A bold bet on township retail in 1996
- 7 October 2026
- 2 min read
Back in 1996, investing in township and rural retail property was considered too risky for most institutional investors yet Futuregrowth saw an opportunity where others saw risk.
Three decades later, CompProp has grown into one of South Africa's most established township and rural retail property portfolios, delivering annualised returns in excess of 12% since inception on an ungeared basis.
Across this three-part series, we revisit the early leap of faith, the difficult decisions that shaped the fund's future, the realities of operating in underserved communities, and what it takes to build a successful long-term investment track record in this market.
Explore more episodes from the 30 Years of Returns that Matter series:
What will it take to close South Africa's infrastructure gap?
What 30 years of credit investing teaches you about risk
Returns That Matter didn't start with a slogan. It started with a belief. This is the story of where it all began.
