These awards will be the centerpiece of the 17th annual API Summit (www.APISummit.co.za), taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) on 17 and 18 September under the theme Bold Capital. actual speed. The summit brings together over 600 real estate, hospitality and capital leaders from across the continent and beyond.
“Over the past decade, the API Awards have become the definitive mark of peer recognition in African real estate and hospitality, driven not by sponsors or popularity, but by the industry leaders who best understand these sectors,” says Murray Anderson, commercial director of API Events.
“In this, our 10th edition, new categories allow us to recognize a broader sector, from the boldest new capital commitments to assets that have proven their performance over the long term. Our industry is moving decisively from ambition to delivery, and these awards exist to honor both.”
An esteemed panel of industry leaders will adjudicate each category and honor projects, professionals and institutions that set the bar for innovation, sustainability and lasting impact.
This year's event introduces new awards spanning Development, Personnel and Service, Technology and Innovation, as well as a new Performance and Legacy category – Celebrating Lasting Impact.
Recognition that raises the profile – and attracts investment
The awards have significantly raised the profile of the winners with veteran investors, developers and financiers attending the summit and the wider real estate and hospitality industries.
Nedbank Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) was named 2025 Best African Real Estate Bank of the Year, recognized for its deep property finance expertise and ability to structure and execute complex transactions in South Africa and the wider continent.
“Winning the 2025 API Award, along with EDGE recognition from IFC, reflects the collective expertise, commitment and execution capability of our property finance team,” says Gerhard Geely, Divisional Executive, Property Finance Africa. “The awards reinforce the importance of linking strong commercial delivery with long-term sustainability and customer-focused results.”
Octodeck's Yethu City was named the Best New Affordable Housing Development of 2025 due to its pairing of real affordability with thoughtful design, proptech integration and a community-focused co-living model.
Jeffrey Wapnik, CEO of Octodeck Investments Ltd, says, “The most compelling developments combine meaningful social impact with commercial feasibility. Yethu City succeeded by deeply understanding its target market and executing with discipline – authentic purpose, proven by delivery, makes a project stand out.”
Entries and nominations are welcomed from across Africa with a closing date of 31 July. Click here to enter (https://apo-opa.co/4eVnuSi).
2026 categories
Development
- Best new affordable housing
- Best New Residential (Mid-Market) *New
- Best New Luxury Residence *New
- Best New Mixed-Use/Precinct Development
- Best New Office Development (Building)
- Best New Office Fit-out (Occupant)
- Best New Hotel/Hospitality Development
- Industrial, Logistics and Alternative Assets
- Best New Redevelopment/Renovation
- Best New Safari/Lodge Development *New
personnel
- Consultant Consultant of the Year *New
- Asset Manager of the Year *New
- Sales Team of the Year
- Architecture Team of the Year *NEW
- Newsmaker of the Year *New
- Public Sector Real Estate Leader of the Year
- African Real Estate Leader of the Year (Former CEO)
- Outstanding Woman in Real Estate
Service, Technology and Innovation
- African Real Estate Bank of the Year
- Best Transaction of the Year
- Hospitality Consulting & Advisory Partner of the Year *New
- Facility Management Team of the Year
- Most Innovative PropTech Company of the Year
Performance and legacy *New
- Best Performing Retail Assets
- Best Performing Office Assets
- Best Performing Mixed-Use Asset
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of API Events.
Inquiry:
dale hayes
Program and Communications Leader
API Events
Phone: +27 (0) 81406 8840
Email: dale@apievents.com
murray anderson
commercial director
API Events
Phone: +27 (0) 71 890 7739
Email: murray@apievents.com
About API events:
Africa Property Investments (API) Events is Africa's leading B2B events and thought-leadership platform for real estate investment and hotel development. Over the past 17 years it has hosted 150+ events in 14 African countries, attracting 2,500+ investors, developers and public sector leaders annually and helping to bring in billions in direct investment. Its flagship Pan-African API summit attracts over 600 delegates.
Our core objective is to raise capital across retail, residential, mixed-use, commercial, industrial and hospitality properties, connecting institutional investors, fund managers, banks, DFIs, developers, operators and proptech founders.