It’s easy to get swept up in the highs and lows of sport and right now, many South Africans are feeling a little flat after our national teams have struggled to deliver the victories we always hope for. But looking beyond the scoreboards, the country is winning in other ways and there are many reasons to feel cheerful.
The economy, for one, is showing encouraging signs of resilience. At the beginning of the year, growth was almost standing still at just 0,1%. Fast-forward to now and that figure has climbed to 0,8%. While that may not sound dramatic at first glance, it represents meaningful progress, particularly because the growth is being driven by strong performances in key sectors. Manufacturing and mining are showing renewed strength, while trade related to tourism is proving its importance as South Africa continues to attract visitors drawn to our natural beauty, vibrant cities and unique experiences.
Even more encouraging is the fact that households are starting to spend more. Rising household expenditure is a clear indicator of growing consumer confidence, and confidence is exactly what fuels a healthier, more dynamic economy – and higher demand for housing.
Meanwhile, major international companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Hisense, Huawei and many green energy companies continue to invest in South Africa, pouring billions of rands into new manufacturing plants, regional head offices and infrastructure projects, and bolstering employment numbers. Retail giant Walmart, which employs more than two million people around the world, is just the latest to announce its entry into the local market, underscoring the country’s growing appeal to global business leaders.
Also on the international front, I’m very proud to share that Chas Everitt’s Creating Smiles advertising campaign has been recognised on the global stage, earning runner-up in the Most Effective category at the 2025 Globey Awards. Hosted by the Advertising & Marketing Independent Network (AMIN) Worldwide, the awards held in London celebrated the most creative, results-driven campaigns created by more than 60 agencies worldwide.
The Creating Smiles campaign was developed in partnership with our brand agency Stratitude and truly reflects our philosophy that real estate is not just about selling properties; it’s about building relationships, earning trust and creating positive experiences for our clients. And this award shows that people-first values resonate not only locally but internationally.
Further evidence of this is that Chas Everitt continues to thrive, in real terms, through our focus on having the best prepared, most caring and most collaborative agents. At the end of our financial year in August, our revenue from property sales showed an annual increase of 21%, and that from residential rentals an annual increase of 15%. What is more, individual agent earnings increased by an average of 22% - all in a year when consumers were still struggling to find their financial feet and property prices only rose by an average of around 5%.
So while the sporting front may not currently be delivering the glory moments we love to celebrate, I am definitely celebrating victories of another kind right now that I believe are just as important for our collective future.
