“The Reside Awards 2026, held at the Sandton Convention Centre, honoured South Africa’s top residential property innovators, developers, and estates, highlighting affordable housing, luxury developments, and PropTech breakthroughs. Africrest, Ellipse Waterfall, and Yethu City were among the winners, while Steve Brookes of Balwin Properties received the Residential Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Reside Awards 2026: Shaping the Future of South Africa’s Residential Property Sector
The South African residential property industry reached a new milestone with the Reside Awards 2026, hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre. Now in its fourth year, the awards have become the definitive benchmark for excellence, innovation, and sustainability in the residential sector. This year’s ceremony showcased the industry’s resilience and transformation, with winners representing affordable housing, luxury estates, PropTech innovation, and community living.
Recognising Excellence Across the Spectrum
One of the evening’s most celebrated winners was Africrest Properties, which secured multiple platinum awards. Its project, The Maestro, won Mid-Market Multi-Family Residential Project of the Year, while The Silo earned Residential Interior Design Project of the Year. Africrest’s recognition underscores its role in redefining urban living through innovative design and community-focused developments.
In the affordable housing category, Yethu City on Sisulu Street stood out as the Affordable Multi-Family Residential Project of the Year (Platinum). This project exemplifies how underutilised urban spaces can be transformed into vibrant communities, placing residents closer to economic opportunities and essential services.
Luxury developments also took centre stage, with Ellipse Waterfall winning Luxury Multi-Family Residential Project of the Year (Platinum). Meanwhile, Zimbali Estate and Waterfall Equestrian Estate were jointly awarded Lifestyle Estate of the Year, recognising their contributions to integrated, large-scale living environments that blend modern convenience with lifestyle appeal.
Honouring Industry Leaders
The Residential Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Steve Brookes, founder and CEO of Balwin Properties. Since establishing Balwin in 1996, Brookes has pioneered large-scale sectional title lifestyle estates across Gauteng, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. His developments have combined affordability, sustainability, and modern living, reshaping South Africa’s residential landscape. With more than 100 developments delivered nationally, Brookes’ influence continues to drive urban growth and housing innovation.
PropTech Innovation Driving Change
The 2026 awards placed strong emphasis on PropTech innovation, recognising companies that are reshaping the property landscape through technology. Meta-dology and Preferental were named joint platinum winners in the PropTech Innovator of the Year – Developer category. Meta-dology was praised for transforming how developments are understood before construction begins, while Preferental’s AI Screening & DepositPlus solution is revolutionising the rental experience for tenants and landlords alike.
In the PropTech Innovator of the Year – Application category, eXp Realty South Africa received the Silver Award for its innovative use of international technology to create impactful local platforms. These recognitions highlight how digital transformation is becoming central to the future of residential property in South Africa.
Community Living and Operational Excellence
The Community Scheme of the Year award went to George Rennie & Co, recognised for its advanced operational management of residential schemes. This achievement sets a benchmark for managing agents in South Africa, demonstrating how effective governance and operational excellence can enhance community living.
A Call to Action for the Industry
Neale Petersen, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Real Estate Investor and Awards Chair, emphasised that the Reside Awards are not just about recognition but about driving transformation. “These awards celebrate developers, entrepreneurs, and practitioners who are reshaping property and reshaping futures,” Petersen said. Debbie Tagg, Chair of the Reside Summit, echoed this sentiment, noting that the awards highlight the industry’s responsibility to innovate and deliver sustainable solutions.
Conclusion
The Reside Awards 2026 underscored the diversity, resilience, and innovation of South Africa’s residential property sector. From affordable housing projects like Yethu City to luxury estates such as Ellipse Waterfall, and from PropTech innovators to industry legends like Steve Brookes, the awards showcased a sector that is not only thriving but also evolving to meet the demands of modern living. As South Africa continues to face challenges of urbanisation and housing affordability, the Reside Awards serve as a beacon of progress, inspiring the industry to push boundaries and deliver transformative solutions.
