Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development launched the Select Group “Rent to Own” housing model, an initiative aimed at helping emaSwati move from renting to owning their homes through flexible, long term payment plans.
The launch was led by Minister of Housing and Urban Development Appolo Maphalala on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Minister Maphalala said the model will support Government’s goal of ensuring safe, affordable, and inclusive housing for all citizens in line with His Majesty King Mswati III’s vision.
Minister Maphalala said the new model is a major step in strengthening the country’s housing sector. He applauded Select Group for working with Government to introduce a system that gives more people a fair chance at home ownership.
He said the initiative will benefit a wide range of emaSwati, including entrepreneurs, informal traders, the self employed, and others who often struggle to qualify for traditional home loans. “This approach, where qualification is based on income rather than employment status, opens the doors of home ownership to thousands of resilient emasculating who contribute meaningfully to our economy,” he said.
The Minister added that secure housing plays an important role in building strong communities and supporting national development. “When people have secure homes, communities become stable. When communities become stable, towns thrive. And when towns thrive, national development accelerates,” he said.
The Rent to Own model, implemented by Select Group in partnership with the AA Group, will be rolled out in Manzini, Matsapha, Mbabane, and Ezulwini. It is expected to widen access to housing for low and middle income earners and support the construction of new human settlements across the Kingdom.
Select Group CEO Sean O’Sullivan said the company is excited to begin a new chapter focused on home building. He said Select has already seen success through projects such as the Malkerns Lifestyle Centre and now wants to help emaSwati become homeowners.
He noted that many people struggle to buy houses because of large upfront costs and strict loan requirements. “If you can pay rent, you should have the opportunity to own a home,” he said. O’Sullivan added that the Rent to Own model removes the stress of large loans and gives families a simple path toward ownership. Once payments are completed, the home becomes fully theirs.
He said the company plans to build more than 500 housing units every year in Mbabane, Manzini, and other areas. The goal is to close the gap faced by clients who cannot access financing from traditional institutions. “Select Home is meant for the people,” he said. “We want to bridge the gap so that emaSwati can realise their dreams of owning a home.”
Select CEO Bheki Dlamini also expressed confidence that the initiative will make a lasting impact by giving more emaSwati access to safe and affordable housing.
The launch was described as a positive step toward inclusive development, expanding opportunities for citizens, and strengthening the national housing sector.
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