Priorities of communities in South Africa have changed drastically in recent years. There are a number of socio-economic challenges which are shaping the suburbs, such as poor infrastructure, unemployment, poverty, social inequality, limited access to public services, high cost of living as a result of fuel and transport hikes, extreme weather destruction … and there are many more including the plight of domestic animals.
This means nobody should view any development in isolation, nor can people entirely depend on government to solve the issues. A broad and more inclusive effort is required. Real estate agents and agencies understand this. Not only do they have the ability to improve the wellbeing of communities but their involvement helps to increase the quality of life for home owners and their housing environments.
There are added benefits to the agents/agencies as well, such as better brand awareness, although it must be stressed that these benefits are not the motivating factor for donating time or funds, sponsorships, or driving philanthropic initiatives. In every review listed in this feature, those quoted concur that it is important to be part of the solution of upliftment in communities and to respond to the needs of societies that are in distress; it’s a heartfelt response.
If you think it doesn’t make a difference because the problems are so vast and so huge; think again. The book The Star Thrower clearly demonstrates the effect: A man comes across a young boy picking up starfish that have been washed up onto a beach. These creatures cannot survive nor return to the sea on their own and will die. There were tens of thousands and the man points out to the boy that his efforts won’t really make much of a difference. The boy picks up yet another starfish, throws it into the ocean and says to the man: “it made a difference to that one.”
Making such a difference to their local (and national) communities are many real estate players. Here is a selection of some of them:
Local Real Estate
Tim Johnson, Principal and Founder: “One of our beliefs is that every family, homeowner, entrepreneur and business operator living and working in a place becomes woven into the diverse social fabric, making every community unique. However, it takes collaboration, cohesiveness and co-dependency to thrive. A key element, therefore, is to add value through building relationships, getting involved, supporting community programmes, and connecting the community.
“Agents/agencies thus have a big responsibility for several reasons: we are, essentially, promoting a destination, selling a lifestyle, and everything that is associated to a community. It is, as a result, important to help because if we build a functioning, happy and connected community, it enhances the liveability and desirability of an area. That in turn leads to increases in property values.
“We have learnt over the years, that while monetary donations are desperately needed, leveraging our networks and partnerships and giving of our time and expertise is often far more valuable to communities, charities and NGOs. Together with our agent team we get stuck into community work because in a business world it is much harder to give your time and expertise than just simply giving money.
“Historically, we have encouraged our agents to identify opportunities or existing charities because we are not equipped to start or run those, nor do we have the manpower or skills to make those sustainable. Once a member of our team has identified what or who they want to work with, we provide financial or resource/time support. In this vein we have been very active during the floods, helping provide relief with food donations and distribution thereof and accepted and distributed financial donations. Similarly, we are connecting, through the Sugar Rats Cycling Club, where children connect with the natural environment, helping them become fit and healthy and instilling other important values.”
RealNet Properties
Katlyn Dorfling, RealNet Polokwane: “Our time and physical involvement means we blend in where help is needed the most. We have raised funds for Cansa, manned water points for road races, organised market days and engaged with our communities where needs are highlighted. Even when those needs aren’t apparent or have been called out, if there is no-one addressing those, sometimes you have to be the first to take action.”
Riaan Smuts, franchisee RealNet Overberg: “No one in a community can live or work alone and each agent/agency should support causes they believe in. This also means engaging their own networks for deeper assistance. Most recently we have sponsored markets for local hiking trails, supported and taken part in a cancer walk, organised a town festival and a charity cricket day. Sometimes agents need to initiate a project, but I think it’s better not to spend time or resources on re-inventing the wheel, but rather supporting efforts that have the most beneficial outcome.”
Anne-Marie Scholtz, principal RealNet Elegance, Pretoria: “I agree with Riaan. Although agents should do as much as possible, it is far more effective to assist existing projects and preferably registered, and thereby authentic, organisations that already have structures in place. Recently we have made and delivered meal parcels to an old age home whose residents have little or no family support. We’ve supported the Boschkop Animal Clinic, hosted a golf day to benefit Alma residents, and another golf day to support needy children at Wonderboom High School. We’ve also engaged with our service providers to assist, which has been embraced.”
Chas Everitt International Property Group
Jared Snyman, Chas Everitt Randburg: His agency recently helped to raise some R400 000 to enable Dogs for Wildlife to build a SA base for the breeding and training of Belgian Malinois dogs that assist ranger teams who work to protect rhinos. Jared himself undertook a 63 km ultra-trail run through the bush in 37 degrees heat, which was grueling, as indicated by only six runners that finished.
Lux Vazzana, Chas Everitt Bedfordview: Lux is dedicated to rescuing abandoned animals, and assists with the raising of funds and donations for several animal shelters. She has also started a glass recycling project under the banner of Recycle for Rescue.
John Gentz, Chas Everitt Southern Suburbs, Cape Town: John has been working in his community for several years, and his efforts heightened during Covid-19 lockdowns. He is a participant in various initiatives to feed a growing number of vulnerable and elderly people. Currently he is a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, and is developing a formal youth mentoring programme.
Anneke Buys, co-principal of Chas Everitt Luxury Winelands Estates: Anneke and her team are supporting a social media drive to raise funds for Daybreak House, a new safe haven for abandoned and endangered babies. People are encouraged to take a selfie of their activities at daybreak and donate R300 for the publishing of that image on Daybreak social media channels. Her agency pays the entry fee for every agent that participates and the agents are encouraging all their clients and networks to take part.
Rawson Property Group
Carla Clarke, Group Communication Manager: “There is so much need around us, which is one of the reasons our Group included ‘Goodness” as one of our five core values. This speaks to the genuine love for the neighbourhoods we work in and serves as a reminder to keep building our communities in any way we can.
“Our offices take their own initiative and support whatever causes they prefer, whether it’s creating them or becoming involved in existing projects. This structure results in ‘Rawsonites’ giving more of their time and resources to making a difference and prioritising needs of the communities.
“The Rawson brand’s involvement is across 200-plus communities, ranging from financial support, donated time and promotion of specific initiatives to our networks. While I am hesitant to communicate community involvement that confuses the true intention thereof in the pursuit of publicity, I believe that showcasing such involvement in a sincere way encourages other people and businesses to follow suit.”
Rawsons activities have included: donation drives on a permanent and ad hoc basis; assisting non-profits such as homeless, children and animal shelters; community clean-ups; soup kitchens; and skills development programmes. The organisation has also supported national humanitarian organisations like Gift of the Givers.
Seeff Property Group
Ted Frazer, National Marketing Manager: “While Seeff’s multitude of branches are involved at a local community level in a number of projects aimed at giving back and assisting those in need, the overall Seeff Group has a national project, in which all branches, licensees and agents participate: The Seeff Home2Home Campaign.
“Basically, this facilitates the process of donating unwanted goods from property sellers who are moving, to communities in need. It also directs the collection of clothing, blankets and bedding, toys and baby goods, and small kitchen appliances and household items. Donors drop their goods at the nearest Seeff branch or we will collect, and then distribute from central Seeff collection points.
“Some of our coastal and KZN branches are also actively involved in cleaning local beaches after the devastating floods, with some 18 tonnes of refuse removed.”
Leadhome Properties
Tracey Hicks, Head of Agents: “The agents we represent are integral to the communities and areas in which we work, and we contribute meaningfully to them. As agents it is important that not only are we regarded as experts in the regions in which we work, but that the communities regard us as hands-on champions. In general, we have found it preferable to reach out to an NGO rather than attempt to start a project. Through our networks we are able to tap into many of our corporate colleagues who, as an example, were unbelievably supportive during the recent flood disaster in Durban.”
Margarie Maartens, agent at Pretoria East: “Agents have a critical insight into who is living in communities and why they chose a particular house or suburb to call home. We are already assisting buyers and sellers to make life-changing choices, so moving onto financial and physical support is part of the process. I am recognised in Pretoria East because of my ongoing involvement with the community, from helping to find missing dogs to cleaning up neighbourhood streets. My branch also supports a home for young disabled people, a community security group, fixes potholes and fencing, and engages with our local businesses for their contributions.”
Ronel du Plooy, agent at Kempton Park: “Communities differ in their needs. Some need financial support in the form of sponsorships, others have NPOs that need money, food, clothes etc. Actual involvement is crucial, either through helping with clean-up projects, renovations and such. The challenge is how to define the time required and tap into resources available. Through our network' project we connect people who can donate furniture and clothes to the needy for example. My motto is that one must help where one can according to your ability. It can be as simple as adopting a family by giving them emotional support, cleaning their homes, and/or buying groceries.”
Tyson Properties
Neil Abernethy, Atlantic Seaboard Managing Partner: “We currently donate to the Life Child Charity that supports orphans and vulnerable children. Every time an agent completes a sale or rental, we make a donation to this cause. We have also sponsored a local soccer team with kit and collect donations of toiletries and clothing for a local shelter housing vulnerable people. We recently donated food and water to firefighters who fought the blaze on Signal Hill.”
Lee Ellis, Director of Tyson Properties Westville: “It is our mission to create opportunities so that people may live better within the greater Westville area. Whether it's through the grants we provide to numerous organisations that share our mission, or through inspiring volunteer efforts of our agents, we are extremely passionate about helping people that touch our lives. Currently we are focused on supporting two important projects: a creche in Chesterville; and a clean-up campaign within central Westville. Our agents also contribute a percentage of every property-related transaction to our in-house charity fund which benefits organisations such as Hospice and CHOC. All local projects that help keep Westville looking presentable, such as cleaning verges and parks of litter and weeds, also benefit from our assistance.”
Harcourts
Richard Gray, CEO: “We have always sought opportunities to contribute to local communities, through a philanthropic nature or actual physical involvement; in fact, one often follows on the heels of the other. The Harcourts Foundation has long been synonymous with making contributions to our communities as part of our social responsibility efforts, and agents play an active role by means of commission sacrifice and through specially-organised events where we roll up our sleeves and immerse ourselves in our communities.
“The Harcourts Foundation has organised countless events since 2011, among them fundraisers, sponsorships, social awareness events, and made donations to worthy causes. To date we’ve raised over R74-million through our global initiatives!
“Harcourts agents are highly in touch with their communities which is why we believe they are often best able to determine where support is most needed, and would make the greatest difference. Our niche is to support causes and organisations that are hyper-local and who often miss out on big corporate or government funding. We do, however, tend to lean towards aiding existing NPO’s that have a sound track record, and also partner with those in our network who share a similar culture and stance on social responsibility.
“Activities include Walk a Mile events aimed at raising awareness of gender-based violence; 12 Days of Christmas, whereby 12 Harcourts offices contributed some R120 000 to their charities of choice; and 67 Minutes for Mandela.”
RE/MAX
Adrian Goblet, Regional Director and CEO of Southern Africa: “One of our brand’s motto’s is ‘we don’t just work in a community, we live there too’, which is why our network of 2900 southern Africa agents are committed to uplifting and aiding communities in the region. We founded the RE/MAX Foundation in 2012 to help improve lives with a focus on supporting worthy causes for the upliftment and development of the youth.
“The Foundation has raised close to R7-million in donations towards our national beneficiaries and other causes, and we encourage our network to find other ways to support communities beyond financial contributions. One such example is our Winter Coats & Cans collection drive, which provided shelters across the country with much needed basic comforts. Similarly, our year-end Toy & Book collection drive, and our hosting of a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
“We encourage our agents to tap into their network of buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants to generate support for worthy causes.”
To all these and the thousands of other agents and agencies that voluntarily give of their time or financial resources to improve the livelihood of those in need, Private Property salutes you.
Writer : Kerry Dimmer