In a bold move to tackle South Africa’s youth unemployment challenges and transform the country’s real estate sector, Property Point has launched the Real Estate Incubator Programme. The incubator programme has been established through support from the National Pathway Management Network (NPMN) Innovation Fund, a grant initiative led by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), under the auspices of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI). This fund is administered by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
The programme will empower 699 young South Africans with industry-specific training, tools, and financial support to launch sustainable careers in real estate. Participants will gain access to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities through a structured pathway that removes long-standing barriers to entry.
Real estate remains one of South Africa’s least transformed sectors. High licensing costs, lack of monthly income security, and limited industry access have historically excluded young and marginalised young people with talent. This programme directly addresses these barriers through:
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Paid stipends during ramp-up,
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Licensing and equipment support,
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Personal training and development programmes,
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Hands-on mentorship with top real estate brands,
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Market access/ facilitation-research, procurement and business linkages for the young entrants.
With South Africa’s youth unemployment rate at a staggering 62.4% (ages 15 – 24), this initiative is not just a job creation programme – it’s a movement toward inclusive transformation in one of the country’s least transformed industries.
Shawn Theunissen, Founder of Property Point, leads this vision. “We’re not just creating jobs – we’re building futures, businesses, and ownership opportunities where none existed before,” said Theunissen.
Key Outcomes of this initiative include:
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699 youth will be trained and placed nationally or establish their own property business.
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Strategic partnerships with leading real estate brands.
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Income-generating pathways in sales, rentals, and managed leases.
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A scalable model for national replication and long-term industry impact.
Young people who want to join the real estate industry, can apply on Property Point’s digital platform. Importantly, no previous real estate experience is required. However, only those with a keen interest and passion for selling and letting properties, will stand a chance in becoming the future industry leaders in the Real Estate sector.
With youth unemployment at crisis levels, initiatives like this go beyond temporary job placement. The Real Estate Incubator Programme reimagines how young people engage with work, positioning them as future landlords, developers, property managers, and entrepreneurs. By offering paid learning, real income, and structured mentorship, the initiative sows the seeds for long-term wealth creation and sector transformation.
As South Africa seeks scalable models to address youth unemployment, the Real Estate Incubator is more than a pilot, it is a blueprint for transforming industries through inclusive innovation. It also reflects the growing momentum behind the Innovation Fund’s mission: to back ideas that unlock economic pathways for the youth of our country.
Said Sonja Loggenberg who heads the IDC’s Partnership Program: “At a time when South Africa’s youth unemployment is as high as it is, the need for bold, practical, and scalable interventions has never been more urgent. Youth unemployment is more than an economic issue, it is a national emergency threatening to undermine the country’s long-term stability, growth, and social cohesion.”
“The Innovation Fund was created to unlock bold solutions to youth unemployment, and this is a good example of how reimagined industries can become engines of both transformation and inclusion,” said Mapaseka Setlhodi who is the NPMN Lead, PYEI.
About Shawn Theunissen
Shawn Theunissen is a South African social entrepreneur dedicated to economic inclusion and SME empowerment across Africa. As the Founder of Property Point, he has driven over R2.5 billion in market opportunities for 524 SMEs, creating more than 3026 full time jobs. He also founded Entrepreneurship To The Point (eTTP) to support SMEs in emerging markets. Recognised internationally with expertise in enterprise development, market linkages, and business support, Shawn remains a leading voice in SME growth and social impact.
About Property Point
Established in 2008, Property Point is an industry initiative, partnering with some of the largest property organisations in the country, namely, Growthpoint Properties, Attacq Limited, Fortress Real Estate Investments, Pareto Limited, South Point, Masana and Burstone Property Fund, as well as the Public Sector Investment Corporation and the Small Enterprise Development Agency. Property Point partners with small businesses to enable sustainability through access to markets, access to funding and business development support, resulting in community upliftment through job creation.
