About RDC

We grow shareholder value by owning and managing strategic property assets

that enrich the stakeholders and communities we serve.

We grow shareholder value by owning and managing strategic property assets that enrich the stakeholders and communities we serve.

To be the leading real estate company in Botswana, renowned for our international reach, expertise, innovation, sustainability, integrity, and client-centric approach.

Who we are

Our Purpose and Values drive our Strategic Investments and Business Model

  • ELargest portfolio of investment properties listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE).
  • EWell-diversified portfolio geographically and by sector.
  • EStrategic investments allowing for profit generation and asset holding in hard currency environments (Euros and USD).
  • ECommitted to sustainability and social impact, reducing carbon footprint with clean energy, and supporting education, healthcare, and the arts.

Values that drive us

Integrity

Inclusiveness

Competency

Accountability

Empathy

Entrepreneurship

Strategic Property Investment,
Management and Development

Founded in 1992 and restructured to a Variable Rate Loan Stock (VRLS) in 1996, RDC is a publicly listed company on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE), leading the way in real estate investment and management sector in Botswana. Over the years, RDC has established itself as a leading player in the country’s commercial and retail property market, strategically expanding its footprint into seven countries across Africa and beyond, including South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Madagascar, the United States and Croatia.

Our portfolio includes a diverse range of assets such as office buildings, retail centres, industrial parks, residential developments, and hotels. RDC’s strength lies in its team of experienced professionals, bringing extensive expertise in asset and property management, development and project management, and finance. We manage a P6 billion portfolio, with 74% of our assets located internationally. Committed to sustainability and responsible practices, we prioritise Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors to deliver value to stakeholders and enrich the communities we serve.

RDC holds the largest portfolio of investment properties listed on the BSE, showcasing a well-diversified geographical and sectoral spread. Our portfolio includes 37% office properties, 36% retail, 16% hospitality properties, 6% residential, and 5% industrial properties, reflecting our robust investment strategy across multiple sectors.

With the recent acquisition of David Livingstone Safari Lodge, we have expanded our footprint into the Zambian property and hospitality market, now boasting 67 properties across seven countries. This diversified portfolio enables us to generate profits and hold assets in resilient currency environments, including Euro and USD-denominated assets.

Our vision is to be the leading real estate company in Botswana, recognized for our international reach, expertise, innovation, sustainability, integrity, and client-centric approach.

Our medium-term strategic goals

Net Asset Value (NAV) Growth:

Increase RDC’s NAV growth with a target greater than inflation plus 5%.

Reduce Loan to Value (LTV):

Reduce the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio to a maximum of 40%.

Revenue:

Generate 40-50% of revenue in stable hard currencies, such as USD or Euros.

Shareholder Distribution:

Enhance shareholder distribution to position RDC as a leading dividend payer in the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) sector.

Board of Directors & Management

Our success is driven by the collective expertise and dedication of our Board of Directors, each bringing a unique perspective and proven track record from diverse industries and markets. The Board provides strategic direction, ensures robust governance, and fosters a collaborative environment that propels our company forward. The management team, integral to our operations, plays a crucial role in executing and delivering our services. Together, the team guides RDC towards continued growth and success.

Board of Directors

Our board members each bring a professional set of skills and expertise across a diverse range of markets and industries, cultivating a dynamic environment that fuels our commitment to integrating sustainable practices throughout our operations. Upholding RDC’s values, the Board is steadfast in promoting social and environmental sustainability. This dedication not only enriches communities but also enhances shareholder value.

Andrew Bradley

Chairman of the Board (Independent Non-Executive)

Committees: Audit and Risk; Investment and Property; Remuneration and Nomination

Appointed: 26 May 2016

Andrew holds BCom and LLB Degrees, as well an AMP from Harvard Business School. He is currently CEO of Fiscal Private Clients and was previously CEO of Old Mutual Wealth. Before joining Old Mutual, Andrew was the CEO of Acsis South Africa Group, an independent asset consulting and financial planning Company, which he founded and Old Mutual acquired. He is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa, a Certified Financial Planner and has co-authored a number of publications in the financial services industry. Andrew has served on various boards, including the South African Savings Institute, the Financial Planning Institute of South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School.

Federica Giachetti

Non-Executive Director

Committee: Environmental, Social and Governance; Investment and Property

Appointed: 22 March 2022

Federica is a graduate from Boston University, Summa Cum Laude, Top Concentrator in Entrepreneurship. She has undergone training by the Institute of Directors of South Africa and recently completed a London School of Economics Certificate in Real Estate Finance and Economics. Federica has worked in Washington, D.C. and in Milan for a renewable energy developer and was transferred three years ago to its subsidiary in Cape Town (Red Rocket South Africa) where she led the Company’s Solar Project Developments. She is currently pursuing an MBA at INSEAD Business School.

Giorgio Giachetti

Non-Executive Director

Appointed: 02 May 1996

Giorgio has a Civil Engineer Master’s degree and on-site experience in construction since 1968. In 1970 he started investing in Botswana and developed properties, some of which now form part of RDC’s property portfolio. He is a director of many companies in Botswana and internationally.

Kate Maphage

Independent Non-Executive Director

Committees: Environmental, Social and Governance; Remuneration and Nomination

Appointed: 13 November 2012

Kate is an entrepreneur in the property, energy, transport and tourism industries. She holds BCom and MBL degrees and has 35 years of leadership experience in various industries as an executive or a board member. She joined Mascom Wireless, a mobile network, in 1998 as part of its founding shareholders and then joined its executive to establish the Human Resource division. In 2022 she moved on to head the Commercial Division, a position she held until 2007 when she retired from formal employment. Kate is currently focused on adding value to companies in which she is invested. She also serves on the boards and Committees of BIHL and Botswana Life.

Simon Susman

Independent Non-Executive Director

Committee: Audit and Risk 

Appointed: 22 March 2022

Simon is the Honorary President of Woolworths Holdings Limited, having joined Woolworths in 1982. Prior to his retirement, Simon served as the Chief Executive Officer of Woolworths Holdings and then Chairman over a twenty-year period until 2019. He has been appointed Honorary Professor of Entrepreneurship at Stellenbosch University Business School, and currently chairs several local and international businesses and NGOs.

Nicola Milne

Independent Non-Executive Director

Committees: Audit and Risk; Environmental, Social and Governance 

Appointed: 22 March 2022

Nicola has a BCom from the University of Cape Town and qualified as a CA(SA). After working in finance in New York and London, she joined the Old Mutual Investment Group’s Property Investment team, where she fulfilled various roles, including managing the Company’s joint venture business in India. She was the founding CEO of the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), an NGO with the goal of transforming South Africa’s property industry to sustainability. She has consulted to the GBCSA and the World Green Building Council and serves on a number of boards as an independent non – executive director. 

Sithabile Mathe

Independent Non-Executive Director

Committees: Investment and Property; Remuneration and Nomination

Appointed: 24 May 2023

Sithabile holds a post graduate degree in Architecture from Glasgow, Scotland. She has 24 years of experience in the built environment. In 2006, she established Moralo Designs, an Architectural Practice which now offers Urban Design, Architectural Design, Landscape Design, Interior Design and Project Management services. Ms Mathe is registered with 4 professional bodies. She is the former Chairperson of the Architect’s Registration Council of Botswana, the former Chairperson of the Botswana Housing Corporation Board and the former Treasurer on the Architects Association of Botswana Executive Committee. She is also a former Council Member for the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) as Vice President Africa Region and a former Chair of CAA Validation.

Gary Fisher

Executive Director | CEO Properties

Appointed: 22 March 2022

Gary is a University of Cape Town graduate and employs his three decades of property asset management experience as a member of the executive team at RDC. He was a founder of JSE-listed CBS Property Group’s in 1994. He subsequently launched British Capital, a Guernsey-based property investment company, and founded The Property Foundation, a nonprofit property development company. Gary also served a term with the Western Cape Government as the Premier’s special advisor before assisting to establish Capitalgro Properties in 2014, a business that has since become a subsidiary of RDC.

Guido R. Giachetti

Vice Chairman of the Board (Executive)

Committee: Investment and Property

Appointed: 02 May 1996

Guido holds a degree in Civil Engineering, as well as a Masters in Business Management and Transport, an AMP (Harvard Business School), an IEP (INSEAD) and is a member of various Alumni Associations (EPFL, INSEAD, HBS). Guido has been involved in property development and investments for 33 years. He has been awarded the Order of Merit by the King of Spain and the Knights of the Order of the Star of Italy by the President. In 2023 he was recognised as Businessman of the Year by the Italian-South African Chamber of Commerce. He is the Honorary Consul of Italy in Botswana, a Paul Harris fellow, an avid art collector and is actively involved in philanthropic endeavours in the region.

Jacopo Pari

Executive Director | CEO Operations and Developments

Appointed: 12 September 2013

Jacopo has a Civil Engineer Master’s degree. His career started in Accenture, the strategy and management consulting firm. This engagement enabled him to gain wide exposure to large and complex corporate environments both in the EU and US. A few years later he joined the family construction company in Italy. This work experience, both technical and managerial, was conducive to his appointment as Group General Manager for the Realestate Group of Companies in 2009. He has been involved in construction, property development, operations and investment in Botswana since then. He was appointed as RDC’s Chief Executive Officer for Botswana in February 2015 and is in charge of the Company’s operations and developments.

Management Team

Our management team translates the Board’s vision into actionable strategies, driving operational excellence across the company.

Senior Management Team

Hospitality Management Team

Management Team Botswana

Management Team South Africa

Management Team Croatia

Management Team Mozambique

Milestones

Founded in 1992 and restructured to a Variable Rate Loan Stock (VRLS) in 1996

1992
1993
1994
1996
1997
1999
2000
2002
2003
2006
2010
2012
2015
2017
2018
2019
2021
2022
2023

RealEstate Development Company Limited became the first publicly listed property and development fund in Botswana.

 

Portfolio Value: P26 million

Portfolio Listings: 4 Properties

RDC expands its operations to major centres in Botswana, Serowe and Maun.

 

Portfolio Value: P39 million

Portfolio Listings: 7 Properties

Expansion of retail development offering to include the Boswa Centre, Diamond Centre in Jwaneng and Lotsane Complex in Palapye.

Portfolio Value: P48 million

Portfolio Listings: 10 Properties

Conversion to a variable rate loan stock structure and name-change to RDC Properties Limited. PAM (Property and Asset Management Company) is incorporated to manage the portfolio. RDC acquires Professional House in Gaborone, Botswana.

Portfolio Value: P67 million

Portfolio Listings: 14 Properties

Adoption of a portfolio improvement strategy and expansion into Antananarivo, Madagascar. Refit of Standard House. First elective capitalisation of dividends.

Portfolio Value: P67 million

Portfolio Listings: 14 Properties

RDC launches RDC Properties Mauritius Limited and enters the industrial Segment of the property market by investing in Phakalane Industrial estate.

Portfolio Value: P83 million

Portfolio Listings: 15 Properties

We continue to leverage our construction and development competencies to create efficiency and growth.

Investment into the Tholo office building, and the Tana Waterfront development in Madagascar.

Portfolio Value: P95 million

Portfolio Listings: 17 Properties

Official opening of the Tana Waterfront in Antananarivo, Madagascar as a joint venture investment. RDC invests in the Chobe Marina Lodge (hospitality) property and the Lodge is fully launched following completion of renovations.

 

Portfolio Value: P109 million

Portfolio Listings: 19 Properties

RDC completes first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the Gaborone City Council. Acquires the EU Delegation building and enters its first Euro-denominated lease.

Portfolio Value: P131 million

Portfolio Listings: 21 Properties

Acquisition of Isalo Rock Lodge in Isalo National Park, Madagascar. Completion of refurbishment works at Standard House.

Portfolio Value: P174 million

Portfolio Listings: 22 Properties

Isalo Rock Lodge in Madagascar is opened to the public. RDC strategically disinvests in the Tana Waterfront in Antananarivo Madagascar.

 

Portfolio Value: P470 million

Portfolio Listings: 22 Properties

Completion of works on Masa Centre in New Gaborone CBD. RDC completes first split of shares at 5:1.

 

Portfolio Value: P750 million

Portfolio Listings: 22 Properties

Investment in the residential market by acquiring the ICC Flats. Expansion of portfolio in Namibia and Mozambique. Successfully raises P232.1 million from first rights issue.

Portfolio Value: P1 104 million

Portfolio Listings: 23 Properties

Acquisition of controlling stake in Capitalgro, South Africa, valued at R335 million. Investment in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

 

Portfolio Value: P1 627 million

Portfolio Listings: 29 Properties

Capitalgro acquires The Edge Building. The Group has become active in six countries with a total portfolio GLA of 104,037m². (South Africa, Botswana, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, USA)

Portfolio Value: P1 943 million

Portfolio Listings: 30 Properties

Acquisition of a turnkey development – the Radisson RED Rosebank Hotel, Johannesburg. RDC enters into franchise agreement enabling the conversion of the Masa Square Hotel to a Protea by Marriott Hotel.

 

Portfolio Value: P2.02 billion

Portfolio Listings: 30 Properties

Acquisition of Tower Property Fund Limited in South Africa. The Radisson RED Rosebank officially opens. Successful second Rights Offer of P667 million.

Portfolio Value: P5.8 billion

Portfolio Listings: 79 Properties

RDC Properties Limited undergoes rebranding. Successful integration of the Tower Portfolio. Notwane Asset Management Company (Pty) Ltd (NAM) is registered to manage the South African portfolio as a subsidiary of PAM. Revenue more than tripled to P525 million.

Portfolio Value: P5.9 billion
Portfolio Listings: 75 Properties

Acquisition of The David Livingstone Safari Lodge and Spa, Zambia.

Portfolio Value: P6.0 billion
Portfolio Listings: 72 Properties