Stuart Chait

Stuart Chait is a South African entrepreneur and Executive Chairman of Land Equity Group, an SA-based real estate investment company, co-founded with CEO, Russell Smith. Land Equity Investments are working on joint ventures with South Africa’s top private commercial portfolio owners in Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape. Stuart has also recently founded Africa Real Estate Advisors Limited in Mauritius, a corporate real estate advisory firm, and West Africa Real Estate Fund, an equity investor into real estate in Nigeria and Ghana.

In 1989, Stuart co-founded Newport Property Group, the frontrunner of regeneration in the Cape Town CBD, with developments that included Victoria Junction at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront, Hiddingh Village in Gardens and Dunkley House on Dunkley Square and institutional “turnarounds” that included Absa Centre and Picbel Parkade in the Cape Town CBD. In 2001, Stuart started Mvelaphanda Property Development Holdings (“Mvelaprop”) with Tokyo Sexwale’s Mvelaphanda Holdings. Mvelaprop’s developments include Tyger Falls in Tygervalley, “Stonehurst” on the old Silvermine Naval Base in Tokai, and Big Bay in Bloubergstrand. In 2003, Stuart formed Property Partners, property equity and mezzanine financier, with UK based Highneal Limited. Property Partners’ projects include Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, a popular mixed-use development which was acquired for R1.27bn in 2005. It was the largest single property transaction in South Africa at the time, and at the time of his exit in 2011, was valued at R4.5bn.

Stuart’s personal property speculation experience has lasted more than 20 years.