” From wire bracelets in my father’s factory to closing multi-million-rand property deals,
my journey through the Johannesburg CBD has been shaped by grit, determination, and
a deep connection to the City Of Gold.” ~ David Teasdale

Some career paths are carefully planned, others unfold from small moments that shape
you without you even realising it.

My story began long before I ever signed my first property deal. As a boy, I would visit
my father’s electrical contracting business in a factory in New Doornfontein. I still
remember the smell of oil, and the faint scent of plastic from discarded electrical wires.
While my father worked, I would make colourful wire bracelets and sell them to the kids
at my school. That was my first taste of business—and of the city.

Years later, when I had the opportunity to join the property market as a commercial
broker and auctioneer. I decided the best place to start was in the Johannesburg CBD.
The market was at an all-time high. Property owners were leaving the city in large
numbers, banks were eager to lend, and the “flavour of the month” was converting
industrial and office spaces into residential accommodation.

I focused on old, run-down properties and factories—places where the owners just
wanted out. I picked them up fast. I sold them quickly. And I sold a lot of them. These
buildings were authentic—the real deal—structures steeped in history, with a lifetime of
stories etched into their walls. Each sale brought me closer to the heart of the city, and I
began to fall in love with what I was seeing: broken shells transformed into creative
architectural masterpieces, breathing new life into once-abandoned buildings.
Approaching the city on my drive down Harrow Road, I could feel the energy
lift—something I had never experienced in Sandton, where I was living at the time. I
found myself increasingly captivated by the CBD’s energy, its diversity, and its rich mix of
cultures, sounds and colours. The contrast between Sandton’s sparkling new office
blocks and the gritty, ever-evolving inner city made me more determined to be part of its
transformation.

What excites me most about the CBD is its energy. For me, it’s not just about managing
buildings—it’s about creating spaces where people feel safe, inspired, and connected to
the life of the city. Over the years, I’ve been involved in many projects and have moved
closer to the management of these properties focusing on boosted occupancy rates,
reduced vacancies, improved property values, while injecting fresh, vibrant energy into
some of the CBD’s most challenging areas. I’ve worked with some of the city’s most
prestigious property companies and have always been inspired by developers’ creative
vision—their ability to look past the grime and neglect to imagine spaces that people can
be proud of. This is where I belong.

For me, a building’s success isn’t measured only by its rental yield, but by the
community it nurtures. When I walk through Marshalltown, Braamfontein, Maboneng, or
the old mining districts, I don’t just see bricks and mortar—I see homes, dreams, and the
next chapter of urban living. Knowing that I’ve contributed, even in a small way, to this
regeneration fills me with pride. My efforts are part of something bigger: helping to
reshape the city and improve the lives of the people who call it home.