THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN QUANTITY SURVEYORS' NEWS - MARCH 2008

Missed a news item, or want to refresh your memory? Here are the news items from March.

Please note that news items from previous years are archived in the News section of this website.

 ANNOUNCEMENT OF ASAQS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Following on the election of the new ASAQS Board for the 2008/2010 term, the first Board meeting was held on Wednesday (02 April 2008) and Thursday (03 April 2008) this past week. The meeting was very positive with enthusiastic participation of all the Board members and a full report of the more important developments will be made available in due course.

In the interim we are pleased to announce the election of the following persons who will comprise the Executive Committee of the ASAQS for the coming year 2009/2010 :

President - Professor Rob Pearl
Immediate Past President - Mr Thembi Matunda
Vice President - Mr Indresen Pillay
Deputy Vice President - Mr Gert Meyer
Executive Director - Mr Egon Wortmann

We wish to congratulate these person on their election into these very important positions and we look forward with great anticipation to a successful year ahead. May the ASAQS go from strength to strength !!

Click here for full program

Quantity surveyors who attend this seminar are entitled to claim 6 CPD hours.
 

 FUNDED POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH ENQUIRY

The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) seeks to support a targeted research initiative in the subject field related to the application of construction contractual documents throughout the African continent. The primary aim of this is to establish what documents are generally used in various African countries at present, with a view towards the possibility of developing standard forms of contract for use throughout the continent.

The ASAQS would like to encourage students studying towards postgraduate degrees (at either Masters or Doctoral level), and who have demonstrated an acceptable research capacity at undergraduate level, to apply for consideration in this regard. The amount of funding that will be made available is expected to be in the region of R 20 000 to R 30 000 for the completed project.

The successful applicant will be required to register for a postgraduate degree at an accredited South African university. The candidate is permitted to receive other funding to undertake the study, but only with the express undertaking that the ASAQS be permitted to use the results of the research without any constraints. Funds made available may only be utilized for activities directly related to the study. The ASAQS will, through its linkage with the African Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS), assist the successful candidate to establish contact with built environment participants in other African countries. 

Interested parties are required to submit a CV and a detailed research proposal for consideration by the ASAQS, no later than 31st May, 2008.

Interested parties should click here to download further details.

 SACQSP UNDER THREAT !!!

It was with some shock and amazement that we had to read in the newspapers that the Minister of Public Works, Minister Thoko Didiza, is contemplating incorporating some the functions and responsibilities of the six statutory Councils of the Built Environment under the domain of the SA Council for the Built Environment (CBE). This will include the SA Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) and it effectively means that some of the statutory responsibilities will be taken away from the SACQSP (and the other 5 Councils) and transferred to the CBE. Exactly what this all means is still not clear at this stage and clearly more detail will be made available in time. (see our previous report on this matter)

This report is the official response from the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) in response to the invitation to all stakeholders to make comment by no later that Friday 28 March 2008 on the Draft Policy Document (dated March 2008) prepared by the Department of Public Works on the proposed restructuring of the SACBE. It is with regret that the limited time available to make comment did not permit the proper consultation with our 3700 odd members, nor is the available information sufficiently detailed to be able to properly assess the overall impact on the current CBE Council, the six statutory Councils and their many Voluntary Associations (VA's).

The South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession stated in it's response 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.

 OUTSTANDING MEMBER FEES

The unacceptable high number of members who have not yet fully paid their fees for the year 2007/2008 to the ASAQS has again become a real concern. In response thereto, the Executive Committee had decreed that a concerted effort be made by the ASAQS staff members to give dedicated attention to this matter. Four staff members were tasked with phoning debtors and to follow up on all outstanding payments. We would appeal that members with outstanding debts to please co-operate with these staff members when contacted and to make payment of the outstanding fees without delay.

The following programme was agreed in terms of a specific plan of action in terms of the bad debt situation, details of which were as follows:

• Four staff members (Renny Moodley, Sadicka Butt, Rochelle Rambaran and Anusha Rajcoomar) were tasked with phoning all debtors with outstanding fees
• This was maintained until Monday 25 February 2008, by which date all debtors were phoned
• Debtors were advised on the phone that if their fees were not paid by Friday 22 February 2008, then their names would appear on the "Bad Debt List" to be published on the ASAQS website (on weekend starting 29 February 2008). The NDPW will also be furnished with this list. They were also told that if their fees were not paid in full by Friday 31 March 2008, then they will be "struck" from the ASAQS membership roll
• All members were advised in writing by post that if their outstanding fees are not paid by latest 31 March 2007, then they will be "struck" from the membership roll without further notice
• All persistent defaulters will thereafter actually be struck shortly after 31 March 2008, and these members will be considered as having been "struck in bad standing" and they will not be invoiced again for the year 2008/2009. They will simply not be members any more.

It should be noted that any outstanding amounts of such "struck" members will remain on the database records indefinitely and will not be erased from the records. Should such members wish to re-apply at any time in the future, their arrear amounts will have to be paid without question and no application will be entertained unless these arrear amounts are paid up in full. In addition, it has been resolved that a penalty of R500,00 (VAT inclusive) will accompany such application for re-admission for membership (R300,00 for students).

Please feel free to contact the offices of the ASAQS should there be any queries and/or concerns that may still need to be sorted out and agreed. Please contact Rochelle Rambaran (telephone 011 – 315 4140) who will be happy to assist with any genuine complaint.

List of Debtors – up to 28 February 2008

If you wish to view the list of the ASAQS debtors of all outstanding monies for the previous financial year only ie. up to 28 February 2008 (and not paid up to 03 March 2008), please click here.

We would appeal to all members to please go through this list and to ensure that their names do not appear on this list. If so, please make every effort to settle the accounts without delay. Any assistance to reduce this long list of defaulting members would be greatly assisted.

Should you spot any members names of the list that may have either moved, deceased, left the industry, etc., we would love to hear from you if you can help.

New Members

If you have registered with the Association between December 2007 to February 2008 and if your name is appearing on the list, kindly effect payment of the balance outstanding and submit proof of payment by faxing it to the offices on 011 – 315 3785). Your assistance would be appreciated.

Complaints from Members

Should your name appear on the list and you have made previous payment arrangements or believe that your account is in fact fully paid up, please contact the offices of the Association (Telephone: 011 – 315 4140) to discuss and rectify any discrepancies. Should you wish to again submit proof of payment, this can also be faxed to offices (Facsimile : 011 – 315 3785). Your assistance would be appreciated.

It should be pointed out that when electronic payments are made to the Association, such deposits should be clearly referenced with either the members name or his/her account number. In many instances, this is not done properly and this results in these funds not being able to be correctly allocated to the personal accounts of such members. Such funds can then only be transferred into a suspense account for later resolution, normally after the member has subsequently queried his/her account (often with very unhappy consequences). Naturally the staff then always gets blamed for mismanagement, which is really not fair. For example, references such as "Association Fees", "Fee deposits", "XYZ Quantity Surveyors", etc are simply not good enough and will clearly lead to confusion and irritation later. Only the persons full name and/or account number should be used.

Thanks to members who have paid

On a more positive note, we would like to thank those many members of the Association who faithfully and timeously pay their fees when due. We thank you for your support, which helps the Association management to provide the best service possible. We are confident that with your support, the Association will go from strength to strength.

 CRISIS FORUM ON ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CAPACITY

During the course of this week Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) called on all Industry Associations, role-players and interested parties to participate in a construction industry "crisis forum" concerning the electricity supply capacity in South Africa and its effect on the various sectors in the industry.

The meeting was held on Thursday 27 March 2008 at the MBA Auditorium, CMA Business Park in Halfway House in Midrand.

The "crisis forum" invited various sector representatives to assess the extent of the problem and to formulate proposals to remedy the current capacity and infrastructural challenges.

It recently became known that ESKOM has, without consulting the relevant organisations representing the construction and property development sectors, introduced a measure that could effectively delay the start of new building projects by some six months. ESKOM claims that the six-month review period is required to lay down a new connection framework and criteria. It was reported that the quoting process (for new connections) is intended to resume from end May 2008. ESKOM will continue to do the technical work required for quote preparation in the interim in an attempt to avoid bottlenecks later. This was the position as of the second week of March 2008, and ESKOM stated that "given our very 'dynamic' environment, things change quickly".

The proposals will then be taken to all necessary levels of Government and to ESKOM to address the sector problems which are currently exacerbated by various and often conflicting statements emanating from Government and ESKOM respectively.

The "crisis forum" meeting was called to consider what the building industry should jointly do to plan the a way forward and how to address the vexing problem of the current power shortages and the impact that that may have on the development of the building industry in the months/years to come. The meeting was a pro-active attempt to address these important issues and to consider how to go forward from here.

If you wish to establish who the organisations and bodies are that participated at this inaugural meeting, please click here.

What was essentially decided at the meeting was that a joint liaison committee be formed to monitor and liaise with all affected interest groups surrounding this problem, including Government, ESKOM, business, contractors, professional bodies, etc. Official statements will in due course be issued to elaborate on further developments in this regard.

Should any of the members of the ASAQS be interested to participate more actively in this process, please contact the offices of the ASAQS (Attention : Egon Wortmann on director@asaqs.co.za) for further details.

This is an important initiative for the building industry to which the ASAQS has committed it's full support and active participation. More details to follow as the developments unfold.

 IN MEMORIAM - GERT BASSON

It is with sadness that we have to inform you that one of our well-known members from Pretoria, Mr Gert Basson, passed away during the evening of Sunday 23 March 2008 (Easter Sunday). 
 
Gert was an extremely diligent and conscientious person. As Program Leader: Project Management at UP he had made an outstanding contribution to the development of the MSc(Construction Project Management) programme as the leading programme in this field country-wide. 
 
Gert exhibited an exceptional capacity for work as well as integrity, helpfulness and reliability in abundance.  His untimely departure leaves a gap in the Department of Construction Economics at UP and also in the broader professional community that will not be easily filled.

The funeral took place on Friday, 28/03/2008, at 14h00 at the Full Gospel Church in Braam Pretorius Street, Magalieskruin, Pretoria.

 ASAQS YEARPLANNER

the ASAQS Yearplanner has been updated (11/02/2008). It appears at the bottom-right of the page. Click here.

 CENTENARY YEAR OF THE ASAQS !!!

We are proud to announce that the ASAQS will be celebrating its Centenary Year during 2008 !!

This is a major milestone in the history of the ASAQS that will be celebrated this year by organising a number of gala events to mark this happy occasion. It also offers vast public relations opportunities for the ASAQS, an opportunity that must be seized and exploited to the maximum benefit of the ASAQS.

To mark this historic occasion, the ASAQS will be publishing a full colour prestige publication entitled "A CENTURY OF QUANTITY SURVEYING IN SOUTH AFRICA" to mark the successes, achievements and development of the profession during this time. The illustrated book will be published by Chris van Rensburg Publications (Pty) Ltd of Johannesburg, a reputable company with over 45 years experience in producing this kind of prestigious publication.

Click here to read more about this milestone and how you can contribute historical material.

 RICS INVITATION

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors invites you to attend a presentation on

Doing Business in Africa - Not for Sissies!

By Wayne Wright, Business Development Director, JHI.

Introduction by Les Weil, Chairman of JHI and Fellow RICS member, who will be available after the presentation for the discussion session.

DATE: Thursday 10 April 2008
TIME: 17H30 for 18H00
VENUE: Monkey Room Harrisons on 12th Avenue Restaurant, Cnr 12th Avenue and Wessel Road, Rivonia, Sandton (Click here for map to the venue)
COST: R60,00 for members
Students – Free of Charge
RSVP: For seating purposes, please reply by 1 April 2008
To Helen Andrews on 011-467-7545 (choose option 3) or HAndrews@rics.org

CASH BAR WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER THE PRESENTATION
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE

 BORDER-KEI CPD OPPORTUNITY

ADMINISTRATION BY AN ARCHITECT/PRINCIPAL AGENT OF THE JBCC 2000 EDITION JULY 2007 PRINCIPAL BUILDING AGREEMENT AND ITS SUPPORT DOCUMENTS

Presenter: Bryan Prisgrove

Bryan will present a course on the changes in the 5th Edition of the JBCC documents.  This course is suitable for architects/quantity surveyors/ technologists/ project managers, and anyone who uses the JBCC contract.

WEDNESDAY, 23 APRIL 2008

Venue:Border Bears Pavilion, Buffalo Park Drive, East London

Time:09h00 (Registration) -  09h30 – 12h30

Cost:R 342.00 (BKIA Members)
R 456.00 (Non-members)
(VAT inclusive)

Please click here to download the registration form and course documents.

Registration closes 15 April 2008 but places are filling up fast!

 ANNOUNCEMENT OF FORTHCOMING CONGRESSES

In order to assist members to plan their diaries this year in terms of forthcoming congresses and conferences they may wish to attend, attached the preliminary dates of some of these congresses for your attention (more details to follow) :

PAQS 12th World Congress
14 to 18 June 2008 – Edmonton, Canada

ICEC 6th World Congress
29 June to 2 July 2008 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada

AAQS General Assembly Meeting and Congress
18 to 22 August 2008 – Accra, Ghana

ASAQS Conference 2008
October 2008 - Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape (dates to be confirmed)

Members are encouraged to plan ahead and to support these conferences/congresses !!

 DRBF - CAPE TOWN CONFERENCE 2 MAY 2008

Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) 2008 Cape Town Conference
Cape Town 2 - 4 May 2008
Dispute Resolution in Africa

The Conference will be of interest to all of our members involved in Dispute Resolution both here in SA and elsewhere in the world. Co-sponsored by ICC, the program is packed with informative sessions on the use of Dispute Boards throughout Africa and other regions, the Multinational Development Bank's perspective on dispute resolution, and interactive breakout sessions on the practical application of the process. The conference will span three mornings, leaving afternoons open for networking or exploring the many exciting attractions in the region. Saturday night's gala dinner will be held at Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. A training workshop is planned in conjunction with the conference on 5 & 6th May 2008.

Click here for more information and the registration form.

There is a direct link to the DRBF website.

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