The South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP) wishes to welcome the appointment of Hon Paul Mashatile as the new Deputy President of South Africa. We also wish to congratulate Minister Sihle Zikalala and Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on their appointments as the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and the Minister of Electricity respectively as these ministries are of critical importance to our members due to the colossal impact of their performance on the property sector.
The Department of Public Works is mandated to be the custodian and portfolio manager of national government’s immovable assets. As the custodian of policy formulation, coordination, regulation and oversight relating to the provision of accommodation and expert built environment services to client departments at the national government level, the role of the Department is a key driver of transformation in the industry. The Department is further mandated to coordinate and provide strategic leadership in job creation initiatives through the implementation of the EPWP. Given the scope of work that the Department has, we hope that Hon Sihle Zikala leads the Department with a strong intention of implementing infrastructure led development with black owned property businesses and professionals as the forefront players.
We also welcome the creation of an additional Ministry in the Presidency to provide leadership in the wake of an energy crisis. We have stated before that our country is facing one of its most serious challenge of loadshedding. As SAIBPP we will work with the new Minister is finding possible solutions to the current crisis. Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has been entrusted with turning around the biggest crisis ever to beset the country — energy — since the dawn of democracy. On the new Minister’s list of priorities, we encourage him to engage with rising energy costs incurred by property owned businesses. Residential and commercial property owners have had to pay exorbitant amounts for generators and diesel due to persistent loadshedding. As part of his strategy, measures, in addition to the tax rebates for those who own solar panels as announced by the Minister of Finance, must be put in place to restore energy back to the national grid in a way that is cost effective.
In addition to the two appointments made in Department of keen interest to SAIBPP, we wish to congratulate the Hon Paul Mashatile on his new appointment as the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa. We look forward to hosting the Deputy President at our upcoming President’s Fundraising and Networking Masquerade Dinner (scheduled for the 5th of April 2023) as the keynote speaker. Property sector leaders that will be in attendance look forward to hearing his plans and strategies to take the property industry to greater heights.
SAIBPP wishes the newly appointed Ministers and Deputy Ministers well on their leadership journey. The hopes of our industry and South Africa at large rest on their strategic leadership and commitment to the development of South Africa’s economy.
END
ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CEO
For media related enquiries, contact:
Sthandiwe Msomi
marketing@saibpp.co.za