Question NW1473 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
12 May 2022 - NW1473
Hicklin, Ms MB to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
With reference to Clause 14, sub clause (f) of the Architectural Profession Act, Act 44 of 2000, which prescribes that the Council must encourage and itself undertake research into matters relating to the architectural profession, taking any steps it considers necessary for the protection of the public in their dealings with registered persons for the maintenance of the integrity and the enhancement of the status of the profession, (a) what projects have been undertaken by the SA Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) to explain the different grades of the architectural profession to the public to protect them from using unqualified persons posing as professionals, (b) what transformation and gender-empowerment programmes have been implemented at SACAP for the empowerment of black female architects within the organisation, (c) on what date and where were the programmes implemented and (d) what success and/or failure rate was measured by SACAP in terms of the programme implemented?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
a) I am informed that during the 2021/22 financial year SACAP undertook 60 digital Public Awareness campaigns educating the public about using registered professionals to design and build their homes, explaining what each category of a registered professional is competent and qualified to do in terms of the Identification of Work regulation, publishing the names of unregistered person to discourage members of the public from using them. SACAP reported all persons who falsely used the title of registered professional to the South African Police Services for investigation and prosecution.
b) The SACAP transformation and gender-empowerment programmes include Recognition of Prior Learning, architectural bursaries and the proposed Built Environment Code of Good Practice.
The procurement practices by clients in built environment have been identified as a hindrances to transformation by the built environment professions. Anti-transformative procurement policies are the reasons why built environment professions require an enforceable code of good practice. An effective and transparent mechanism is necessary to procure built environment services from previously disadvantaged built environment professionals in line with the provision of section 217 (2) of the Constitution.
More work is being done to push for transformation and gender-empowerment programmes.
- During the 2021/22 financial year 58 Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessments were undertaken.
- 10 students were offered bursaries to study architecture at accredited architectural learning sites.
- SACAP held a Women’s Day Webinar on 06 August 2021 to have meaningful conversations about the role and challenges women face in the architectural profession.
- SACAP held a Transformation webinar on 26 November 2021 to have a meaningful discussion about transformation and how SACAP can contribute to transformation of the architectural profession. The webinar resolved to push for a Code of Good Practice for the built environment. The Transformation Webinar was a huge success with over 556 architectural professionals in attendance.
- Black architectural practices, particularly women architectural practice continue to struggle to find work from the public sector to sustain their businesses. SACAP notes with concern that public sector clients are failing to heed the call of the President of the Republic to set aside 40% of all procurement spend for women-owned businesses.
c)
- The Transformation webinar was held on 26 November 2021, on a virtual platform
- The Women’s Day Webinar on 06 August 2021, also on a virtual platform
- In the first quarter of 2021/22, SACAP issued 15 awareness posters for CPD campaigns and 16 other social media updates were undertaken across all SACAP online media platforms. In addition, 2 x public awareness and Expo conducted at Soweto and Eldorado Park.
- In the second quarter 15 awareness posters were updated on social media platforms.
- In the third quarter 15 awareness campaigns posters were updated on social media platforms.
- In the fourth quarter 15 awareness campaigns posters were updated on social media platforms.
- 1 Voluntary Association Forum was held on 25 March 2022, on a virtual platform
d) In terms of the measurement of the success of the programmes, The SACAP has largely recorded a huge success, as there is a noticeable appreciation from members of the public of the different categories of registration and their competencies. Members of the public are now more alert, because when some persons pretend to be registered architectural professionals, these are immediately reported to SACAP. As such, 47 cases against unregistered persons were referred to the South African Police Services (SAPS) for investigation. However, the SACAP has not seen a positive reaction from law enforcement agencies with regard to prosecution of the reported individuals.
During the 2021/22 financial year 58 RPL assessments were undertaken. This number is indicative that the SACAP RPL outreach programmes are success and year-on-year we a noticing an increase in those registering for RPL.
Every year within the first quarter of the financial year, SACAP offers 10 architectural students bursaries towards their tuition fees. The assessment of the bursary programme shows a huge success. Out of 10 bursaries offered, 9 were given to black female architectural students. All students who received bursaries from SACAP have progressed to the next year of study. This development is very encouraging given the need to address the demographic imbalance of the professions, especially in terms of the representation of women.