Coming together to tackle BEE



The Institute of Estate Agents is joining the Property Sector Transformation Charter Steering Committee, which has been set up to drive the creation of a black economic empowerment charter for the property sector. IEA president Bill Rawson says the sector has lagged behind others in achieving transformation, and it is a good thing that the major roleplayers have at last come together to tackle the problem, instead of working independently as they have been doing. "Committee objectives," says Rawson, "are to promote equal opportunity, and to create access for previously disadvantaged individuals and companies. The participants have pledged to work together, and to make their respective resources available to achieve that objective. "The IEA has been concerned about transformation for a number of years now, and has launched various initiatives of its own, including a mentorship programme, which was launched last year and has proved to be a runaway success. However, there is only so much that one organisation can accomplish alone, but by working together with other roleplayers, and the government, through the committee, we can collectively apply a wide range of resources and skills to solving the problem." The Institute of Estate Agents is a private body, established in 1937, to provide estate agents with a professional home. It has branches throughout the country, which provide members with training and other support. Ovr the past few years, it has worked with various government bodies to help promote skills development and create national qualifications for the property industry. The other members of the charter steering committee are the Estate Agency Affairs Board, the SA Black Technical & Allied Career Organisation, the SA Council of Shopping Centres, the SA Institute of Black Property Practitioners, the SA Institute of Valuers, the SA Property Owners' Association, the Women's Property Network, and the Department of Public Works.