Linah Marijeni

Linah Marijeni is a dedicated professional, a wife, and a proud mother of three boys. She serves as a realtor and is one of the directors of Tyson Properties Richards Bay, where she and her team specialise in the selling and leasing of both residential and commercial properties.

Linah’s career in real estate began in 2010. “My real estate journey started with another agency,” she
recalls. “After receiving a call from the principal asking me to join his team, my quickest response was, ‘I would like to ask my husband first and I’ll get back to you’.”

JOINING A TRUSTED BRAND
Linah’s decision to join Tyson Properties in 2017 was influenced by the company’s strong reputation and
values. However, her decision to join Tyson wasn’t made lightly. We evaluated different franchises and even spoke to other agencies,” said Linah. “But Tyson Properties kept coming to mind. The fact that it is a trusted brand, and I was able to relate myself to that, made it an easy choice,” she explains. Transitioning into Tyson’s was a pivotal shift from her previous agency and was not without its challenges, but Linah embraced the opportunity with courage and faith. “Coming from a different work environment, it felt like a career shift and hence challenging as well.

Nevertheless, fate was stubborn. With the support of my family, my real estate journey has been successful.”
Becoming a realtor built on Linah’s goals as her early dream was clear and ambitious: “My biggest dream back then was to be the most trusted and successful agent in South Africa.”

Throughout her journey, Linah has drawn inspiration from those closest to her. “My family has been the biggest driving force,” she says with pride. “Not forgetting to mention Chris Tyson, our group chief executive officer. He’s been my biggest cheerleader and mentor."

Working alongside her husband, Regis, has added a personal layer to her professional life. “I have worked
with my husband for eight years. Of course, it has been difficult balancing our personal life and work,”
she admits. “But through experience, we’ve managed to find balance. We do have our moments, of course
people fight, but we do balance each other, and we are successful.”

LEADERSHIP AND WORK ETHIC
Linah believes in leading by example and maintaining strong professional values. “Luckily, I’m not a lazy
person,” she laughs. “I lead by example. When I’m with my employees, I roll up my sleeves and show them how things should be done.”She emphasises that realtors need empathy, passion and attention to detail especially as real estate is about people. “Maintaining high levels of integrity and confidentiality define who we are,” she says. “My biggest strength is that I’m trustworthy. When I’m handling personal information, I manage it with confidentiality, especially in sensitive matters like divorce. I make sure I deal with both parties well.”

The real estate industry has faced significant headwinds in recent years. “Our market has been volatile due to rising interest rates and inflation, leaving people with low disposable incomes,” Linah notes. “The economy has remained depressed with no meaningful growth. However, the current drop in interest rates has had a positive impact on the market.”

Linah and her team have played a key role in expanding the Tyson Properties’ brand across the Zululand region. “We successfully introduced the Tyson Properties brand in Zululand and developed it into one of the leading real estate brands,” she shares.

Their hard work has not gone unnoticed. “Our company has won Tyson Properties Top Office in KwaZulu-Natal Award three times,” she says proudly. “Personally, I have won the prestigious Chairman’s Award and have been a Double Diamond Achiever for the past five years. ’ve even been to the Maldives and Sicily through the company rewards programme."

FUTURE GOALS AND VISION
Linah encourages anyone entering the field to embrace its challenges and rewards. “Real estate is worth every penny and it’s rewarding,” she advises. “Focus, hard work, resilience, persistence, and passion are the key ingredients for success.”

Regulatory compliance has also tightened. With Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA)
and Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FIC Act) in full force, doing things right matters more than ever. Linah
commented, “Tyson Properties has implemented the systems, controls, and training to ensure we uphold
every legal and ethical standard.”

Looking ahead, Linah aims to make a lasting impact through development and youth empowerment. She
explains, “I want to recruit and develop youth, as they are the future of real estate.”She added, “My future goals are to become a successful developer for residential properties, especially for low- and medium-income earners.” Her vision includes building quality residential estates in Richards Bay. “A good residential estate should have schools nearby, parks, and shops. It should have most of the amenities close by,” she commented.”

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Balancing work and personal life remain a priority for Linah. “I’ve set up efficient organisational systems,
and I practise effective delegation,” she says which help ensure time out. “During my spare time, I spend
time in my kitchen cooking and baking, and I also love gardening.”

Linah’s story is one of determination, faith, and passion which are a reflection of a woman who has not only
built a successful career but also inspired those around her through integrity, balance, and unwavering
commitment to excellence.