Financial Services Sector. Each year the IAS recognises the skills of listed companies which win its awards for “Best Communicating and Reporting”. This is the first time Growthpoint - the largest South African listed property company with total assets exceeding R50 billion and a market capitalisation of R36 billion - has received this recognition.