At the SAPOA Journalism Awards for Excellence 2026, Real Estate Investor (REI) secured runner-up for Property News Website of the Year, earning a place among South Africa’s top property media platforms with this prestigious recognition.
REI was shortlisted across three major property media categories: Property Publication of the Year, Property News Website of the Year, and Digital Broadcast and Media.
SAPOA Journalism Awards
The awards ceremony was held at Sun City during SAPOA’s 60th Annual Convention. The judges praised the overall strength of this year’s journalism while challenging property media to push independence and transparency further.
Competition across the awards was substantial, with REI competing against other prominent property media platforms, including Positive Impact, Africa-based Asset Magazine, and other media outlets.
The Digital Broadcast and Media nominees included entries associated with Alistair Anderson, Ashley Muller, Noxolo Majavu of Business Day, and Suren Naidoo of Moneyweb.
Judging Panel and Process
The 2026 judging panel brought together experienced representatives from the media and property industries, including Brian Azizollahoff, Nonzamo Hadebe, Bronwyn Noble, Giselle Tsotetsoe, and journalist and editor Rob Rose.
SAPOA said submissions were assessed with rigour, fairness, and integrity, drawing on the judges’ combined property, media, and storytelling experience.
Since launching in 2007, REI has developed from a specialist investment magazine into a broader property intelligence ecosystem, including REI.co.za, REImag, newsletters, REI Live webinars, executive interviews, video, investor education, events, and property market intelligence.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief Neale Petersen said the recognition provides further motivation to keep raising REI’s editorial standards, and that the judges’ challenge to property media is one they take seriously.
As REI approaches its 20th year, the focus is on strengthening independent journalism, original reporting, market intelligence, video, data, and investor education while continuing to connect investors with the people and ideas shaping South African real estate.
The objective for the next chapter is straightforward: to keep raising the standard, asking difficult questions, and giving South African property investors an edge.
They will continue to work towards this goal, building on the progress they have made so far. Neale Petersen and his team are committed to providing high-quality content and services to their readers and users.
