STORIES THAT MADE THE NEWS IN 2009

Articles, events and news is archived in the months they appeared on the the Home Page of the ASAQS web site:

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Below is a selection of some of the stories that made the news during that year.

 ALLEGED UNFAIR TENDERING PRACTICES...

FOR SINGLE PRACTICING QUANTITY SURVEYORS

During the office closure over the festive season, the ASAQS office received an anonymous letter from a "single practicing Quantity Surveyor" complaining about the alleged "unfair tender practices for Single Practicing Quantity Surveyors", with specific reference to BEE practices. The ASAQS office was asked for comment and to air the anonymous letter on the ASAQS website, which is herewith done. Whilst anonymous letters are normally ignored and as they cannot be responded to, it was nevertheless felt that the complaint should be aired in this case, as requested. To view a copy of the letter dated 05 January 2009, please click here.

It should be pointed out that the views expressed in the letter do not necessarily represent the views of the ASAQS as an association, but rather represent the personal view of one of its "anonymous" members. What do you think, and would you like to comment? Please feel free to send your comments to the Executive Director of the ASAQS (director@asaqs.co.za).

The various comments from members will ultimately be collated and published, as well as any specific action that the ASAQS may agree to take in this regard. It is certainly envisaged that this matter will be taken up and discussed with the Minister of Public Works, Minister Geoff Doidge.

 INTRODUCTION OF REGISTRATION FEES FOR PRACTICES

Members are advised that as from 01 March 2009, all new applications for the registration of Practices will now be subject to an initial non-refundable Registration Fee of R1 140,00 (inclusive of VAT). This is a procedure that has always been in place for the membership applications for Individual Members and the introduction of this registration fee merely achieves to line up the two respective processes for the Practices and Individual Members respectively. Incidentally, it is also a requirement of the ASAQS Constitution, which is now being implemented to be compliant with that requirement.

It should be noted that when the initial application is submitted to the ASAQS offices (together with the proof of payment of the Registration Fee), only then will the application for registration of the Practice be processed. You will be sent a subsequet invoice for the annual membership fee and on payment of that, the application process will be completed and confirmed with the issue of a beautiful registration certificate.

We are very happy to receive electronic (eft) payments, or even credit card payments. Should you elect to pay by credit card, then we clearly need your credit card details to process the transaction on our side. Should you need further clarity, please contact the ASAQS office for further assistance.

For a copy of the Registration Form for Practices, please click here.

 ASAQS SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE RICS

.We are pleased to announce that on Wednesday 27 May 2009 the President of the RICS, Mr Peter Goodacre, and the President of the ASAQS, Mr Indresen Pillay, have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (effective for a period of three years) to formalise the mutual co-operation, liaison and understanding between the ASAQS and RICS organisations in terms of reciprocal membership, etc.

The previous Co-Operation Agreement, which was signed on 18 May 2005, had expired and this re-signing exercise was a practical demonstration of the ongoing and continuing fruitful relationship that exists between the ASAQS and RICS. We are pleased that we have again succeeded in renewing the mutual commitment between the two organisations, and in so doing signing the stated agreement as a practical demonstration of that commitment to each other.

From left to right above : Mr Siva Veeran - Chairman of RICS SA, Mr Peter Goodacre, President of RICS, Mr Indresen Pillay, President of ASAQS, Mr Egon Wortmann, Executive Director of ASAQS

It was a happy moment in the history of the ASAQS to demonstrate in practical terms the renewed goodwill and commitment that exists between the two organisations. This is demonstrated by the ongoing liaison and co-operation between the two organisations, both on a local level as well as on the international arena. It was great to also share our views and thoughts with the RICS President as to the most effective way forward in terms of this mutual co-operation and assistance between the two organisations. Some of the items that were discussed and highlighted included the following :

• Stronger co-operation in terms of offering CPD functions and events to members
• More emphasis on the training and mentoring of students, including lecturing support
• Consideration to accreditation of tertiary institutions, particularly in Africa
• Consideration of the RICS becoming a member institution of the AAQS and to participate more fully in the development of further African countries.

To view the copy of the Memorandum of Understanding, please click here.

 REPORT-BACK OF ASAQS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

Following on the ASAQS Executive Committee meeting held in the ASAQS offices on Tuesday 28 July 2009, we wish to report back on some of the more pertinent decisions taken by Exco in as much as it requires the planning around and diarising of these activities. Naturally more detail will follow in due course, but the purpose of this transmission is merely to sensitise members to these developments and to diarise accordingly.
 
The three main items for discussion revolve around the following:
• Date of next ASAQS Board meeting
• Strategic Planning Workshop
• Launch of ASAQS Centenary Publication

1. Board Meeting:
 
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 7 October and Thursday 8 October 2009 and is planned to extend over a maximum period of 1,5 days. The Board members are then invited to stay on for the Strategic Planning Workshop for the next 1,5 days thereafter.
 
2. Strategic Planning Workshop:
 
Members are advised that the ASAQS has decided to undertake a "Strategic Planning Workshop" during October 2009. The intention of this is to review the present and future activities of the ASAQS and to have a fresh look at operational issues including the following:
• The ASAQS's current service portfolio
• The ASAQS's structure and daily modus operandi
• The relevance and value of the current services rendered
• New focus areas to be included
• Other key areas that need to be addressed including transformation
• Agreement on the way forward with respect to an Employment Equity Plan and Procurement Policy

It was agreed by Exco that the facilitation commission be awarded to LHA Consultants Management who would facilitate the workshop on the 8th and 9th of October 2009. Whilst a total number of 12 registered persons will be interviewed telephonically before the time (pre-study), the strategic planning workshop (strategic planning workshop and analysis of results) will be conducted with all the Board members on the 8th and 9th.

All Board members are requested to make themselves available over this entire period so that we may do justice to the Board meeting and to holding this workshop and to have a meaningful result, based on the active participation of all the Board members.
 
3. ASAQS Centenary Publication:
 
As indicated earlier, the printing of the ASAQS Centenary Publication is expected to be completed around end September 2009. To mark this happy occasion, it was resolved to maximise on the marketing opportunities in this regard and to organise a Launch Function to celebrate the happy event. In the interests of achieving maximum support and attendance at the function, it was agreed to link it in with the next Board meeting and to make it possible for the Board members from other centres to also attend whilst already up here in Gauteng.
 
The idea is to organise this marketing event at the ASAQS offices and to invite as many of the following attendees as possible:
• ASAQS Board members
• SACQSP Council members
• Minister of Public Works
• Representatives of the firms that advertised in the publication
• Representatives from other related BEP organisations
• Contributors to the Publication
• Publishers
• Representatives of the media and press, etc

We look forward to the launch of the ASAQS Centenary Publication with great anticipation.

 ASAQS WEBSITE ACHIEVES OVER 1 MILLION HITS PER MONTH !!

The ASAQS is proud to announce that the ASAQS website (www.asaqs.co.za) has achieved over 1 million hits onto the site during the month of August 2009. This is an all-time record and is a practical demonstration that the website is not only current and relevant, but of great interest to the members and the general public alike.

The hits onto the website are indicated in the following graph:

We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to the ASAQS webmaster, Mr Bert van den Heever, for his assistance and dedication to achieve this historic milestone and to make this all possible. In his advice to the ASAQS offices he reported as follows:

"Just to let you know that we broke the record again in August with 1,044,748 hits on the website. The importance of the weekend newsletter is also clearly illustrated in the graphs. You will notice that the ASAQS stats spiked every Monday in August except for Tuesday 11th August 2009 which followed the long weekend.

Keep that news coming !!!"

To all our members and the general public who have supported us and made use of the ASAQS website – thank you !! Without your loyal support that would simply not have been possible. The ASAQS will continue to strive to achieve a professional and world-class website to serve the Quantity Surveying profession.

 2010 TARIFF OF PROFESSIONAL FEES NOW AVAILABLE

THE SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL FOR THE QUANTITY SURVEYING PROFESSION
AMENDMENT OF TARIFF OF PROFESSIONAL FEES
QUANTITY SURVEYING PROFESSION ACT, 2000 (ACT 49 OF 2000)

In terms of section 34 (2) of the Quantity Surveying Profession Act, 2000 (Act 49 of 2000), the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession hereby makes known that it has determined amended guideline professional fees as set out in the Schedule.

The amended guidelines contained in the Schedule below shall become effective on 1 January 2010

Amendments to the 2009 Tariff of Professional Fees published in Government Gazette No 32753 of 4 December 2009 as Board Notice 163 of 2009 are included herein.

The new tariff is available from the website of the SACQSP or can also be downloaded from the CUG.

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• Banner adverts on the ASAQS website (675,000 hits/month on average!)
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