TOP WOMAN IN PROPERTY AWARD FOR XOLISWA DAKU

It was a happy moment for lawyer-turned-property-developer Xoliswa Daku when she was announced as the winner in the property category at the 14th Standard Bank Top Women Awards held at a glittering event at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg last night (August 17).

The Dormehl Phalane Property Group sponsored the Top Woman in Property Award, which is reserved for a senior female executive who has demonstrated exceptional performance within the property sector and demonstrated admirable leadership, business acumen and strategic foresight.

Daku, the chief executive officer of the Daku Group of Companies, ticked all these boxes… and her win was celebrated with her by Dormehl Phalane Property Group partners Owen Dormehl and Tau Phalane, and their guests, at a function where much fun was had by all.

As founder and head of the Daku Group of Companies, Daku and her team focus on property development, investments and facilities management. They have more than 20 years experience in the investment, infrastructure and property industry. It is a 100% woman-owned company with offices in Cape Town, East London and Durban, Johannesburg being the head office.

Daku, originally from Uitenhage, has an Executive MBA from UCT graduate School of Business, LLM Degree from UWC, and Advanced and post-graduate diploma in Project Management from Cranefield University.

Big projects have included The One and Only Hotel in Cape Town, Khayelitsha Hospital and Mall, Engcobo CBD, Cradock Spa, Intersite Stations and the Koeberg Interchange, to name a few.

The Standard Bank Top Women Awards, for which Owen Dormehl was a judge, are presented in recognition and celebration of outstanding achievement by women in various fields, in both public and private sectors. Organisations that prioritise gender empowerment are also recognised.

Standard Bank acquired the naming rights to the Top Women Awards in 2014. The bank now presents the event in partnership with Topco Media, owner of the Top Women brand.

The coveted awards, decided on by a team of judges from various fields, were presented in 26 categories.

Other nominees this year for the Top Woman in Property Award were Buhle Mathole of Kabu Design Architects, Dina Soukop of Soukop Property, Kim Faclier of GoIndustry DoveBid SA, Lauren Marshall of Profica, Madeleine Truter of Setso, Marianka Victor of Finlay ML and Shazia Essa Sulimanof Choprop.