Professionalisation of Commercial Property management Launched in South Africa
The internationally acclaimed Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Certified Property Manager (CPM) certification was launched by The South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners (SAIBPP) through a partnership with WITS University and Pareto Ltd, commercial retail property investment fund on the 18th of August 2017.
The certification of this nature is the very first in the African continent. The Pareto IREM CPM designation is currently being offered as an eight-day winter school programme at the WITS Professional Development Hub and is currently only available to existing holders of the WITS Post Graduate Diploma in Property Development and Management.
The first intake of South African IREM Certified Property Managers, who were by sponsored Pareto Ltd, graduated at the end of the month of August at one of the top three ‘Best Universities in Africa’, WITS University, which is currently the only non-American University that is accredited to offer the IREM CPM designation
“As the leading retail property investor in South Africa, we are passionate about investing in developing a sustainable and high quality local skills base. This partnership with IREM will not only assist in raising local standards of commercial property management but will also assist in fast-tracking access to the industry for new entrants,” says CEO of Pareto Ltd, Malose Kekana.
IREM is a United States based community of real estate managers dedicated to ethical business practices, maximizing the value of investment real estate, and promoting high level management through education and information sharing.
The organisation, which has been operating for 8 decades, now boasts a global membership of 20 000 individuals, 570 corporate members and 14 international chapters and it has also been working with SAIBPP for over 20 years with the aim “to cooperatively build a foundation of ongoing education and professional credibility to enhance the stature of property managers in South Africa”, according to the first protocol agreement, signed by then Chairperson, Mr. Saul Gumede.
