LATEST NEWS

COUNCILS UNDER THREAT

On the 4th March 2008, the Councils in the Built Envrionment were notified by the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) about the proposed amendments of the statutory regulatory framework of the Built Environment Professions, which entails that a single juristic body be established, to be named the South African Council for the Built Environment (SACBE).

This body will control and exercise authority over the professional boards, resulting in the existing councils becoming powerless to operate as an independent entities. The proposed change in policy suggests that the SACBE will be given the overarching responsibility of dealing with all matters relating to strategic policy, implementation of Government policy and advising Government on matters falling within the scope of the built environment professions.

Click here to read the notification from CBE, the time line and proposed change to existing legislation.

ECSA released a media briefing on 6 March 2008. Click here to read their views regarding this threat.

Councils and other interested parties were only given until the 28th March to respond to the proposed legislation.

The South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession stated in it's submission that :"It is with the most unpleasant surprise that the SACQSP finds itself confronted with the proposed amendments of the statutory regulatory framework, which has been sprung on built environment councils without prior consultation, a proposal that radically restructures the oversight role that each council is mandated to play on its respective profession. The SACQSP is concerned that insufficient timeline has been allowed for response by affected and interested parties to these proposals. The SACQSP unequivocally requests an extension of time for the Council to prepare and submit a full response to the proposed amendments, as the three-week period is inadequate." The full response is available here.

We also make available the responses submitted by ECSA and SACLAP.

Page 34 of the following advertisement will be of interest to Registered Professional Quantity Surveyors, as it deals with an invitation to professional service providers to apply for listing in the “Professional Service Supplier Register” (PSSR) of the Department of Public Works, which will replace the Department’s “Consultants Roster” (in operation since October 1999). The advertisement provides details of contact details for enquiries, and a helpline to deal with enquiries

A list containing the names of all persons newly registered as candidate quantity surveyors can be obtained from our documents page of the registration section.

Newly published hourly- and reimbursable rates for the private sector effective January 2008 are available from the Fee Scales section of this site.

Browse here for photos taken during the event.