At Rates Watch, we are always looking for ways to contribute meaningfully to the growth of South Africa’s valuation profession. That is why we were proud to support the academic journey of Thembi Jezile, who recently completed her BCom Honours in Valuation and Management at the University of Johannesburg — and who has now officially qualified as a professional valuer after passing her board exam in March.
Thembi’s path into valuation began unexpectedly. She originally planned to study civil engineering, but a missed intake date led her to take a gap year and explore new fields. She enrolled in a real estate diploma at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, discovered a passion she hadn’t known she had, and continued deepening her expertise through an advanced diploma and, later, her honours degree.
We first met Thembi when she was an intern at the City of Johannesburg. She was eager to continue her studies but required financial support to make this possible. A mutual connection encouraged her to reach out to us, and in 2023, we were able to fund her advanced diploma, followed by her honours degree in 2024.
Seeing her succeed has been a privilege. Today, Thembi is a valuer in the City of Johannesburg’s municipal valuations department, where she is building her career and already considering pursuing a master’s degree. She is passionate about encouraging young people to enter the field, reminding them that valuation is growing across Africa and offers meaningful opportunities for those willing to learn and persevere.
We are incredibly proud of Thembi — not only for her achievements, but for the determination and curiosity that brought her this far. Supporting dedicated young professionals like her remains one of the most rewarding parts of what we do, and we wish her every success in the next chapter of her journey.