MAIN IMAGE: Johny Seloi, owner of the Rawson Properties The Orchards franchise
Kerry Dimmer
Among the 2024–2025 graduates of the REBOSA Business Leader (RBL) programme — sponsored by the National Association of Realtors Reaume Foundation, Nedbank, RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Pam Golding Properties, and Rawson Property Group — is Johnny Kamogelo Seloi, a rising property entrepreneur whose journey embodies resilience, purpose, and transformation.
Seloi’s path to real estate was not straightforward. After earning a B.Tech in Local Government Finance from Tshwane University of Technology, he began his career as a service consultant at Capitec Bank — a role that not only honed his professionalism but also sparked his passion for helping people achieve financial stability and homeownership.
“When I joined Capitec, I was two years into my studies,” he recalls. “That degree proved invaluable later, allowing me exemption from the PPRA’s NQF 4 and 5 requirements when I decided to fully commit to real estate.”
In 2021, after purchasing his first home, Seloi approached Theresa Mathabathe, Principal Property Practitioner at Terry Em-Jay Properties, seeking part-time experience. The exposure was transformative.
“That experience ignited a deep love for the industry,” he says. “I made the decision to leave my full-time banking job to pursue real estate. It was at Terry Em-Jay that I closed my first deals and
learned the fundamentals of the business.”
To support himself while working towards his PDE 4, Johnny took on driving work with Bolt and Mr D. The experience not only sustained him financially but also helped him explore the Orchards and Akasia areas — where he would later build his real estate base. “I believe mastering your local market is fundamental to success,” he says.
After obtaining his PDE 4 in 2023, Seloi registered Nova Pearl Holdings, trading as Rawson Properties – The Orchards, officially launching on his birthday, 27 July 2023. The following year, he successfully applied for a TNX franchise through the PPRA Transformation Programme, which was awarded on 1 March 2024.
His participation in the REBOSA Business Leader Programme came via Rawson’s collaboration with other TNX franchises. Seloi says his motivation was to strengthen his leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
“The programme equipped me with crucial skills — from market analysis and compliance (FICA, SARS, PPRA) to financial management and team leadership,” he explains. “The emphasis on compliance and sustainability really resonated with me. It’s the foundation for long-term growth.”
That approach is already paying off: Rawson – The Orchards generated over R1 million in revenue in 2023.
Seloi is passionate about industry transformation and credits the PPRA for its progress, but believes the process requires “collaboration between all stakeholders.” He points out that the commission-only model remains a barrier for many young entrants. “The costs of starting out — a car, laptop, FFC application, phone, and data — can easily exceed R3,000 before earning a cent,” he says. “Without a basic income, many talented young people choose stability over entrepreneurship.”
Despite financial challenges — even using part of his student allowance to support his family — his determination has remained unwavering. “I hold dear the values shaped by my journey: family first, a growth mindset, no entitlement, and a fearless, positive attitude.”
From banker to franchise owner, Johnny Seloi’s story stands as a testament to grit, vision, and the transformative potential of mentorship and training — precisely what the RBL programme seeks to achieve.
