Colloquium Strengthens Research Collaboration for Property Sector Transformation

In an effort to strengthen research collaboration for property sector transformation, the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA), in collaboration with Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and the Department of Human Settlements (DHS), hosted the Property Sector Research Colloquium.

Held at NMU’s Ocean Sciences Campus in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, from 05 to 06 November 2025, the event brought together leading and emerging scholars, policymakers, and industry experts to explore innovative research, policy perspectives, and collaborative opportunities aimed at advancing transformation and sustainability within South Africa’s property sector.

Delivering the keynote address, Human Settlements Minister Dr Thembi Simelane said, “I commend the Colloquium’s contribution to reimagining the property sector as a cornerstone of South Africa’s inclusive growth and transformation agenda. I believe that [it] comes at a pivotal time—after more than 30 years of democracy, it is increasingly necessary to take stock of how far we have come in transforming the property landscape of our country. It goes without saying that it is essential to rapidly transform the property sector to reflect the demographics of a democratic South Africa, because doing so addresses historical injustices, promotes inclusive economic growth, and ensures equitable access to land and property opportunities for all.”

In welcoming delegates to NMU, Dr Muki Moeng, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching, said, “The Colloquium represents a critical step toward transforming a property landscape still shaped by South Africa’s historical injustices. We’re all aware of the negative consequences of the Native Land Act of 1913 and the Group Areas Act of 1950. The results can still be felt today and are evident in the spatial politics that continue to challenge South Africa. These Acts laid the structured foundation for land dispossession and enduring socio-economic disparities.”

She added, “We’re therefore confident that this occasion marks a critical step toward transforming the property landscape. This partnership is founded on the powerful premise that only through strategic collaboration can we dismantle the significant barriers to entry and advancement faced by previously marginalised individuals and communities in property ownership, development, financing, and professional practice.”

During her address, Ms Thato Ramaili, PPRA CEO, stated, “My organisation expressly recognises that effective regulation cannot only be about compliance, but also insight, foresight, and evidence-based decision-making, hence our collaboration with academia. In that spirit, I am proud to share with you that, with the invaluable support of the NRF and NMU, the Property Sector Research Centre has, to date, completed three major research projects. These studies delved into critical areas that influence both policy and practice within the property sector.”

“Research ensures that the PPRA and its stakeholders are continuously aware of the complex dynamic and political, socio-economic terrain within which the sector operates, as well as the directions necessary to advance the interests of the sector, added Ms Ramaili. “I am deeply grateful to the NRF and NMU for their unwavering support, partnership, and assistance. Their participation in the research programme has enabled the PPRA to align its research agenda with the broader national goals of innovation, transformation, and inclusive growth.”

Said Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, NRF CEO, “The first of the three completed studies looked at the property transformation post-matric curricula. The second was on professionalism and ethics in the sector, while the third focused on skills development pathways for property practitioners. A fourth study, which we’re currently busy with, focuses on the attraction and retention of emerging practitioners in rural areas.”

“For the NRF, our partnership with the PPRA and NMU is both strategic and transformative; it signals a collective commitment to embed research excellence in evidence-based policymaking in the property ecosystem,” added Dr Nelwamondo. “Over the last year, and a few years before that, the NRF supported over 110 postgraduate students from Honours to Master’s and PhD levels in disciplines spanning construction, civil engineering, town and regional planning, and many other areas. These emerging scholars represent the next generation of innovators and professionals who will transform our built environment.”

“The NRF invests significantly in built environment sciences. The DSTI-NRF Research Chair on Sustainable Construction Management and Leadership at the University of Johannesburg is a flagship example of this investment. It has produced more than 60 PhD graduates, 200 Master’s graduates, and 15 postdoctoral Fellows.”

Delivering a thematic address entitled Positioning the Property Sector as a Strategic Research Theme through Transdisciplinary Partnerships and Collaborative Programmes, Dr Thandi Mgwebi, Group Executive for Business Advancement at the NRF, said, “Positioning the property sector within South Africa’s national research and innovation agenda is very important. The complexity of challenges within the sector—from persistent spatial inequality to sustainability and access and ownership—demands a transdisciplinary approach that bridges all disciplines.”

“We must make this trans-disciplinarity a new normal because we are not going to solve the challenges we have by only looking at them from one lens,” she added. “Fostering strategic partnerships among academia, government, and industry is essential to unlock research-driven solutions that advance transformation and inclusive growth.”

The Property Sector Research Colloquium was one of the key outcomes of the inaugural PPRA-NRF Property Sector Research Conference, held at the NRF’s corporate offices in March 2023. That conference sought to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9) which highlights innovation, sustainable infrastructure, and inclusive industrialisation as drivers of economic transformation. The 2025 Colloquium furthered this mission by providing a platform for scholars, policymakers, and industry experts to present their research findings and exchange ideas through plenaries and interactive sessions.