Gauteng Partnership Fund keen to catalyse affordable-housing entrepreneurs

23rd May 2014 By: Zandile Mavuso - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

The Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF) is hosting a Property Entrepreneur Seminar for property entrepreneurs aiming to develop affordable housing projects in Gauteng, on June 4, in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

GPF marketing and communications executive Ismail Carr says the objective of the seminar is to facilitate and bring together the relevant stakeholders from the public and private sectors that represent the affordable housing market in Gauteng.

“This allows for an opportunity to present funding opportunities to property entrepreneurs in the affordable housing market and to encourage public- and private-sector dialogue,” he adds.

With the GPF’s slogan of Leading, Developing and Empowering Property Entrepreneurs, Carr mentions that esteemed speakers will discuss various topics pertaining to funding opportunities, challenges and the need for an integrated partnership approach in providing finance for sustainable affordable housing initiatives.

Seven speakers will discuss different topics pertaining to property entrepreneurs to educate attendees and facilitate dialogues among them on the day.

Carr highlights that one of the speakers at the seminar, GPF CEO Boni Muvevi, will discuss the available opportunities in the affordable housing market in Gauteng and how the GPF is able to assist property entrepreneurs in using these opportunities.

GPF acting CIO Vinolia Mashiane will deal with funding opportunities that are available to property entrepreneurs in the GPF product range. South African Institute of Black Property Practitioners president Tshepo Matlala will focus on the transformation and funding exposure in the residential property sector.

National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) CEO Samson Moraba will discuss available NHFC funding opportunities, the partnership between the NHFC and the GPF on the Entrepreneur Empowerment Property Fund and the partnership’s view towards funding property entrepreneurs.

The Trust for Urban Housing Finance (TUHF) CEO Paul Jackson will provide information on the TUHF product offerings and its partnership with the GPF in the Inthuthuko Fund.

Affordable Housing Company (AFHCO) MD Renney Plit will speak about AFHCO’s access to the GPF funding and its success as a property entrepreneur. Plit will also focus on the experiences, challenges and opportunities that guided AFHCO to its success in the property industry.

Property consultant Henry Chitsulo will then facilitate the educational aspect of the seminar, which will deal with how property entrepreneurs can develop business plans for their particular affordable housing initiatives.