M.Comm. (Investment Management) / Property investments have always been a major attraction to the private individual and the institutional investor. Pension funds were slow to venture into this market but in South Africa there was increasing activity in the property market by pension funds over the last eight to ten years. The main reason for this development can be attributed to the fact that inflation in South Africa caused salaries and wages to increase substantially and increased salaries and wages resulted in increased contributions to pension funds. Pension Fund Administrators were, and they still are, faced with ever-increasing cash flows which must be invested to meet long term commitments. Venturing into the property market, left pension funds at what could be termed the mercy of developers and Estate Agents. Standardisation of presentation of investment details and commonly used evaluation methods and procedures are lacking. Proper knowledge of legal and contractual requirements are being obtained from legal advisers, but the pension fund movement is not yet self supporting in any of these fields. This study is an effort to identify the legal aspects, contractual requirements, methods of property development and minimum requirements for evaluation purposes. Inherent in the requirements are those aspects worthy of special reference in relation to the decision making process. It may be said that property investment by the private individual is not different from that of the pension fund. This statement is, however, only partly true. The requirements for the decision making process depends on the objectives of the investor. The pension fund, for example, has a long term view and sustained growth in cash flow as well as capital appreciation of the investment over the long term is a major determinant.

LL.M. / Please refer to full text to view abstract