NRF and PPRA Collaborate to Launch the Property Sector Research Centre

Pretoria, South Africa: The National Research Foundation (NRF) in partnership with the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) hosted the first Property Sector Research Conference on 1 March 2023. The conference aimed to stimulate scientific research, the generation of knowledge within the property sector, and to launch the Property Sector Research Centre (PSRC). Representatives from the property sector, academia, consumers, the private sector, government and state-owned entities discussed the state of affairs of the property sector, and the mandate of the PSRC, which ultimately seeks to drive economic growth, knowledge and transformation within the property sector.

As part of its industry engagement approach, the NRF aims to enhance its collaboration capacity with industry, government and academia to address various socio-economic challenges, including human settlement-related issues.

The NRF and PPRA will conclude a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in research and research support activities within the property and human settlements-related areas to advance national imperatives. The MoU will enable the NRF to support and advance strategic partnerships between the PPRA and research performing institutions to establish innovative industry-academia programmes that will explore opportunities in addressing property sector-related challenges.

“The PPRA is acknowledged and congratulated on the establishment of the PSRC. The NRF is pleased to form part of this strategic development and looks forward to supporting the centre, working closely with key stakeholders,” says Dr Aldo Stroebel, Executive Director Strategic Partnerships at the NRF.

The partnership further responds to the Property Practitioners Act (PPA), which came into effect on 1 February 2022. The Act was introduced to ensure economic growth and to transform the South African property industry. It further encourages the PPRA to form strategic partnerships with public institutions, such as the NRF, to promote research and innovation, and raise awareness to consumers about their rights and responsibilities through the educative processes.