Emalahleni — The Maila & Nkosi Realty Group (M&N Realty Group) based in Emalahleni is a fast-growing real estate agency that, in less than a year, has expanded from two to a 10-member team, serving clients also across Middelburg, Secunda and Rustenburg in the North West province.
Founded in April 2024 by Snowy Maila and Samantha Nkosi and launched in August 2024, the agency combines excellence with a community-focused approach, mentoring young property practitioners while providing client-centered real estate.
“We uphold the highest standards in service and we mentor our team closely because professionalism doesn’t happen by accident, it is cultivated,” Maila says. These values shape the agency’s identity, influencing how they work internally and how they are perceived by clients and partners.
In the first year, the Group has registered around 50 properties, with an increasing rental management portfolio.
The duo did not plan to build a team this fast, but the community had other plans. “We never hired anyone. People watched how we worked, called us and asked to join. That alone told us that the vision was resonating,” Maila recalls.
Today, their team includes 10 young candidate property practitioners receiving attentive mentorship, a pipeline the founders believe is crucial to transforming South Africa’s real estate landscape. “Empowerment is not a slogan to us. We are developing future leaders, not just agents,” Nkosi explains.
South Africa’s real estate industry has a long history of structural exclusion. For Maila and Nkosi, stepping into this space as young black women came with challenges and assumptions. “It’s a very white-dominated industry. People look at you like, ‘Do you know what you’re doing?’ But excellence speaks louder than assumptions,” Nkosi says.
“Our name, Maila & Nkosi Realty Group — often makes people think men run it, but we enjoy watching people realise that the leaders are two black women,” Maila says.
Their business approach reflects a deliberate commitment to shifting stereotypes about black-owned companies. “We want people to say, ‘They deliver, they are ethical, they are professional. We’re intentional about being excellent,” Nkosi adds.
So far, the Group has finalised numerous transactions ranging from R500,000 to R4,300,000 around Emalahleni Extension 8 and 41, Tasbet Park, Die Heuwel, Klarinet, Middelburg and Rustenburg. “What makes these transactions special is the personalised service we offer, the smooth transfer process and the support we give to first-time buyers. Clients appreciate that we guide them step by step and always keep communication clear and transparent,” says Maila.
Where many corporate agencies adopt structured Corporate Social Investment programmes, M&N Realty’s social involvement is personal, grounded in the founders’ own childhoods and struggles they have seen around the communities they grew up in. They support school initiatives, youth development, educational drives and work closely with the Cover My Book Foundation and local marathon organisations.
Maila recalls her memories vividly: “Imagine being a child and your teacher refuses to touch your books because they aren’t covered. That stays with you. So when Bongani from Cover My Book Foundation invited me, it wasn’t a decision, it was a calling.”
Their philosophy is simple: Good business should uplift the communities that support it. Maila puts it candidly. “Assisting the community is not a marketing strategy. It’s who we are.”
The pair believes more companies should see themselves as part of community solutions. “For me, helping is personal. If I had the money, I’d start my own foundation. Gender-based violence, children’s education, these things matter. If you can help, help,” Nkosi says.
“When kids see professionals supporting them, they see possibilities. That’s how you inspire the next generation,” Maila adds
M&N Realty succeeds because its founders understand the delicate balance between business professionalism and human empathy. “Your personality and your character are different. At work, you are a professional; outside work, you are a human being. But your values must remain consistent everywhere,” says Nkosi.
This balance has earned them a loyal client base that values both their efficiency and their authenticity. “We want clients to say, ‘I felt like my sister was helping me. That’s how trust is built,” Nkosi adds.
M&N Realty’s mission is to provide trustworthy, client-centered real estate solutions that deliver long-term value for buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants. “We don’t take shortcuts, we deliver what we promise and we go an extra mile,” Maila says.
M&N Realty’s rise is not just a business success; it represents a shift in South Africa’s economic transformation narrative. “Imagine an M&N Realty office in every province. Imagine expanding to Mozambique, a property brand, born here, becoming a national force like Pam Golding, but black, female and locally rooted.” Maila says. “If we open branches, we hire more people. That’s the real impact.”
