We believe our nomination reflects a business journey built over more than three decades of resilience, partnership, integrity and a commitment to leaving places better than we found them.
The Berman Brothers Group grew from humble beginnings into one of Cape Town’s established property development businesses. Our complementary roles have always been central to that journey. Paul leads much of the conceptual, commercial and strategic work, while Saul brings deep technical expertise, hands on construction knowledge and an uncompromising focus on execution. Together, supported by an exceptional team and long standing partners, we have delivered residential, commercial and mixed use developments that have helped shape the Atlantic Seaboard and wider Cape Town property landscape.
We have tried to measure leadership by more than buildings or financial results. BBG has deliberately retained interests in many developments, remaining accountable for management, maintenance and the long term quality of the places we create. We have invested in our staff, promoted development from within and built enduring relationships with contractors, professional teams, partners and communities.
Our most meaningful recent initiative is the Hands On Foundation Charitable Trust, which we founded in 2024. Its purpose is to integrate technical and engineering education into mainstream schools, giving young South Africans practical skills, dignity, opportunity and a pathway into construction and engineering careers. Faculties are being implemented with partner schools in the Western Cape, with the ambition to expand nationally.
Our partnership exemplifies the power of combining complementary skills and maintaining a consistent, disciplined approach. The strength of our partnership comes from knowing that, no matter the challenge, we are in it together. There is an unequivocal trust and understanding that only we can share based on our history.
Our story is one of resilience, determination, and an unbreakable bond forged in the face of adversity. We lost our father at a very young age, a loss that could have easily derailed us. We started with nothing, limited hope and scarce resources. All we had was a fierce determination, a resilient spirit, and an unyielding fortitude. Failure was never an option for us.
In those early days, we faced challenges that would have seemed insurmountable to many. The obstacles were numerous, the path uncertain, but we persevered. Our determination to succeed was fuelled by our desire to honour our father’s legacy and to create a better future for ourselves and our families.
We began our journey in the humble trenches of construction, armed with little more than our hearts, a relentless determination and our shared vision. The road was tough, the hours long, and the learning curve steep. But through every hardship, we stood by each other’s side, finding strength in our bond and drawing inspiration from our shared dreams.
Remember it is not what you have, but what you do with what you have that separates winners from losers.
It is not what happens to you, but how you respond to what happens to you that counts. In the final analysis, your response to the adversity of life is the real measure of who you are and what you are made of.
The Greek philosopher Epictetus once said that circumstances do not make the man or woman, they merely reveal him to himself. Everyone eventually goes through periods of great difficulty, their own private hells, their dark nights of the soul, but it is by facing whatever life gives us with courage and determination that we grow more surely towards the stars.
As time passed, our ambitions grew, and we set our sights on greater heights. We ventured into the world of real estate development, transforming the Atlantic Seaboard of Cape Town into our canvas. Each project we undertook was more than just a building; it was a testament to our resilience, creativity, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Despite the numerous challenges we faced – economic downturns, market fluctuations, and countless obstacles – we never wavered. Our resilience and adaptability allowed us to thrive, turning each challenge into an opportunity for growth and innovation.
We built our reputation on the simple premise of service excellence, and by ensuring that we always over-deliver on our promises. BBG has been synonymous with the extraordinary revival of Sea Point, from a decaying suburb to a thriving and sought-after residential area, and we have played such a significant part in the continued impressive increase in the value of property along the Atlantic Seaboard.
We at BBG strive to disrupt the status quo and set a new standard for greatness and constantly and relentlessly strive in the pursuit of excellence because “Greatness has no finish line, because good enough will never change the world. The race for better never ends, that is why we will never settle for how things are”. We must constantly keep challenging ourselves, because we are not here for good enough, we are here for excellence.”
If we are deserving of this award, we hope it is because our story demonstrates that commercial success and social responsibility can reinforce one another, and that two brothers, working with trust and shared values, can build not only structures, but lasting legacies.
Our vision is to keep building with purpose. For us, the next chapter of leadership is not simply about doing more projects, it is about using experience, capital, relationships and influence to create sustainable opportunity for the next generation.
South Africa has extraordinary talent, entrepreneurial energy and resilience, but it urgently needs confidence, skills, jobs and practical pathways into the economy. We believe business has a responsibility to be part of that solution. Through BBG we want to continue creating landmark developments that generate economic activity, employment and long term value. Through the Hands On Foundation, we want to help restore dignity to technical education by bringing engineering and practical skills into mainstream schools and creating direct pathways into construction, trades and engineering careers.
We are optimistic about South Africa when business, government, education and civil society work together with urgency and accountability. Our own future as leaders is to remain active, hands on and accessible, while mentoring younger people, strengthening our team and gradually transferring knowledge and responsibility to the next generation.
We want to be remembered not only for what we built, but for the people we developed, the opportunities we created and the confidence we helped inspire in South Africa’s future.
In recent years we have continued to invest and build through uncertain economic conditions, delivering and advancing significant residential and mixed use projects in Cape Town while remaining close to our staff, partners and customers. A major source of inspiration for us has been the decision to establish the Hands On Foundation Charitable Trust in 2024. The Foundation is focused on integrating technical and engineering education into mainstream schools so that young people can discover practical ability without having to leave their existing school environment. The model is already being implemented in partnership with LEAP schools, with the ambition to grow nationally. Within BBG, we have also continued to support development from within, on the job learning, supervisory skills, staff participation and open communication.
We believe people are inspired when leaders remain visible, take responsibility and are prepared to do the work alongside the team. Saul’s presence on site and Paul’s direct involvement in strategy, projects, community initiatives and partnerships reflect that philosophy. The lesson we hope others take from our journey is that leadership is most credible when it combines ambition with accountability, and commercial success with a genuine obligation to contribute beyond the business itself.
Recreational activities
SWEAT1000, pilates (reformer/cadalac), running, cycling, art, travel.