Our Purpose
SAREIT promotes South African REITs as an investment class both locally and internationally while addressing issues and meeting challenges within the sector.
The SA REIT Association (SAREIT) was founded in 2013, following the introduction of the REIT structure in South Africa to represent the interest of the SA listed property sector. The Association is modelled on NAREIT (National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts) in the United States and EPRA (European Public Real Estate Association) in Europe.
We are a representative umbrella body incorporating voluntary members of all local REITs and lead by an elected executive team focused on promoting the sector as an attractive asset class.
SAREIT’s key objectives are to:
Engage across industry
Ensure constant engagement with legislators, regulators, other business associations, investors
and other stakeholders to establish a stable, conducive policy and business environment.
Strengthen relationships with investors
Build relationships with investors and capital providers to deeper understanding of relevant issues.
The Association’s Executive Team and Committee Members include experienced and knowledgeable individuals to fulfill the various committees’ mandates.
The elected Executive Team is responsible for the planning and execution of the Association’s strategic objectives.
Chairman of the Accounting
& JSE Committee
Redefine Properties
Chief Operating Officer
Chairperson of the Regulation
& Taxation Committee
Growthpoint Properties
Group Financial Director
Chairperson of the Legal & Competition
Commission Committee
Redefine Properties
Chief Legal Officer
Chairperson of the Research Committee
Vukile Property Fund
Managing Director: Southern Africa
Chairperson: Transformation Committee
Attacq Ltd
Human Capital & Transformation Manager
The role of the accounting & JSE committee is to develop and maintain a set of best practice recommendations to help property companies produce best-in-class annual financial and non-financial performance reports in order to provide investors with consistent and reliable disclosures in line with the JSE regulations.
Chairman of the Accounting
& JSE Committee
Redefine Properties
Chief Operating Officer
Growthpoint Properties Limited. Head of Group Finance
Growthpoint Investment Partners. Chief Financial Officer
The Regulation & Taxation Committee aims to give the sector a voice in the regulatory processes for REITs, property companies and investors.
Chairperson of the Regulation & Taxation Committee
Growthpoint Properties
Group Financial Director
Chairman of the Conference Committee
Emira Property Fund
Chief Executive Officer
The Legal & Competition Commission Committee deals with REIT specific legislations and competition related matters. The Committee also works closely with other industry bodies to align on related issues.
Chairperson of the Legal & Competition Commission Committee
Redefine Properties
Chief Legal Officer
The Transformation Committee supports the implementation of the principles upon which Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) is implemented in the sector.
Chairperson: Transformation Committee
Attacq Ltd
Human Capital & Transformation Manager
The Research Committee generates and provides access to high quality, independent research related to the listed property sector, in South Africa and other relevant markets. It aims to provide a trusted research hub for members and the industry at large.
Chairperson of the Research Committee
Vukile Property Fund
Managing Director: Southern Africa
The Investor Committee aims to strengthen the Association’s relationships and increase engagement with institutional investors. In addition, the committee acts as a catalyst that enables a deeper understanding of relevant sector issues while collectively contributing to the market’s overall perception of the asset class.
Vice-Chairperson of the Investor Committee
Vukile Property Fund
Chief Executive Officer
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Estienne de Klerk is a qualified Chartered Accountant with 25 years’ experience in the listed property sector. During the 25 years, he has been involved in various corporate action such as take-overs, mergers and acquisitions, transformation deals and capital raises. De Klerk started his career at Eskom Durban Distribution in a marketing role. In 2002, he joined the Investec Property Group’s property fund management business where he was appointed Fund Manager and Executive Director of Metboard. Later on, he became Executive Director and Group Managing Director of Growthpoint before being appointed Chief Executive Officer (SA). Estienne is Chairman of the SA REIT Association and a longstanding member where he served as Chairman of the Taxation and Regulatory Committee since SAREIT’s inception. He is a former President of the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) and represented the industry in the Property Sector Charter negotiations.
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Joanne Solomon holds a BCom in Economics and is a seasoned marketer with 22 years’ experience. She has an established history in the financial services industry, working in one of the largest financial institutions in South Africa. The financial services industry allowed her to diversify her skills at an executive level in commercial property finance and in corporate investment banking. Joanne started her career as the Regional Marketing Manager in the Nedbank property finance division in 1998. She then grew from strength to strength until she served her final position, as Head of Brand and Client Insights at the Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking division in 2019.
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Romy Maree is a Chartered Accountant with 10 years of experience in the finance field and currently holds the post of Finance Executive at Dipula Property Fund, a real estate investment trust (REIT) listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE).
Her role includes Group financial statements and integrated report preparation, Group budget planning, Management of the operational finance team, function Internal control evaluation AND Regulatory compliance.
Romy’s journey began as an Audit Senior and Training Accountant with Mazars Cape Town in 2013, moving on to Audit senior specialising in the Real Estate Managing audit process at Mazars USA LLP – NYC in|2019 and progressed to Senior Audit Manager at Mazars Gauteng by 2019. Romy gained analytic and meticulous chartered accounting experience in the audit field of the property sector and the listed REIT environment and is a highly focused individual who displays sound technical ability and up-to-date tax knowledge. Romy skill as a team leader with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills has driven her forward to the point of being elected as the SA REIT treasurer from 2024.
Romy holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science from the University of South Africa. She came in the top 10 with her postgraduate diploma in Accounting from the University of the Western Cape. Romy is a registered Chartered Accountant and is awaiting her Registered Auditor accreditation from The Independent Regulating Board of Auditors.
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Leon was appointed as financial director and to the board in October 2014 and elected as chief operating officer in February 2021. He is responsible for all aspects of the asset and property management of the business, which includes the general administration of the property portfolio.
Leon Kok is a Chartered Accountant (SA) with an excellent blend of operational experience, sound business acumen and technical accounting knowledge. He joined Redefine in 2014 after a 13-year career at Peermont Global Limited. Prior to this, Leon completed his articles. He remained with KPMG until 2000, after which he moved to Brait SA as Group Financial Manager and then to Emperors Palace as Chief Financial Officer until 2006.
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Gerald Völkel is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience. Prior to being appointed Financial Director and Executive Director of Growthpoint Properties in 2013, he spent 12 years at JD Group Limited where he worked as Group Financial Director and later as Chief Financial Officer.
Gerald began his career in the auditing industry, where he was an Audit Partner of Ernst & Young for four years.
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BA LLB (University of the Witwatersrand)
In July 2009, Tracey was appointed Chief Legal Officer of Redefine Properties.
She specialises in property law and real estate, but in her capacity as Chief Legal Officer, she covers a very broad spectrum of legal practice is engaged with and has responsibilities and experience in the legal, operational, and strategic goals of the company.
Her experience includes banking and corporate finance, transformation, empowerment and enterprise development initiatives, black economic empowerment, general commercial law, local and international property transactions, M&A, Competition Commission legislation, regulatory law, labour law, and business crime/investigation.
In addition to her experience in the South African market, she is, and has been involved in and gained experience in the international corporate, strategic, legal, operational, and regulatory operations of Redefine Properties.
Prior to joining Redefine, Tracey specialised in litigation as a partner in a large legal firm and thereafter established her practice.
Tracey was appointed to Madison Property Fund Managers as group legal advisor to Madison, ApexHi Properties Limited, Outward Investments (Proprietary) Limited, and their subsidiaries in 2008.
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Itu’s journey with Vukile began in 2012 when he was hired as an Asset Manager. He was promoted in 2017 to oversee the asset management department and then took on the leadership of the entire Southern African business in 2019. The swift progression speaks to his proficiency in real estate investment and management.
Before joining Vukile, Itu started as a Research Analyst in real estate at Old Mutual Property in 2007. Here, he specialised in researching opportunities in African and International Emerging Markets. He later joined the Old Mutual SRI Real Estate Fund, where he was part of a small investment team that grew the fund’s assets from R158 million to R520 million in just two years. His focus was primarily on portfolio performance management and driving operational efficiencies.
Itu holds a BCom in Accounting & Management, an MCom in Financial Management and an MPhil in International Business. With 15 years of experience in real estate investment, five at the executive level, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. Outside his professional commitments, Itu is dedicated to sustainable business practices and community involvement, notably with the Eluxolweni Children’s Shelter. He also enjoys ultra-marathon running in his spare time.
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He is an admitted attorney with degrees in business management and law and a postgraduate diploma in property development and management. Danny is the Human Capital and Transformation manager for the Attacq Group, where he has been employed for a decade.
He is passionate about purpose-driven transformation and promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the real estate industry.
Human Capital and Transformation Manager
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B Bus Sci (Finance Hons), FCA (ICAEW), PLD (Harvard Business School)
Having joined the Investec Property Fund’s (now Burstone) executive management team in August 2012, Andrew has been instrumental in growing the Fund from R2bn of local assets into an integrated international real estate business with currently c.R35bn GAV under management and c.R5bn third-party capital under management across South Africa, Europe and Australia.
Andrew successfully led the process of internalising the Fund’s asset management functions in South Africa and Europe, culminating in rebranding the Investec Property Fund to the Burstone Group in October 2023. Andrew fulfilled the role of Chief Financial Officer from August 2015 until 1 December 2018, when he became Chief Executive Officer of the Fund. This position is a culmination of Andrew’s commercial, corporate finance and property industry experience, leveraging his skill as a chartered accountant for the benefit of the Fund through all aspects of M&A opportunities, corporate activity, financial structuring and asset positioning to ensure consistent business growth, efficient capital recycling and industry-leading returns.
Before this, Andrew spent eight years in London, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant, worked in corporate finance, and later headed up the Caesars Entertainment UK team responsible for driving profitability and rolling out new business opportunities across the EMEA region.
Raj Nana completed his bachelor’s degree in Accounting at the University of Witwatersrand and served his articles with the FirstRand group.
During his career in investment banking, Raj was employed at RMB and Barclays Africa Group Limited where he worked in the sectors of property finance, corporate debt and acquisition and leveraged finance.
Prior to joining Attacq in April 2014, Raj was a leveraged finance transactor. Raj joined Attacq’s Executive Committee on the 1st April 2016 and was appointed as the Attacq Group, Chief Financial Officer, in June 2018.
Laila Razack has a Bsc (Finance and Accounting), PGDA and a qualified chartered accountant. She joined Equites in 2015 and has played an integral role in improving internal processes within the group as well as growing the scale and sophistication of the overall finance function.
Prior to joining Equites, she worked in PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc.’s Advisory division with a focus on mergers & acquisitions. She has a keen interest for environmental, social and sustainable initiatives and serves as a director of The Michel Lanfranchi Foundation (NPC).
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Dawie Swarts serves as the Head of Group Finance at Growthpoint Properties Limited and holds the position of Chief Financial Officer for Growthpoint Investment Partners, the funds management arm of Growthpoint. He has been instrumental in enhancing the capabilities of the group finance team to handle more intricate structures and played a crucial role in steering Growthpoint Investment Partners to its current assets under management of R17.9 billion, focusing on deal structuring, finance, and tax aspects.
Dawie, a qualified chartered accountant, holds a MCom (International Tax), MBA, and MSc with a focus on Artificial Intelligence Strategy. His professional background includes significant experience at PwC in both South Africa and the United States, where he worked across Capital markets, Accounting advisory, Assurance, and Deals divisions. He has an interest in artificial intelligence and its implications on the commercial real estate sector.
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Brett Till is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in corporate finance, due diligence work, financial management and reporting, corporate governance, company and commercial law and taxation and exchange control compliance.
He started his career at Fisher Hoffman Stride in Johannesburg, before joining Rebhold Limited in 1998 as a Financial Executive. He was then appointed as the Group Chief Financial Officer in 1999, a position he held until 2007. Brett joined Mentor Africa Limited, a private investment company, in 2007, as the Chief Financial Officer, where he had various financial and corporate finance responsibilities.
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Nick Hanekom is a qualified chartered accountant and completed his articles with PwC in Johannesburg where after he joined PwC London. On his return to South Africa in August 2005 he was employed by Resilient, initially as company secretary and in May 2011 he became Financial Director of Resilient. Prior to joining Resilient, Nick was Financial Director of Fortress.
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Ian Vorster completed articles at PKF Johannesburg Inc and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2006. In 2007 he joined the PKF Corporate Division, where he was appointed a partner in 2009. Following the PKF and Grant Thornton Johannesburg merger in 2015 Ian was appointed the Head of the Grant Thornton Corporate Finance Division.
Vorster has extensive experience in due diligence investigations, valuations, fairness opinions – in terms of the Companies Act and the JSE – and Reporting Accountants’ work in respect of companies listed on the JSE.
Jenna Sprenger joined the Investec Property Fund in 2014 and subsequently formed part of the Fund’s executive management team and later the Board of Directors as CFO. In December 2020 she made a decision to change roles to focus on and manage the Fund’s balance sheet and treasury function across South Africa and Europe. She is also responsible for the roll out of ESG strategy and direction. She has played an integral role in the growth of the business to an asset base of R25bn across multiple geographies including South Africa, Australia, the UK and most significantly the investment into the €1bn Pan-European Logistics platform. Prior to joining the Fund, Jenna was the Financial Manager at Annuity Properties Limited, which she joined shortly after it listed until its sale to Redefine Properties. Post-graduation, Jenna completed her accounting articles and gained experience at KPMG Johannesburg and KPMG New York.
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He advises on M&A transactions, general corporate law, infrastructure projects, joint ventures, partnerships, private equity, corporate restructuring, due diligence, commercial law and real estate transactions. In addition, he acts for sponsors, funders and investors in the energy and infrastructure space.
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With a BComm (in Economics) degree and a master’s in corporate law, Pierre Swart specialises in the complete spectrum of debt and equity finance activities, including capital markets, DCM products, structured finance, regulatory work and market infrastructure-related work (such as the JSE and other exchanges).
Pierre’s experience extends to all areas of debt and equity funding, including corporate and M&A work and bilateral and syndicated loans, taking security, preference shares, corporate bonds and asset-backed financing.
He also has extensive experience in debt workouts and corporate restructurings, traditional and synthetic securitisation structures, invoice discounting and debt factoring, leveraged and acquisition finance, as well as local and cross-border real estate funding, property and financial regulatory work.
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Lesley joined Redefine Properties in 2010, was promoted to head of finance in 2015 and became head of corporate finance and investor relations in 2019. She plays a pivotal role in identifying and pursuing value-add opportunities to enhance the sustainable financial performance of the company.
She also serves as a member of the Management Committee and a standing invitee to the Executive Committee meetings.
Among many others, her core responsibilities include producing and coordinating interim and year-end financial statements, integrated reports and other reports for the company and its subsidiaries and ensuring strict compliance with IFRS and Johannesburg Stock Exchange requirements.
Since launching her career as an Audit manager at Grant Thornton Johannesburg in 2007, Lesley has honed her senior leadership skills by supervising financial managers within the company and property management finance areas.
Monica Muller completed her articles at Deloitte where after she qualified as a chartered accountant. While working at Deloitte, she was then appointed Manager in the audit division in 2010 and was later promoted to Senior Manager in 2012.
She joined Resilient in October 2013 as a Financial Manager and was appointed as the CFO in March 2020.
Laurence obtained his bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Witwatersrand in 1993 and his bachelor’s in Accounting in 1995 from UNISA. He has more than sixteen years’ experience in listed property asset management in South Africa, having previously served as CFO of retail-focused REIT Hyprop Investments from 2003 to 2018. Cohen joined Vukile in March 2019 and was appointed to the board as CFO in July 2019.
Laurence has extensive experience in various aspects of property asset management, including REIT regulation, IFRS and JSE reporting, deal structuring, debt and treasury management and investor relations. He was instrumental in the publication of the first BPR and previously chaired the Accounting and JSE Committee and served on its Executive Committee.