Select Home targets 500 housing units annually under new rent-to-own scheme

By Delisa Magagula

Select Limited has announced plans to deliver at least 500 new housing units every year under its newly launched Select Home initiative a rent-to-own model designed to help ordinary Emaswati move from renting to full home ownership.

The Chief Executive Officer for Select Limited Bheki Dlamini said the initiative, launched in partnership with Malkerns Square Eswatini, is part of the company’s long-term strategy to diversify its loan portfolio and meet the housing needs of clients excluded from traditional mortgage systems.

“Our goal is to deliver over 500 units each year across Mbabane, Manzini and other parts of the country. With Select Home, clients will be able to rent a completed property while paying towards its ownership. Once the loan is fully paid, the home becomes theirs,” Dlamini said during the launch at The Link in Matsapha

He further said Select Home was introduced to close a critical housing gap in Eswatini by offering a pathway to ownership for low- and middle-income earners who often struggle to qualify for bank loans.

“This is not just about building homes it’s about building futures for families who never thought owning a house was possible,” he added.

The launch event was attended by Minister for Housing and Urban Development Apollo Maphalala, Her Worship the Mayor of Matsapha Councillor Lindiwe Dlamini and representatives from the private sector and property development community.

Minister Maphalala described the Select Home initiative as a practical solution that supports government’s broader mission to promote accessible and affordable housing for all Emaswati.

“The government welcomes such private sector innovation because it strengthens our national effort to provide sustainable housing. A rent-to-own model makes it possible for families to own homes while living in them something many have long dreamed of,” he said.

The partnership also features African Alliance Partner S’thofeni Ginindza, who said Select Home represents an intersection between financial innovation and social development.

Ginindza, who is the Board Chairman of the Eswatini Observer, highlighted African Alliance’s continued involvement in investment and real estate ventures in the country, including its association with Pick n Pay Eswatini.

“This collaboration is about unlocking access to property ownership for Emaswati. It shows that investment and impact can coexist,” he said.

Ginindza added that Select Home builds on the successful property developments already underway at Malkerns Square, which is being expanded to include additional apartment units and commercial space.

“We are not just constructing buildings we are shaping sustainable communities that integrate homes, retail and recreation,” he said.

Minister Maphalala also praised Matsapha’s continued growth as an investor-friendly town.

“This development comes at a time when Eswatini is prioritising urban growth and sustainable settlement planning. Every new unit built under this programme brings us closer to achieving our national housing goals,” said Maphalala.

Meanwhile the 500-unit annual target marks one of the most ambitious housing commitments by a private lender in recent years.

Select Limited, which has over 25 years of experience in providing credit solutions, said it will use its financial expertise to make the rent-to-own model accessible and manageable for clients.

According to Dlamini, Select Home’s long-term plan is to ensure that by the time a client completes their payments, the title deed and full ownership are transferred without delay.

He said the company has structured the product in a way that balances affordability and ownership security.

“For many families, renting has always felt like a dead-end. With Select Home, every payment moves you closer to owning your house,” he said.

The initiative comes amid growing demand for housing in urban areas, where access to mortgages remains limited.

Select Limited says the rent-to-own model will provide financial relief for citizens who have steady income but lack collateral or credit history.

Minister Maphalala said such models align perfectly with government’s housing policy, which seeks to involve both public and private players in addressing Eswatini’s housing backlog.

“This is a model that promotes dignity, stability and economic inclusion,” he said.

Select Limited confirmed that future projects under Select Home will include developments not only in Malkerns but across other urban centres, with the potential to create jobs in construction, property management and finance.

Ginindza said the collaboration is a milestone for the real estate sector, noting that African Alliance’s investment philosophy supports projects that create long-term value for communities.

“As the country continues to urbanise, partnerships like this one will define the next generation of development,” he said.

With Select Home now officially launched, Eswatini joins a growing list of African countries exploring rent-to-own as an alternative to traditional housing finance.