The Investor of the Year (IOTY) 2026 judging process continued last week as three round 1 entrants presented their property deals to the judging panel.
Our judges included:
- Andrew Walker – CEO, SA Property Investors Network (SAPIN)
- Patricia Tshitema – IOTY 2024 winner
- Neal Petersen – CEO, Rei Magazine
- Daniel Kazadi – Accountant, Property Investor.
After a detailed review of strategy, execution, numbers and sustainability, all three entrants have officially progressed to round 2 of leg 1.1 of this year’s IOTY. They are:
Dimakatso Makgato – development | Soweto
Dimakatso showcased a development project based in Soweto, demonstrating strong strategic positioning and local market understanding. The judges commended the clarity behind the development strategy and its alignment with real housing demand in the area.
Lionel Raulla – Airbnb deal | Ferndale, Randburg
Lionel presented an Airbnb investment deal in Ferndale, Randburg, focusing on short-term rental performance and operational efficiency. His deal reflected stages from renovation to occupancy in the competitive short-term rental market in South Africa.
Pieter Wessels – Airbnb deal | Fourways, Sandton
Pieter showcased an Airbnb property in Fourways, Sandton, demonstrating strong positioning within a high-demand node. The presentation reflected a clear understanding of profit to date.
IOTY 2026: A credibility-led property investment platform
Investor of the Year (IOTY) 2026, hosted by the SA Property Investors Network (SAPIN) in partnership with Absa Home Loans, remains one of South Africa’s most rigorous property investment competitions.
Each entrant is evaluated on:
- Strategy
- Journey
- Financial performance
- Risk management
- Sustainability and scalability.
Advancing to round 2 confirms that these investors have demonstrated credible, measurable performance in their respective strategies.
The standard continues to rise as IOTY 2026 progresses.
#IOTY2026 #AbsaHomeLoans #SAPIN #InvestorOfTheYear2026
