MAIN IMAGE: Justin Netshikulwe – Rebosa Business Leader graduate and owner of Just Property Evolve
Kerry Dimmer
In March this year, Justin Netshikulwe turned 34, which is notable because not only is he one of the youngest qualified Master Practitioners in Real Estate within the Just Property network and the Property Principal, owner and director of Just Property Evolve, but he is also about to graduate from attending the Rebosa Business Leader programme 2024-2025. At the end of September, he is opening his own agency, the Justin Property Group.
These events follow a decade of ups and downs but mostly success, in the real estate market in Limpopo districts, Mokopane, Bela-Bela, Polokwane and Tzaneen.
Justin’s is a journey that has been heralded as an “inspiration” by Florence Radzilani, the MEC of Social Development in Limpopo Province, and the Mayor of Mogalakwena, who highlights him as a visionary and role-player in “shaping the property industry in the region.” Even Thato Ramaili, CEO of the PPRA, has spoken of Justin’s “bravery, resilience, and passion for the real estate sector.”
Also honouring Justin is Tebogo Tsekoa, director of Rebosa, who noticed the young man some years ago for his passion, determination, eagerness, and “a fire in him that set him apart. Seeing his growth makes me immensely proud.”
So what is it about this go-getter that serves as an inspiration and role model for those who want to follow in his footsteps? In his humble way, Justin explains that he “strongly believes in the power of education and personal development. This is why, when Just Property‘s head office asked me if I was interested in becoming part of the Rebosa Business Leader programme, I said yes without hesitation.
“What many people don’t realise is that, despite any success or experience, one should never stop acquiring knowledge and new skills. The Rebosa Business Leader programme is an incredibly important vehicle for doing this. Regardless of what I thought I knew about running a business, there was still so much I didn’t know, from financial to internal communication factors, and importantly, how to think like a businessperson, rather than engaging with my business emotionally.
“The way I operate Just Property Evolve now, after completing the programme, makes more sense, financially and operationally, and I have come to understand the importance of a business plan, which I have been able, with the new skills acquired, to develop on my own.”
To give you some idea of Justin’s passion and dedication to the industry and further study, it took him five years to fully qualify as an MPRE due to financial challenges. He feels that this is an aspect that restricts many from following their real estate career and, indeed, homeownership dreams. “Real estate higher qualification is expensive,” he notes.
“However, this should not stop an individual from advancing through skills development, at whatever pace is manageable. In my experience, when you are fully equipped with information, you are empowered to make informed decisions, and this, I find, is something that can be learnt by attending programmes like the Rebosa Business Leader.”
It’s a message he broadcasts to other young people, encouraging them to enter the sector as a career choice and help transform the industry. “This is one of the reasons I became a property principal; to empower young people and prove that dreams can be realised in the property sector.”
Assuming, like Justin, that a candidate has completed their NQF4, pursuing a higher qualification in the industry responds to a ‘calling’ rather than merely a career. “I have always been a visionary-thinker and very disciplined, and I believe I have a great work ethic. These are some of the qualities that, in my experience, work well in the industry because this sector needs people who are resilient and adaptable, with good problem-solving abilities.”
Some of Justin’s personal attributes derive from his childhood, which he describes as “colourful”. His mother, a street vendor, encouraged him as a young boy to sell sweets, biscuits, and chips at school during the week, and on weekends, he would go from door to door selling avocados. It was also how he came to understand that a basic human need is shelter.
Justin doesn’t want anyone to be left behind or isolated from their homeownership or real estate career dreams. “It may be tough initially, but bear in mind that the industry needs knowledgeable and competitive individuals who can competently face difficult situations, be they economic, political, or otherwise.”
