 GAUTENG CPD BREAKFAST SEMINAR
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| ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN QUANTITY SURVEYORS (ASAQS)
GAUTENG CHAPTER
SEMINAR N0. 3/2008: 14 NOVEMBER 2008
INCLUDING BREAKFAST CONTENT: CBE
PRESENTER : Prof. G Le Roux For more information and a map to the venue visit the Gauteng Chapter webpage. |
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CENTENARY GALA DINNER OF THE ASAQS A HUGE SUCCESS !!! |
| We are happy to report that the Centenary Gala Dinner held at the Misty Hills Conference Centre in Muldersdrift on Saturday 18 October 2008 was a great success and a good time was had by all. Herewith a short report of the function, coupled with a few photos for your information and interest.
This was a proud milestone in the history of the ASAQS that was celebrated with the attention that it deserved. We are proud of the 100 years of professional service by the ASAQS to the Quantity Surveying profession in particular, and the built environment in general.
On arrival the guests were welcomed with cocktails to the music of Peter and his marimba band. Once seated, the Master of Ceremonies, Mr Michael Jackson (the other one !!) entertained the guests, followed by a few short and crisp speeches to wrap up the formalities of the evening. The speakers included the following:
Mr Egon Wortmann (Executive Director of the ASAQS) – Welcome and Grace
Professor Rob Pearl (President of the ASAQS) – Main Address
Mr John Popplewell (President of the AIQS) – Greetings from the AIQS
Mr Dan Kimoro (President of the AAQS) – Greetings from the AAQS
Mr Gys Woest (Head of FNB Commercial Property Finance Term Loans) – Message from the Main Sponsors
Mr Egon Wortmann (Executive Director of the ASAQS) – Expression of Thanks
A very special part of the evening was dedicated to the award of student prizes to the following persons:
Gold Medal Award – Ms Basheera Mia (from UKZN)
DJ Laing Memorial Scholarship – Ms Ilze Potgieter (from University of Pretoria)
A fun part of the evening revolved around the calling up of all Past Presidents of the ASAQS since 1970. Of the total of 38 Presidents since that time, 8 are sadly deceased. Of the remaining 30, unfortunately not everyone was able to attend but we did manage to present certificates and gifts to those 15 odd in attendance and their input and contribution was acknowledged in shaping the direction and history of the ASAQS.
We were also pleased to have had the opportunity to host the President of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AQIS) for a few days, as well as at the gala dinner. He also attended the ASAQS Board meeting in an observer capacity the prior two days and his visit to our shores will no doubt help cement the friendly and supportive relationship that already exists between the ASAQS and AIQS.
We were also honoured to welcome the entire Executive Committee of the Africa Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS) as guests to our function. The President, Mr Dan Kimoro (from Kenya) emphasised the importance of the member organisations being supportive of each other to achieve the aims and goals of the AAQS.
It was also special to host many representatives of the various sister organisations from the built environment. Due to the recent political turmoil, the Minister of Public Works could unfortunately not attend the function.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my staff and everyone who assisted with the arrangements and to make the evening a success. A special thanks also to Mrs Louise Warden of Ping Pong Communications, who assisted the ASAQS with the co-ordination and arrangements for the evening.
To view a selection of photos taken on the night, please click here.
To everyone who supported our function - thank you and we trust that you enjoyed it as much as we did !! |
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TIERED LEVELS OF REGISTRATION POSTPONED INDEFINITELY |
| Members are advised that at the recent Council meeting of the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) on Friday 9 October 2008, it was resolved by the SACQSP that the possible introduction of the long-awaited tiered levels of registration with the SACQSP be postponed indefinitely. The decision was taken in the light of the uncertainties surrounding the future of the SACQSP with regard to the possible introduction of the SACBE, and the possible changes that may still flow from that in the near future. |
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CONSTRUCTION ORGANISATIONS SUSPEND PARTICIPATION IN CETA |
| The beginning of October 2008 saw the majority of the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) employer organisations suspend their participation in the activities of the CETA Council and all its committees.
Organisations including the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC); the Master Builders South Africa (MBSA); the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA); the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS); and Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) have appealed to the Minister of Labour to intervene by placing the CETA under administration so as to put the CETA on a functional and operational footing. This action was taken as the Organisations are of the strong opinion that further direct interaction with the CETA to resolve issues will have no effect. Over a period of many years these organisations have tried to engage with the CETA, suggesting solutions to resolve issues without much effect. In fact several problems have actually worsened during this period.
Representatives of the employer organisations have, in terms of the laws of the country, important fiduciary duties to fulfil on behalf of their constituencies, and the governance crisis at CETA has deteriorated to such a degree that they are no longer able to comply with the law. The CETA's constitution has been found to be wholly wanting in terms of the statutory/legal/regulatory framework of the land, which was confirmed in the 2004 Deloitte & Touchι report in this regard, coupled with a high level workshop with experts testing the constitution against the Public Finance Management Act. Yet, despite this being known to the CETA Executive Committee and management, very little has been done to rectify the situation.
The Associations contend that the problem is compounded by a lack of transparency and frankness from the Executive Committee when these matters are raised. In many instances the CETA acts in contradiction of its own constitution. An example of this is that the chairman has been 're elected' for a third term, whereas the constitution explicitly does not make allowance for that. The financial management of the organisation leaves much to be desired, as the 4th qualified audit (2007/8) confirms despite warnings and suggestions from the Internal Audit Committee about irregularities.
The announcement of this action taken by the employer organisations resulted in a formal Press Release being placed in the major weekend newspapers on Sunday 26 October 2008. For a full copy of the Press Release and to read further, please click here. |
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ILZE POTGIETER – DJ LAING MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER 2008 !! |
| We are pleased to announce that the Prizes & Awards Committee of the ASAQS has resolved that the DJ Laing Memorial Scholarship for the year 2008 be awarded to Miss ILZE POTGIETER from the University of Pretoria.
Ilze receiving the scholarship from Mr Indresen Pillay, CEO of Davis Langdon
This prestigious scholarship is awarded annually to a student at any one of the six Universities in the country. The criteria by which this award is adjudicated may be summarised as follows:
5.1 Available to accredited universities (excluding technikons)
5.2 For one quantity surveying student nationally.
5.3 Awarded on the basis of academic achievement, character, participation in student affairs and financial circumstances, with preference given to, but not restricted to, employees of Davis Langdon. Suggested that scholarship be awarded to students at the end of their first year of study and that it be renewable, subject to satisfactory results.
5.4 Universities to submit nominations together with academic results, CV's, etc, to the Executive Director when requested each year for consideration by the Prizes and Awards Committee and ratification by the family trust.
5.5 If in the opinion of the Prizes and Awards Committee none of the nominees have achieved satisfactory results of a suitably high standard to warrant the award of the scholarship, then the Prizes and Awards Committee will be at liberty to recommend alternative book prizes with a reduced financial award.
Ilze is in her fourth year of study at the University of Pretoria and is busy with her two-year BScQS (Hons) component. She is currently employed by Davis Langdon in their offices at Groenkloof, Pretoria.
She has already been presented the scholarship award at the Centenary Gala Dinner on Saturday 18 October 2008 at the Misty Hills Conference Centre, Muldersdrift, Gauteng.
On behalf of all at the ASAQS, we congratulate Ilze on the receipt of this prestigious scholarship. Congratulations and well done !! |
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BEE RATING CERTIFICATE OF THE ASSOCIATION |
| Members are advised that should they require a BEE Rating Compliance Certificate from the ASAQS, that this is readily available from the ASAQS on request. The status that the ASAQS enjoys is as follows:
Applicable Scorecard – Exempted Micro Enterprises
Overall BEE Score – Level 4
Procurement Recognition Level – 100%
Date of Issue – 23 June 2008
Expiry Date – 22 June 2009
Should you wish to download a copy of this certificate, please click here |
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OFFICE CLOSURE OVER CHRISTMAS PERIOD |
| Members are advised that the ASAQS offices will be closed over the festive season this year as follows:
Office Closes : Friday 12 December 2008 (at 12h00)
Office Re-opens : Monday 05 January 2009 (at 08h00)
This period coincides with the general shutdown of the construction industry at large and will afford the staff a well-earned rest after a very busy and challenging year. |
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REVISED TARIFF OF QS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 2009 |
| Members are advised that the Fees Committees of both the ASAQS and SACQSP respectively have agreed to the update and amendment of the current Recommended Tariff of Professional Fees 2007. Comments on the draft proposal have been publicly called for and received, and the Recommended Tariff of QS Professional Fees 2009 will come into effect on 01 January 2009.
Draft copies of the Recommended Tariff of QS Professional Fees 2009 are available from the ASAQS offices on request. |
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NEW MODEL TRADE PREAMBLES DOCUMENT NOW AVAILABLE IN CUG |
| Members advised that the update of the Model Trade Preambles (revised version dated November 2008) document has been completed and the new September 2008 version is now available from the offices of the ASAQS. Members can now download the document in PDF format from the CUG. We would like to express our thanks to the following persons that were involved with the update, namely Professors Carl Klopper, Thys Sigle' and Tinus Maritz. For all your hard work and dedication – thank you !! |
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FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK |
| During the past week or so, the SA Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) has made known the results of their Council Exams Parts 1 & 2. A consequence of this has been that many unsuccessful candidates and their firms, have contacted me with complaints about the system – incorrectly, as these persons still appear to be unaware of the fact that the ASAQS has nothing at all to do with this process. However, it does give me an opportunity to reflect briefly on this system, as well as the content of a workshop organized by the SACQSP in Gauteng on 9th October, dealing with both this issue and that of accreditation of educational institutions.
Please click here to read on... |
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ONE OF OUR SPONSORS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SERVICE !!! |
|  I am proud to say that 2008 marks the 25th Anniversary of Professional Career Services. Over these many years, we have had good times & not so good times, we have expanded & contracted, we have had many people come & go, but always we have strived to provide a professional service in our fields of expertise and have attempted to live up to our motto:
Prompt & Professional Service with Integrity & Care For the last 5 years, we have been on an expansion drive nationally in order to provide a more comprehensive service to our National & Local Clients and to our Candidates. As a result we currently have "Branch" Offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein & Port Elizabeth and are looking to open additional other offices around the country whilst maintaining the personal service we have come to be known for. I would like to take this opportunity to first of all thank all the staff - past & present - who have made the company what it is today. But thanks in the main to our present staff. There has never been - in the history of Professional Career Services - such a dedicated and "gung-ho" staff who have helped to create such a wonderful working environment like we presently have, thus enabling us to focus our attention in providing the expected service to our Clients and our Candidates. I would also like to extend my thanks to all the wonderful Clients we have had the privilege to work with over these many years. It has been great to have been given the opportunity to be of service to you. Thank you also to all the hundreds of Candidates we have placed over these many years. Many of them have certainly gone up the ladder and are today good Clients of ours. We look forward to the next 25 years with great enthusiasm and hope to be able to continue to play our part in the development of this great country of ours. A great philosopher once said that from South Africa will rise the next great civilization. We certainly believe this can well be the case and are determined to play our part in it. Philip Park
Managing Director |
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COMBINED PRESIDENTS / VICE PRESIDENTS TOUR 2009 |
| During the recent ASAQS Board meeting, it was confirmed that the Presidents and Vice Presidents Tour will again be combined into one trip during 2009. It is planned that the following delegation will be undertaking a combined tour to all Chapters as follows :
Professor Rob Pearl (President of ASAQS)
Mr Indresen Pillay (Vice President of ASAQS)
Mr Egon Wortmann (Executive Director of ASAQS)
This combined trip will be undertaken during February/March 2009 and will be completed in time before the next ASAQS Board scheduled for 02 to 03 April 2009. Chapters will soon be contacted to finalise the arrangements that will be suitable for everyone.
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GBCSA CONVENTION 08 - SPECIAL DISCOUNT TO ASAQS MEMBERS! |
| 20% DISCOUNT OFF DELEGATE RATES TO ALL ASAQS MEMBERS
3 WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER!!!!
10 LEADING INTERNATIONAL & 5 LOCAL GREEN BUILDING EXPERTS
including Romilly Madew on "the Dollars and Sence of Green Building" and Indresen Pillay on "the Cost of Green"
read more... |
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