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South African businessman Senzo Tsabedze has expanded his group, Afrirent Holdings, with the acquisition of Protea Hotel by Marriott Mahikeng. The deal gives Afrirent’s hospitality subsidiary, Indalo Hotels & Leisure, full ownership of the 99-room property.
It is Afrirent’s first outright hotel purchase, moving the group beyond management contracts into direct ownership. The company said the acquisition underscores its long-term commitment to South Africa’s tourism sector and its goal of building a stronger presence in hospitality.
Building South Africa’s hospitality future
The Mahikeng purchase follows Afrirent’s acquisition of High Street Auctions in October 2024. Indalo, launched in 2021, already manages the Fountains Hotel in Cape Town, Skukuza Golf Club, Ba-Phalaborwa Resort and Golf Club, and Mane by the Sea in Knysna.
Protea Hotel Mahikeng is one of the city’s few internationally branded hotels, serving government and corporate clients in the North West provincial capital as well as visitors from neighboring Botswana. The property is well-positioned to benefit from rising domestic and international travel, with South Africa recording nearly 9 million international arrivals in 2024.
Indalo’s operations director, Kevin Burley, called the purchase a milestone, saying it would strengthen the group’s ambition to grow a distinctly South African hospitality brand while still benefiting from Marriott’s global network. He added that the acquisition would improve guest experiences and support the local economy through new jobs and supplier partnerships.
Afrirent bets big on hospitality
Founded by Senzo Tsabedze in 2003 and steered by his wife, CEO Thenjiwe Tsabedze, Afrirent has grown into one of South Africa’s leading black-owned investment groups. Under their leadership, Indalo Hotels & Leisure has expanded from its first management contract at the Fountains Hotel to a portfolio that now includes golf clubs, resorts, and coastal properties.
Afrirent first entered hospitality in 2021 with a lease on the Fountains Hotel in Cape Town, using an asset-light model. The Mahikeng acquisition marks a shift, giving the group greater control of the property while retaining the value of the Protea by Marriott name.
Afrirent pushes growth with Cape Town’s International Convention Center
At the same time, Afrirent is also moving forward with a R1.3 billion ($73.11 million) 30-year lease to build a hotel and mixed-use tower beside Cape Town’s International Convention Center. The project marks another step in broadening the group’s portfolio.
Alongside hospitality, Afrirent has a presence in mobility and environmental services, with its reach expanding further through the Mahikeng deal, the acquisition of High Street Auctions, and now the planned Cape Town development.
