South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA)

The South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) is the member-driven representative body and official voice of the commercial and industrial property sector in South Africa. SAPOA was established in 1966, is based in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and represents an estimated 90% of the country’s commercial and industrial real estate companies.

Registered name

South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA)

Type

Industry association (commercial and industrial property)

Fields funded

Property studies, valuation, real estate, quantity surveying, construction, civil engineering, architecture and planning

Website

sapoa.org.za

Email

applications@sapoa.org.za

Phone

011 883 0679

What SAPOA does

SAPOA represents property owners, developers, financiers and managers of offices, shopping centres, industrial parks and warehouses. SAPOA lobbies government and municipalities on legislation, runs technical committees, publishes industry research and property statistics that members and government use, and hosts events such as the annual SAPOA Convention and Property Development Awards.

Education for people already in property

SAPOA runs education courses nationally in partnership with universities, whose qualifications are accredited through the Council on Higher Education. The courses aim to raise the knowledge, employability and competence of people working in property, and companies can include them in the skills plans they submit to their SETAs.

The SAPOA Bursary Fund

SAPOA established its bursary fund in late 2009, and member companies provide most of its money, although SAPOA welcomes contributions from non-members and government. The trust aims to transform the demographics of the commercial property industry to reflect South Africa’s population, redress the past by funding black disadvantaged students, promote the property industry at schools and universities, and address the sector’s skills shortage.

The bursary covers tuition, prescribed books, study materials and university-accredited accommodation, and adds mentoring and tutoring. Funded fields include architectural studies, civil engineering, construction studies, property studies, valuation and management, quantity surveying, real estate and urban and regional planning, plus a Postgraduate Diploma in Property Development and Management. Applicants must be South African citizens aged 18 to 35, and employment equity candidates are the focus of the 2027 fund.

Timing

The 2027 bursary opened in July 2026 and closes on 30 September 2026, with online applications through the Jobox platform.

How to research SAPOA

Download a SAPOA property report to understand trends such as office vacancies and retail performance, and mention one in your motivation. Many property students do not realise how many careers exist in asset management, leasing and development, so explore them before an interview.

See the Massel Property Services bursary and our quantity surveying bursaries.