Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Caren Sutherns as New President

Caren Sutherns joined the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in May 2023 and was appointed Chair of the Property Cluster in July 2023. From the outset, her primary goal was to strengthen the JCCI’s engagement with the City of Johannesburg. Through consistent and strategic efforts, she has made significant strides in building robust working relationships across City structures and was invited to become Vice President in October 2023.

With over 30 years of legal experience in the residential and development sector, Caren has long been an active advocate for collaborative solutions between developers and government. In 2001, she established the Midrand Developers Forum (MDF) to address rates issues after the consolidation of all Regions under the City of Johannesburg. Over the years, the MDF expanded its focus to include challenges with City Power, Eskom, and, more recently, Joburg Water. The MDF is now integrated into the JCCI Property Cluster, offering a more powerful platform for engagement.

Caren also founded the Town Planners Forum, enabling planners to raise issues and queries via a central channel—herself—to the City. Her ability to foster open communication has earned her a seat at the table with Executive Mayors, MMCs, Group Heads, and other top City leadership, bridging the gap between Residents, Developers, Businesses, and legal associations.

She is also actively involved in the Johannesburg Attorneys Association (JAA), organizing monthly meetings with the City’s Rates Department and other entities affecting property-related revenue issues—a role she has held for over two decades. Her participation in the World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business” initiative saw her contributing to dialogues with the Surveyor General, Registrars, and other key stakeholders in the property sector.

As Chair of the Property Cluster and later as Vice President of JCCI, Caren’s impact has been notable:

She presented at the Banking Association of South Africa’s (BASA) Annual Valuers Conference, outlining the full development lifecycle from land acquisition to handover.

She successfully arranged the 2023 JCCI Annual Conference, inviting Group Heads of major City entities (e.g., Joburg Water, City Power, Transport, and Economic Planning), fostering meaningful collaboration and accountability.

 At the invitation of SALGA, Caren served as a panel speaker on development issues affecting the City of Johannesburg, contributing insights from her extensive experience in the property sector.

She has facilitated ongoing quarterly meetings between Joburg Water, Midrand/Waterfall Developers, and other stakeholders, held in Waterfall.

And coordinated sessions with key city officials including:

The Executive Director of Development Planning

The Acting COO of CoJ

The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), including the hosting of two Borehole Workshops

Arranged briefings by the COO of Joburg Water and the CEO of City Power to JCCI Members, addressing ongoing power and water supply challenges.

In December 2024, she was invited by the Executive Mayor to address key stakeholders on the water challenges facing the City.

These contributions culminated in an invitation to address President Cyril Ramaphosa in February 2025, where she presented a comprehensive overview of the critical issues confronting Johannesburg. As a result of this engagement, the JCCI was invited to join the Presidential Joint Working Group (PJWG).

Caren now participates in PJWG sessions on a daily basis, helping to shape collaborative solutions between the City and the business sector.

Caren maintains continuous communication with the Executive Mayor’s office, Development Planning, Economic Planning, and all Municipal-Owned Entities (MOEs), arranging solution-focused meetings with stakeholders including developers, town planners, engineers, and representatives from Waterfall City.

She is a connector and collaborator, working alongside organizations such as BASA, SALGA, SAPOA, JPOMA, JMJ, JoburgCan, JPOMA and others. Beyond policy and infrastructure, Caren dedicates time and resources to assist Midrand residents with service delivery issues, especially related to water and electricity.

Outside her daily commitments, Caren is a passionate philanthropist. She supports children’s homes, assists individuals in financial distress, and donates to various animal welfare organizations including SPCA, HAWS, and the National Feral Society.

Her personal motto reflects her inclusive vision and deep empathy:

“We all face different horizons daily, but we all live under the same sky.” – Charl du Toit

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