Inside the MRICS programme at Equites 

As part of our blog series on our early-career development programmes, we are excited to share Kirana Malapermal’s insights from her recent sit-down, where she talked about her experience as one of the first two participants in our in-house MRICS programme. 

RICS, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, is a UK-headquartered professional body for the built environment and other property domains, with a global footprint, that works to enhance expertise, maintain high standards, and support both current and future professionals in the industry. 

In case you missed our first blog in the series, our venture in offering the MRICS programme began as we sought out ways to become further involved in investing in students following the launch of our Student VAC Programme. During this process, we engaged with professors from the Construction Economics and Management Department at UCT and became aware of the desire among many students to qualify as Chartered Surveyors by obtaining an MRICS qualification. The pathway to doing so right out of university is not all that easily accessible, however. 

Recognising this gap and after further discussions, we realised we were well positioned to introduce a formal MRICS programme and, not long after, became the first REIT in South Africa to do so. We offered the opportunity to two candidates—one from within Equites, Tristan Fernandes, who is a Development Manager, and Kirana, who is a UCT honours graduate and a Junior Development Manager. 

Here’s what Kirana had to say about her journey so far.

How it all started

Having been introduced to the MRICS qualification in my first year of studies, back in 2019, I knew right away that I wanted to pursue this professional path. Although it is not a requirement for entry into the job market in the South African real estate industry, I knew that it would strengthen my skills and help me gain a valuable edge in a competitive field. 

So, when Equites put out the notice, towards the end of 2024, to say that it was rolling out the MRICS programme, I was completely blown away. Naturally, I attended an information session held at the university, where Nasreen Mukuddem, Melanie Brown and Jaun Knoesen gave us an overview of the programme—outlining their goals, explaining that this was Equites’ first rollout, and describing how the selected participant would gain first-hand insights into the full development process at a site in Meadowview, which would serve as a case study. 

I’ve always been fascinated by the field of development. During my studies, however, I mostly learnt about development within the context of the residential, commercial and retail sectors. So, discovering more about the possibilities within the industrial industry, and more specifically, logistics, piqued my interest. 

The application process

After the information session, I didn’t hesitate in applying for the opportunity. Thankfully, I received a call to come in for an interview in late November last year. This gave me the opportunity to meet Melanie, Nasreen and Jaun to understand more about their expectations and vision.  

Once my final exams were done and a professor had provided a strong reference, for which I was very grateful, I was invited back for a second interview—this time with the company’s directors, Andrea Taverna-Turisan, Laila Razack and Riaan Gous. 

During our conversation, I gained an even greater appreciation for the industrial sector. What I learnt about the technical and fast-paced nature of warehouse development, from detailed design considerations to the differences between speculative and client-specific builds, fascinated me. 

Thereafter, I received the news I had been hoping for—I had been accepted! I was so relieved to have this opportunity lined up for the start of 2025, knowing how challenging it can be for graduates to enter the job market. I am also thankful to have been given the opportunity to work towards one of my major professional goals so early on in my career.

Joining the Equites team

I began as a Junior Development Manager at Equites in January this year. I’m a planner, so I spent the first month or so learning more about the role, gaining deeper insights into my department and the company as a whole. I was able to spend time with different departments, which helped me to understand how all the pieces fit together. 

It was during this time that I met Tristan—who had already been accepted as a participant—and started to learn more about the programme and how we would run with it, which would essentially serve as a “blueprint” for future participants. I found this particularly exciting, as it meant we could take an active role in shaping the process.  

With that, I had to dive into the RICS requirements to establish where we would need support and resources along the way. My manager, Jaun, and the team have been really supportive, encouraging us to be transparent about what we need to make a success of this opportunity. 

There is a lot to juggle, but Tristan and I work together regularly and keep one another motivated, so that has been great. Equites also promotes a culture of engagement and collaboration, so I don’t feel afraid to ask questions. As employees, we bounce ideas off one another and help one another along the way, sharing what we’ve learnt, to ensure we do things as efficiently as possible. We’re all working towards the same goal, after all. 

The MRICS programme in practice

There are a few different ways to earn RICS accreditation, depending on the level of relevant work experience that an individual has. As a graduate, I am required to complete two years of structured training and have chosen to specialise in a Commercial Real Estate pathway. 

To obtain an MRICS, participants must demonstrate a range of mandatory competencies, which include areas such as ethics, data management, health and safety, and inclusive environments. Then, depending on the specialist pathway that is chosen, we need to show competence in more technical skills. For example, in my chosen route, I will focus on valuation, inspection, measurement, and leasing and letting. In addition, extra competencies include development appraisals, property finance and funding, property management, and planning development and management. 

We are required to log diary entries summarising our day-to-day experiences. These entries accompany our case‑study documentation, and the process culminates in a final assessment interview where we present our case study, reflect on any challenges we encountered and demonstrate how we applied our knowledge in practice.

Case study insights

My muddy, on-site adventures remain some of my favourite work experiences to date. Our case study project at Meadowview S5, as presented in the very first information session at UCT, has been underway since the start of the year, which allowed me to be involved from the bulk earthworks phase. Watching an empty plot being transformed into a structured development platform was incredible. 
 
This experience, being on site, gave me a chance to connect what we discussed in the design meetings with the real-life scale and progress. It gave me exposure to coordinating with the bulk earthworks and main contractors and to learning about the town planning requirements, specifically those outlined by the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. I saw firsthand that strong town planning and early strategic decisions lay the foundation for smoother approvals, better coordination and ultimately the success of the development.  
 

Seeing the tilt-up panels come together was another highlight. I had only ever seen traditional brick-and-mortar construction before, so watching massive precast panels being lifted into place by crane was incredible. The process showed just how much engineering, precision and teamwork go into large-scale industrial developments. Watching it all come together has been genuinely interesting—I never thought I would be this excited about a logistics facility! 

Now that a state of practical completion of the facility has been reached, it is rewarding to look back on nearly a year of learning, collaboration and growth with the team—and I remain grateful to Equites for opening this door and supporting my professional growth. 

Learn more about the early-career opportunities that we offer here. Keep an eye on our future activities on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube,  or sign up to receive our newsletter.   

Please refer to the RICS website for detailed accreditation information and requirements.