This month sees the launch of Izandla Property, South Africa’s new empowered property benchmark. Izandla Property is a majority black-owned property company powered by Investec Property (IP) and Investec Property Fund (IPF). Investec Property will support Izandla with the skills, expertise and knowledge while Investec Property Fund will serve as the capital partner of Izandla Property.
Izandla Property’s majority shareholding is the Entrepreneurship Development Trust (EDT), a broad-based charitable trust that facilitates broader societal benefits through educational and entrepreneurial initiatives.
Fani Titi, Chairman of the EDT and Investec Limited commented, “The property sector has been notoriously difficult for many to access due to its large capital requirements. Through the EDT, we can provide the necessary bridge between a powerful business sector and the people in our communities. By investing in strategic interventions to develop entrepreneurs and future leaders through education, the EDT’s work will forge important building blocks for our society and economy.”
Izandla Property aims to create value to fund the initiatives of the EDT by accessing quality real estate assets and provide future property clients with a BBBEE partner who will own, manage and develop their property assets to unlock value through the full property value chain.
Property is one of the biggest expenses for most businesses. If managed with the right partner, it can unlock more value and long term returns, starting with using this expense to allow a company to align more closely with the B-BBEE scorecard.
Businesses that are interested in sale and lease-backs, land conversion and property development opportunities should consider Izandla Property as their property partner as this will free up their balance sheets and enhance their scorecard credentials through procurement and ownership ratings, whilst receiving the expertise of the Izandla Property team powered by IP and IPF.
The establishment of Izandla Property underpins Investec Property’s commitment to empowerment in South Africa. Izandla Property will leverage the capital, experience, skills and resources of IP and IPF, with the aim of becoming a self-sustaining entity. “Our definition of success is when we have assisted in creating a fully-fledged, stand-alone business with a team of skilled staff. IPF will initially look to support Izandla through an asset injection and further capital support as this will enhance its growth prospects and at the same time allow IPF to participate in new and exciting opportunities not previously accessible. The asset injection will be done on a neutral basis for IPF and an announcement in this regard will be made in due course” concluded Nick Riley, the CEO Of Investec Property Fund.
Izandla, translated from isiZulu, means hands. It is the simple, fundamental basis for all building blocks to begin. Izandla Property will work hand-in- hand with the experienced team at Investec Property to cultivate great spaces.
