MAIN IMAGE: Tony Clarke, new chairman of Rebosa.
The new chairman of Rebosa is Rawson Property Group’s managing director Tony Clarke who says he has big plans for one of the country’s strongest industry bodies.
The Board of Real Estate Business Owners of South Africa (Rebosa) was established in 2012 as an independent, non-profit company to represent the best interests of business owners and principals of small, medium and large residential real estate agencies. It has grown into one of the most influential real estate bodies in South Africa, with its members collectively employing more than 15 000 registered, practicing estate agents.
Clarke is taking over from Richard Gray, CEO Harcourts SA, who served as chairman of Rebosa for the past three years and will stay on as a director on the board. Gray says it was a privilege to serve during a time of many interesting challenges including lobbying for a good Property Practitioners Bill, grappling with ways to transform the industry in a meaningful and effective way, holding the regulator accountable, and most recently, working to get real estate back during the lockdown. “Rebosa is a great organisation where fierce competitors work together for the good of the industry. It is an example of where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. I am pleased to stay on as a Director and continue to work towards an inclusive, successful and world class industry. I look forward to supporting the incoming chairperson, Tony Clarke, who I have no doubt will prove a strong and effective leader,” says Gray.
Rebosa chief executive Jan le Roux commends Gray as an exemplary chairman “I appreciate his guidance and support and look forward to his continued contributions as a valued member of the board. On behalf of the board I also welcome Tony Clarke as our new chairman and wish him every success during his tenure.”
Clarke brings over 28 years of executive experience in the property sector. He served as director on many industry related bodies, including the Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa (IEASA), MLS, Estate Agents Property Portal Company (EAPPC), Private Property, South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA SQGB), amongst others.
Under the Rawson Property Group banner, he has successfully led multicultural teams of over 1500 people in sales and business development on a national level. Well-regarded for his proven ability to grow companies through the identification and development of new business opportunities and the creation of strategic partnerships, Clarke, a long time, active member of Rebosa, says he has big plans for the organisation under his chairmanship.
His immediate focuses will include:
- Expediting transformation in the South African real estate sector by working with the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) and real estate brands to open education opportunities to previously disadvantaged individuals and facilitate recruitment within the sector.
- Reinforcing unity within the formal real estate sector under the National Property Practitioners Council (NPPC) federation and advancing the professionalisation of the informal real estate sector.
- Guiding and influencing the formalisation of regulations governing the Property Practitioners Bill to ensure meaningful and practical governance in areas including: transformation, training, formal qualifications, continuous professional development (CPD) and the industry code of conduct.
- Supporting our industry’s authority in building the necessary administrative systems to enable timeous renewals of annual Fidelity Fund Certificates (FFCs).
- Improving communication and collaboration between the EAAB and the industry to ensure effective, ongoing development of the real estate sector.
“Rebosa is a powerful and essential force for good in our industry,” says Clarke. “I look forward to leveraging the collective experience of its members to continue to build a professional environment in which all of our businesses can thrive, while contributing to a more vibrant and resilient South African economy.”
Further board changes
Herschel Jawitz, CEO Jawitz Properties, is a new appointment on the board where he will serve for two years. “Herschel brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise coupled with a profound understanding of the challenges we are currently faced with. There is much work to be done in the months ahead and I believe he will be a tremendous asset to Rebosa,” Le Roux says.
RE/MAX director Amanda Cuba’s term as a board member has come to an end after three years. She made a valuable contribution to Rebosa during this time. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for bringing her passion and experience to the table. Although Amanda leaves the board we look forward to her ongoing involvement in the organisation,” he concludes.
