A SAD FAREWELL TO SOUTH AFRICA’S DOYENNE OF REAL ESTATE – PAM GOLDING

There are few real estate moguls of the calibre of South African property doyenne Pam Golding, who passed away earlier this month, marking the end of a remarkable era for the business she started as a 40-something housewife in 1976 in the Mother City.

Today, the Pam Golding Property (PGP) group brand can be seen in major cities and towns across South Africa, and in countries from Mauritius to the UK. It has grown into South Africa’s most global real estate name, with 300 offices across Southern Africa, Europe and the Indian Ocean Islands.

Pam Golding’s son Dr Andrew Golding has been heading up the group for the past two decades, but as the founder and life president of PGP, Pam Golding was still seen as the matriarch of both the family and the business. Her death marks the end of an era.

Golding turned what began as a hobby into a lifelong passion, with fearless entrepreneurial flair for people, property and business, she created a thriving global property company.

Courageous, determined and with the unique charm and tenacity to overcome any challenge, she launched Pam Golding Property Group in 1976 at a time when the real estate industry was male-dominated and still somewhat of a ‘home industry’. She quickly identified a niche in the market for a discreet and professional property agency in South Africa, in the process building a reputation for selling the country’s most luxurious homes and building the integrity, trust and respect of the Pam Golding Properties brand.

In 1986 she took a courageous leap of faith by opening an office in London – at a time when the country’s international image was at its worst. Together with her son and chief executive Andrew, the business expanded further abroad.

As to real estate prospects for Golding’s promised land in the months to follow, global financial markets have responded positively to Ramaphosa’s election, with the rand in particular rallying strongly, reducing pressure on the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates. Fuelled by real demand, Cape Town also continues to see positive house price growth. While the upward curve will likely flatten marginally, the city is expected to remain a lucrative investment destination from both a capital growth and rental income perspective. More realistic seller expectations and positive political changes are already stimulating the market making it more affordable again for investment buyers.