Real estate agency reflects on 110 years of success

Local real estate agency George Rennie & Co turned 110 years old on March 10.

The man at the helm of this realty giant, which has literally changed the landscape of Benoni and many other parts of the East Rand, is Errol van Heerden (81), who took up the position of CEO in 1989.

“We are celebrating 110 years of not only being in business but also of goodwill and friendship and giving to those who were less fortunate,” van Heerden said of the milestone in an interview with the City Times at their offices in Main Road, Farrarmere, recently.

The business is the largest established real estate agency in Benoni and holds the record of having developed or managed the bulk of all new developments on the East Rand for many decades.

Van Heerden’s eyes brighten with excitement as he recalls the property scene on the East Rand – and especially in Benoni – in its heyday.

“Benoni was undoubtedly the jewel of the East and it attracted investors. Property became highly sought after and it was a time in which it was relatively easy for the average person to get a bond to buy a home,” he said.

“I developed very good relationships with bank managers, council officials and others who could help drive development forward.

“A bank manager and I would often reach an agreement about the number of bonds he could grant me over lunch at a local restaurant – the deal would be sealed there and I could go off and tell the buyers the good news.

“It was a way of doing business, which lent itself to the exciting times we were living in; when people wanted an address in Benoni and we were able to give them that at an affordable price and without too much red tape.”

The company was started by George Rennie, a lieutenant colonel, who came to South Africa from Scotland in 1899, where he began his military career and served as a private in the South African War (1899 to 1902).

Rennie was elected to the Benoni Town Council on October 26, 1910, and held this office for six years. He was elected mayor for three terms, the last being 1924 to 1925, when the Prince of Wales visited Benoni.

He opened an estate agency called George Rennie & Co in a building at 49 Prince’s Avenue, but when World War 1 broke out Rennie volunteered to go on active service and went to France as an officer commanding.

At that time, he was Benoni’s elected mayor (1913 to 1914), so left his business for the young Morris Nestadt, the new “office boy”, to run.

Van Heerden joined the business in 1969 at the age of 30 and remembers working out of the boot of his car and being a strapping, fit young man who was full of energy and ready to take on the world.

“I certainly did take on a council official or two in my time,” he recalls. “Development excited me and the potential for growth in certain areas was enormous, which made council’s vision frustrating at times,” he said.

“Nonetheless, I soon made a name for myself and became a trusted estate agent in areas where niche developments were earmarked and sometimes ended up selling the majority of the stands on a weekend – in areas like Alphen Park, for example.”

The company has also, over the decades, made significant contributions to the upliftment of townships.

Van Heerden speaks fondly of the trusted relationships they built with these communities and how their developments changed the lives of people living there.

“The company has been a major force in the development and marketing of residential, commercial/industrial and business projects,” van Heerden explained.

“Over the years, management built up a formidable team of professional sales consultants who knew their product and the people of the East Rand.” 

George Rennie has been involved in the development of at least 8 500 stands in Benoni and Brakpan, including Lakefield Property, Morehill Extension Two, Dalpark Extensions Five, Six and 11, Goedeburg, Cloverdene Extension One, Hillcrest in Putfontein and Benoni Small Farms.

They have successfully executed the development and marketing of at least 4 300 stands in Daveyton Extension Two, Vosloorus Extension Two, Klipspruit in Soweto, Etwatwa, Katlehong and Geluksdal.

The company’s residential sectional title property management portfolio is also extensive as are commercial developments undertaken. 

Gerry Keijer joined George Rennie in 1989 and shortly afterwards became a director. He oversees a vast portfolio of sectional title and homeowners’ association community schemes.

“We were main players in the development of the Benoni Plaza, Crystal Park, Apex Industrial, Hillcrest in Putfontein, Morehill Extension Eight and Leachville,” van Heerden said.

“Unique developments we are extremely proud of are Benoni Country Club, Mayfield, Benoni Lake Club and the Lakefield Square Shopping Centre.”

Van Heerden said the company is grateful to the businesses on the East Rand which have continued to support them and for their goodwill and friendship.

“A special thanks goes to the community of Benoni for staying faithful to us through the big changes we have undergone in South Africa,” he concluded.

(Not photographed: Taylor Fergusson).

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