Our team

Co-founder and Managing Director

B.Acc (University of Stellenbosch); BLC (University of Pretoria).

34 years' experience

Jannie co-founded Retail Africa in 1999 and was responsible for the transition to Dorpstraat in 2014.
During this time he was integrally part of the conceptualisation and development of more than 100 shopping centres.
He focuses on deal making as well as investor and anchor tenant relations.
His career started at Downtown Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the JH Isaacs Group. Thereafter he joined Woolworths as development manager.
Jannie is married to Yvette and they have three daughters.

Co-founder and Executive Director

BS&S (University of Pretoria)

32 years’ experience

Etienne was a co-founder of Dorpstraat in 2014. He leads the various professional teams responsible for building the shopping centres. He seeks out new developments, focussing on the roll-out strategies of the national retailers. After obtaining his degree in Town and Regional Planning he completed further courses in project management and architecture. He joined Elmado Property Holding in Pretoria in 1992 specialising in filling stations and thereafter the Abland Group in Johannesburg. In 1997 he joined Woolworths as Research and Development Manager working on the strategic store expansion programme and property joint ventures. He joined Retail Africa in 2001 as director, and served as a director on the boards of various development companies and private property funds. Etienne is married to Marilize and they have two children.

Executive Director

B.Sc (QS); PrQS

34 years’ experience

Sam is responsbile for all asset management across the Dorpstraat group and portfolios. He practised as a professional quantity surveyor for 21 years. Thereafter he became the Managing Director of Safari & Outdoor from 2011 to 2015, where he is also a shareholder. He joined Dorpstraat at the end of 2015. His career started at Farrow Laing/AECOM quantity surveyors, including two years in Hong Kong and four years in Los Angeles. His last position at AECOM was that of Chief Operating Officer. He is married to Nicolette and they have two children.

Financial Director

B.Acc (Stellenbosch),  B.Compt (Hons.) (Unisa), Advanced Diploma In Taxation (Unisa), CA (SA)

25 years’ experience

As Financial Director, Jaco is responsible for corporate financial services within the Dorpstraat group. He has a deep understanding of property development and investment fundamentals and excels in financial modelling and feasibility studies. He completed his articles as Chartered Accountant at RSM Associates (Cape Town) in 2001. After spending four years as an audit and tax practitioner, he joined Retail Africa as Financial Manager in 2006. Jaco was promoted to Financial Director in 2009. Together with Jannie, Hannes and Etienne, he co-founded Dorpstraat in 2014. Jaco is married to Natasha and they live in Cape Town with their daughter, Sophia.

Director: Leasing and Development Management

MBA (Stellenbosch Business School)

26 Years’ experience

Justin started his property career as a co-developer of light industrial units and commercial offices in the late 90’s. He joined the Firstrand group in 2007, focusing on commercial property finance in the Western Cape as part of RMB Private Bank’s private advisory team. In 2013 he relocated to Durban where we headed up the Commercial Property Finance team for FNB in KZN for 10 years. After 17 years with the Firstrand group, Justin joined Dorpstraat in October 2023, focusing on leasing and development management. Justin is married to Joané and they have two boys.

Director: Asset Management

BCom (Hons.) Entrepreneurship and Marketing, BCom Law and Business Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, Certificate in Financial Management NQF 6, UNISA

16 years’ experience

Carina has been Asset Manager for Dorpstraat since 2015. She oversees a national retail property portfolio of more than 140 000m², consisting of a variety of community, neighbourhood and convenience shopping centres.  She focuses on asset performance and continuous strategies to improve revenue and increase net operating income.  Her career started in 2007 as marketing assistant at F Dawood and Sons.  She rose through the property ranks from 2009 to 2013 to become Centre Manager at JHI Excellerate, before joining Broll Property Group as Senior Property Manager in 2013. She is passionate about life and family.

Director: Asset Management

B.Acc Hons (Stellenbosch); CA (SA)

12 years’ experience

Liné joined Dorpstraat in 2016 as Finance and Asset Manager. She completed her articles at PwC Cape Town in 2012. From 2013 to 2015 she gained international experience in Turks and Caicos Islands (“TCI”) as Senior Associate of PwC TCI and subsequently Finance Manager of Digicel Play TCI (Telecommunication, Cable & Wireless). On her return, she launched and managed Allprop Quantity Surveying’s capital allowance tax services to private property owners. In this role, she met the Dorpstraat Founders. Since 2020, Liné’s primary focus is the asset management of Dorpstraat’s Western Cape property portfolio. The Knoetze family of three are outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Liné is also a yoga teacher and trail runner.