By Ayanda Dlamini
Select Limited is expanding its presence in Eswatini’s housing market with an ambitious plan to deliver at least 500 new homes annually through its pioneering Rent-to-Own model, a transformative initiative aimed at making homeownership more accessible to everyday emaSwati.
As part of its rollout plan, the Select Group has already completed 150 housing units in Malkerns through its subsidiary, Malkerns Square. These units are currently available through the model. This development sets the stage for Select’s plan to begin delivering 500 new homes annually starting in 2026. The units are modern, family-oriented, and designed to meet both current lifestyle needs and future investment potential. The project also supports national goals to promote sustainable housing, reduce pressure on urban centers, and improve living standards nationwide.
Transforming Access to Homeownership
The initiative, called Select Home, marks a significant change in Select Limited’s mission.
Historically known for consumer lending, the company is now positioning itself as a direct enabler of long-term housing security, offering a practical pathway to homeownership without the traditional barriers of upfront financing.
According to Select Limited Eswatini CEO Bheki Dlamini, the model provides a direct solution to one of the biggest barriers to property ownership in Eswatini: the initial capital investment.
“Through Select Home, EmaSwati will now have the opportunity to secure a housing unit through a long-term rental agreement, culminating in full ownership after the final installment,” Dlamini explained. “This removes one of the biggest barriers to homeownership, the upfront cost, and replaces it with a predictable, empowering, and accessible pathway.”
Dlamini highlighted that Select Limited is shifting from mainly being a lending institution to becoming a driver for real estate development and long-term asset creation. “We are giving EmaSwati the privilege of owning a house hassle-free through our Rent-to-Buy initiative,” he added.
African Alliance partner and Select Home Director S’thofeni Ginindza emphasized that the group’s vision goes beyond creating new housing models to strengthening the structural and social fabric of Eswatini’s cities, especially the capital, Mbabane.
“We were in Mbabane a week ago touring a site where we want to develop proper shelter and housing,” Ginindza said.
“We have seen an exodus in Mbabane, and we cannot allow the capital city to become vacant. We want to contribute, and that is why we are going back there to develop a project that will restore Mbabane to the big city it once was.”
He revealed that the Group holds substantial land in multiple regions, including 72 hectares in Tubungu, earmarked for future development. Another major project is the transformation of the Manzini Arch, which is expected to break ground next year.
EXPANDING INTO HOSPITALITY TO BOOST TOURISM
Beyond housing, Select and its partners are also turning their attention to tourism, a sector widely recognised as a key economic driver for Eswatini. Ginindza stressed that tourism growth cannot be achieved without adequate accommodation infrastructure.
“We always speak about tourism and agriculture as key sectors, but we cannot speak of tourism when visitors find no place to stay,” he noted.
To address this gap, the Group is planning to construct a boutique hotel in Malkerns, which will be staffed and managed entirely by emaSwati following targeted training programmes. “Our businesses in Eswatini have shown us that emaSwati are capable,” he added.
A NEW ERA FOR ACCESSIBLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
As Select Limited prepares to scale up its Rent-to-Own model from 2026 onwards, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of Eswatini’s housing transformation. Delivering 500 units annually, empowering local partnerships, and developing complementary projects such as hotels and mixed-use estates, Select is signalling a new era in accessible and sustainable homeownership.
For many emaSwati, the Rent-to-Own model could be the key that finally unlocks the door to a place they can truly call home.