Vukile Property Fund will appoint respected stalwart of South Africa’s listed property sector, Laurence Cohen, as its new Chief Financial Officer.

The global sell-off of in emerging markets, an intractably weak domestic economy, an oversupply of business space, and a focus on the quality of earnings are all set to be major drivers of the SA REIT sector in the second half of 2018.

Vukile Property Fund today reported 7.7% growth in dividends to 168.82 cents per share for the year to 31 March 2018 on the back of higher second-half distribution growth of 7.9%.

Emira Property Fund today announced it has invested in its fourth shopping centre in the USA, growing its exposure in the biggest market in the Western world and progressing its international investment strategy.

In the last decade, SA REITs have proven their ability to operate successfully on the international stage and play in almost any market in the world. But does this make them truly global real estate players?

Old Mutual Property Group, which owns 32% of listed property unit trust Martprop and also manages the fund, aimed to substantially increase the size of the fund over the next three years, said Martprop MD Roger Perkin.