JBCC CEO

The Joint Building Contracts Committee® (JBCC) is a registered NPC. The JBCC Board is representative of building owners and developers, professional consultants as well as general  and specialist contractors who contribute their knowledge and experiences to the compilation of the JBCC suite of documents. JBCC is looking for a dynamic individual with fair knowledge and understanding of the  Built Environment to fill a Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) position from 1 February 2019.

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It is with great sadness we inform you of the heartbreaking news of the death of NEA (Nabih Elias Azzam & Partners) Dubai Director, Mr. Johan Liebetrau. We have been informed that he passed away on the 9th December during his vacation in the Maldives due to a heart attack.

Johan had a career that spanned over thirty-five (35) years in the Quantity Surveying profession. He approached each project as a new challenge to deliver to the satisfaction of the Client.

The formative first 19 years of his career were spent employed by one of the largest South African Quantity Surveying practices, Farrow Laing & Partners (later re-named Davis Langdon).

In 2000, he resigned from Farrow Laing to establish a Quantity Surveying practice together with four other colleagues. The practice was known as Mahlati Quantity Surveyors.

In 2012, he accepted the post of Vice President Quantity Surveying at Damac Properties and relocated to Dubai. Damac Properties is the largest privately owned property development company in United Arab Emirates. The project portfolio was mainly located in Dubai with further projects in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar. His position as VPQS at Damac became redundant due to restructuring of the QS Department.

In 2015, he joined Nabih Elias Azzam & Partners as Operations Director in their Dubai office.

The secret to his success was his hands-on participation in the projects from inception, through estimating, design development, procurement, administration and close-out. This ensured active budget management through direct contribution and, where necessary, value engineering and dispute resolution.

He enjoyed the levels of communication, collaboration and planning necessary to complete successful projects. He thrived on holding a position that requires holistic involvement and where he was able to draw on his experience and exercise initiative. He added considerable value to any project, as he was an ambitious and dedicated individual, with attention to detail and strong communication skills.

He was well liked by his clients and colleagues alike.

Johan loved adventure – scuba diving, traveling, hiking; he has successfully summited Kilimanjaro via Arrow Glacier and loved piloting gliders and light aircraft in his youth.

He will be sorely missed by all.

Some of the articles that appeared in the press during 2018 were:

2018 Trends from a Quantity Surveyor's perspective - Civil Engineering

Not all hope is lost - RACA Journal

QS Association: change irregular expenditure by changing the watchdog - Concrete Trends

Can QSs Help get "frozen" infrastructure projects back on track? -Floors in Africa

International CM standards to be adopted in SA? - To Build

Impossible in possible is just an opinion - Construction World

New dawn for delivering complex infrastructure - Construction World

Consider more than initial costs when building
New ASAQS Guide to Life Cycle Costing 2018 document
to assist built environment professionals - Hartland Nuus/News

Training for built environment professionals -  Walls & Roofs in Africa

Insights from the annual ASAQS conference - Floors in Africa

BIM competition tests quantity surveyors and industry practices - PositionIT

Lower priced building projects could be putting clients at risk - Commercial & Industrial Property News

Complexities of obtaining development funding - Commercial & Industrial Property News

To read the rest please visit our Press Clippings Page

The above would not have been possible without Juanita Vorster and her team from At that point. When asked why her company is called At that point, Juanita answered: "We're really good at meeting clients at a point where they need us - whether for a long term PR programme, a content marketing project, or a bit of strategic consulting - and work with them until their next point of need. At that point (see what we did there?) we either continue with the client on a journey of further growth, or wave a friendly (mostly temporary) goodbye so they can hone their new insights and skills."

How do they do what they do? Watch the video!

Summary text:    Interview with ASAQS Executive Director Larry Feinberg about the quantity surveyor's important role in ensuring projects are completed on time.
Clipped from:    Lotus Fm
Time aired:    03/01/2017 at 6:50AM

Cllick to listen

Summary text:    Interview with Danie Hoffman from ASAQS Vereniging van Suid-Afrikaanse Bourekenaars on the future of Green Buildings .
Clipped from:    Radio Sonder Grense
Time aired:    02/03/2017 at 2:15PM

Klik hier om te luister

Dear ASAQS Members,

The Executive Director, along with other senior staff members recently attended the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) Board meeting in Sydney, Australia. The PAQS is an international association whose board members are representatives from fully-fledged Quantity Surveying associations that fall within the Asia Pacific area or border the Pacific Ocean.

PAQS Board meeting
During the run-up to this aforementioned board meeting it was highlighted that South Africa has attended the PAQS Board meetings since its inception 22 years ago – albeit with the status of “non-voting Observer Organisation”. This is due to South Africa not being a country that falls within the Asia Pacific Area or shares a border with the Pacific Ocean – a PAQS constitutional requirement.

Historically, South Africa has continuously maintained its ardent support for the PAQS since its inception in the early 1990’s. South Africa has also regularly contributed to the many and varied technical committees of the PAQS over the last 22 years. Our association has always understood the strategic and academic significance of maintaining strong ties with the 14 countries whose associations compose the PAQS Board.

Significantly, over the last few years, and through the ASAQS’s active participation on this forum, our association has signed Memorandums of Understanding Agreements (MOU’s) with Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Canada.

Associate Member status
In the lead up to the recent board meeting in Australia, the ASAQS was informed that there was a strong feeling emerging among the PAQS member countries that South Africa should not be held in the same category as other Observer Countries. There was a strong feeling that South Africa have proved themselves as a sincere supporter of the PAQS evidenced through our proud participation on numerous projects and committees over the intervening years.

However, in order to “promote” South Africa from our countries Observer status at the board, the constitution of the PAQS would have to be reworded to make a provision for this exception.

It was with this in mind, that the idea was included as a formal agenda item at the PAQS Board meeting on the 17^th November in Sydney Australia. During this meeting the 14 member countries voted to change the constitution of the PAQS to allow South Africa Associate Member status of the PAQS. While an Associate member category carries no voting rights, the change in membership status will allow the ASAQS to be appointed to any of the PAQS working committees and have all rights to PAQS research and documents.

The ASAQS is deeply honoured to be recognised and accepted as the PAQS’s first and only Associate Member. It goes without saying that the recognition of the ASAQS as a PAQS Associate Member elevates the status of all South African QS’s among an internationally recognised group of professionals.

PAQS and ASAQS collaboration
Our continued collaboration with the member countries of the PAQS will ensure the ASAQS is able to provide its membership with the most relevant and up to date information and insights into global trends, new technologies, methodologies and international best practice that will ensure that our local QS’s will remain relevant on a global scale.

The ASAQS will continue to cooperate with strategic partners outside of South Africa’s borders to ensure that our members and our profession will have a strong voice and continue to be considered as a key player in global QS profession discussions - despite the geographical remoteness of South Africa.

It is indeed a proud moment for the ASAQS in the development and recognition of our profession on a global level.

Sincerely,

Larry Feinberg
Executive Director - ASAQS
Association of South African Quantity Surveyors
(W) -  011 - 315 - 4140
(F)  -   011 - 315 - 3785
web - www.asaqs.co.za

Over the holidays, I would like to encourage you to think about your influence as a Quantity Surveyor. In the office, on site and in the presence of clients, you need to lead. The only way you can do that is by making sure you are the influencer in the room, which leads me to my next question.

What important behaviours does a Quantity Surveyor need to exhibit to be influential?
After giving this a bit of thought, I would have to say it boils down to ethics, integrity, and ensuring the highest level of accountability. The buck stops with you and to be an influential Quantity Surveyor, people must believe wholeheartedly that you have fully accepted this responsibility. They must also know that your integrity is unshakable.

Whether your business in 2019 will come from local clients or international prospects, there are certain aspects that will separate the wheat from the chaff in the coming year. In tougher economic climates, you will need to demonstrate greater value for money, and champion new methodologies and innovative processes that will result in a better ROI for clients, without compromising on the quality of the final product. Innovation means thinking outside the box – not for innovation’s sake – but because it is time to evolve or get left behind.

Get motivated and inspired for 2019
It is easy to get stuck in the same old way of doing things. To avoid getting lost in the sea of people offering similar services, however, it is crucial that you stay motivated and inspired. One way to achieve this would be to subscribe to the highest standards for your business and services, setting your own barometer.  Another possible way could be to look at emulating what other successful Quantity Surveyors are doing.

I have worked with numerous Quantity Surveyors over the years and can safely say that we are, without a doubt, an ambitious and aspirational lot; we do stand out from the rest and we must be proud of that.  With experience, it is tough not to get snowed under with the day-to-day tasks that are needed to keep your business afloat, and particularly because we aspire to be thorough in the functions we perform. To stay inspired in 2019, particularly for the newer generation, look for mentors and other successful Quantity Surveyors and study their business practices closely. Follow those who uphold high ethical standards and are leaders in the industry. You are the sum total of the five people you spend the most time with. In your professional life, make sure these are people who take your leadership skills to greater heights.

In 2019, I hope to see influential Quantity Surveyors help to bring about important and beneficial changes in our industry. From developing solutions to assisting and advising in streamlining bureaucratic processes at Government, Municipal and other levels.  Let’s also  support women Quantity Surveyors to become future industry leaders.   Furthermore, I appeal to you to contribute to educational institutions through knowledge-sharing.  There is also a great contribution you can make to ignite and sustain meaningful economic transformation in South Africa.

Let’s make 2019 a year of progress, change and inspiration for us all.

Yours sincerely

Mr Yunus Bayat
ASAQS President

The ASAQS membership fee collection rate for this year is at 91.5% – slightly below the previous year’s collections when compared to December 2017. This collection rate is made possible by the continued support of professionals like yourself. We are very grateful for your dedication to the ASAQS, especially in the current phase the built environment finds itself.

This phase can only be described by the buzzword VUCA: volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity. The past year contained immense highs and immense lows for South Africa, and 2019 will most probably be more of the same.

In times of uncertainty the only sure choice we have is what we think and do until a down cycle turns upwards again. While it may seem more realistic to adopt a downcast attitude, in the long run it is better to keep a balanced view and to consider current struggles together with past victories.

We – and you – have much to be proud of, even though that pride might be suppressed by fears of an uncertain future.

A few of the achievements that is testament to the consistent progressive steps taken by the ASAQS through the commitment, passion and hard work of so many include:

• the number of new members that have joined the ASAQS this year that is on track towards balancing the reduction in the collection rate,
•  consistently increasing and improving the ASAQS CPD offering,
•  consistently producing high quality standardised technical documentation through the ASAQS’s Edu-Tech division,
•  the significant increase in the number of delegates that registered for the ASAQS conference earlier this year – confirmed at just over 300,
•  the creation of the brand-new ASAQS Connect initiative under the guidance of the ASAQS Western Cape chapter,
•  invitations by the highest echelons of government to engage in the shaping of the future of the QS profession,
•  recognition by industry professionals of the diverse role and responsibilities that a professional quantity surveyor is able to bring to bear on complex construction projects,
•  an invitation by the PAQS for the ASAQS to become an Associate member in recognition of its consistent work and contributions made over the last 22 years.

There is no way we can guarantee that next year will be any more stable or certain than this year. It is however absolutely in our power to build – or even just influence – our longer term success.

The key to this success lies in consistency of effort.

At the ASAQS we have created various structures and partnerships that serve to create the fertile landscape for great ideas. These ideas then take root and germinate into strategies and ultimately into firm and confident actions that – when repeated with great patience and consistency – ultimately delivers great results.

One beat of a drum isn’t enough to create a rhythm that inspires others to move. Only a consistent beat can get others to move in sync towards a great swelling of success that brings fulfilment and alignment to all involved.

We often forget to stop and look at how far we’ve come. Therefore my wish for you during the year-end break is that you make time to reflect not only on the changes you need to make in the new year, but also on how your efforts over the past few years have already paid off.

Sincerely,

Larry Feinberg

The impact of this was evident in the Mid-term Budget Policy Statement by Finance Minister Mboweni where he included quantity surveyors in the execution unit that will be formed to assist with the problem of poor infrastructure project preparation.

In Minister Tito Mboweni’s words: “Too often‚ government spends money on infrastructure when it could be better and more effectively done by the private sector. The Development Bank of Southern Africa‚ the Government Technical Advisory Centre and the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission will receive R625-million to strengthen project preparation.”

“Government will establish an execution unit made up of engineers, quantity surveyors, architects and other professionals to ensure that challenges in the Vaal River System and with the Giyani Water project are resolved. The execution unit will also advise government on new delivery and financing models to provide basic services to communities.”

The regulated appointment of a registered Quantity Surveyor is essential for the reduction of irregular and wasteful expenditure. This is turn will help to ensure that public infrastructure spend is applied to the benefit of the greater South African public.

“While we advocate for this change, Quantity Surveyors also have to keep an eye on remaining relevant and offering valuable services in a changing world,” says Feinberg.

Product changes
Self-healing concrete, air-cleaning materials, transparent wood, and graphene are just some of the innovative products that are rapidly moving from being labelled alternative building materials to more mainstream.

While South Africa has not yet adopted many of these materials, no construction professional should wait for someone else to be the first to learn how to work with these materials.

Process changes
Similarly, new techniques in the construction process like additive manufacturing – for example the 3D printing of buildings – also need to be factored into the sustainability and growth strategies of firms and professionals in the South African built environment.

All traditional methodologies must be reviewed with a focus on to the relevancy to the future of designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure and buildings.

“Those that can adapt without being forced to do so will have a distinct advantage over those that wait until proof of concept,” warns Feinberg.

Role changes
Changes to existing methodologies don’t need to be at the extreme edge of technological innovation. Even experimenting in small ways with readily available processes – like Building Information modelling (BIM) – can give construction professionals an edge.

“By rethinking and redefining their traditional roles, professionals in the built environment can help create a secure future for themselves,” says Feinberg. “This security will be built less on the work they’ve already done, and more on how relevant they can remain to their clients’ needs.”

A Quantity Surveyor (QS) is a financial expert trained specifically in the complexities of construction sector finance, procurement and contract administration. The QS is responsible for ensuring that a client receives value for their money during the viability stage, the construction phase and the entire lifecycle of the building, road, bridge, dam, etc.

This is done by verifying – at various points during the planning and construction phase – that the actual expenditure and project delivery aligns with specified material, approved budgets, and agreed timelines.

Feinberg says that Quantity Surveyors would however do well to think of themselves not just as experts in procurement, building contracts and cost control enabled by meticulous measuring and calculations, but also as governance experts and ethics advisors.

Quantity Surveyors are ideal business advisors, even if the historical foundation of the profession is “number crunching”.

“During 2018 the ASAQS has made solid strides towards enabling QS’s to make additional valuable services available to clients,” says Feinberg. “Courses and standardised documentation on life cycle costing, value management towards savings and operational efficiency, and advice on sustainable building practices, methodologies and materials are just some of the many additions we’ve made to our stable of Continuing Professional Development offering.”

For more information on ASAQS please visit:
Website: www.asaqs.co.za
LinkedIn: ASAQS - The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors
Facebook: The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors

The Specifile Shopping Mall & Retail Design online magazine is unique in that it is a combination of informative articles as well as a directory that you can use for reference and product sourcing.

The publisher says: "In South Africa a growing consumer class and urbanisation has led to a demand for new shopping malls throughout the country.

The South African Council of Shopping Centres issued a report last year that noted that South Africa had the sixth most shopping centres in the world. Furthermore, a study conducted by MSCI also noted that as of July 2017, the SA retail development pipeline measured 1.9 million square metres across 68 centres - the bulk of which is planned for completion in this year.

And, of course, new malls mean that existing malls must constantly re-invent themselves to remain relevant and popular. This leads to renovation, refurbishment and re-design."

All of this calls for a wide variety of building products and services – you can access their A-Z index of products that are used in the construction of malls and shopping centres.

You can access this useful resource by clicking here.

They hope you find this publication useful. Should you rather have a hard copy, please email louise.coetzee@newmedia.co.za and they will arrange to mail a copy to you if you are in South Africa.

Small Claims Courts are present in many centres around the country. These courts have been established to provide a faster, simpler and more affordable opportunity to obtain justice and offer a quick and easy way of resolving disputes that involve claims not exceeding R15 000. 

You do not need a lawyer to represent you at a Small Claims Court as legal representation is not allowed. This does not mean that you cannot obtain prior legal advice from an attorney, but this will be at your own cost. There are also no additional legal costs with officers of the Small Claims Court assisting you free of charge.

Anyone, except juristic persons such as a company, close corporation or association may institute a claim at the Small Claims Court. A minor must be assisted by a parent or legal guardian. You can institute action for any claim that is less than R15,000, but cannot institute a claim against the state or municipality. If your claim exceeds R15,000 you can claim a lesser amount in order to pursue the claim in the Small Claims Court. In your case, your claim amount falls within the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court. 

To institute a claim you (“the claimant”) can either start by writing a letter of demand to the person owning you money (“the defendant”), which should be delivered by hand or sent by registered post, or you can approach the clerk of a Small Claims Court near you for assistance in drafting a letter of demand to be delivered by you or sent by registered post to the defendant. In the letter of demand the defendant should be given 14 days to pay the amount claimed. If the defendant does not pay the amount claimed within this time, you must then approach the clerk of the court to issue a summons to the defendant to appear in the Small Claims Court at a set date and time. You will need to provide the clerk with the necessary details and documents that evidence your claim. 

You can then serve the summons on the defendant either personally or through a sheriff, although in the latter instance you will have to pay the sheriffs costs. The defendant can upon receipt of the summons either pay the amount owing or defend the claim and provide the clerk of the court with a statement setting out his counterclaim before the date of the hearing.

On the set hearing date, the matter will be heard by the Commissioner of the Small Claims Court that will provide both parties an opportunity to provide their version of events in respect of the claim. The parties may also hand in documents and call witnesses to prove or disprove the claim. After hearing both versions, the Commissioner will make a judgment which must be complied with within 10 days.

If the claimant is successful with the claim and the defendant refuses to satisfy the judgment, a warrant of execution will be issued by a clerk of the Magistrate Court and the sheriff, at the cost of the claimaint, will serve such on the defendant and attach sufficient property to satisfy the claimant’s claim. If the claimant is unsuccessful, he or she cannot appeal the judgment but a review of the proceedings is allowed.

As can be seen from the above, instituting action in the Small Claims Court is a viable solution for enforcing your rights and should be considered by you in respect of your claim.

More information on Small Claims Courts can be found at www.justice.gov.za/scc/scc.htm

Article published courtesy of PSN Incorporated
http://www.psn.co.za 
T: +27 016 9329101 
F: +27 016 9329129 
E: thefirm@psn.co.za

The following new JBCC documentation is available for purchase in hard copy format from the ASAQS offices and electronically from Contracts on Demand;

• Principal Building Agreement JBCC Edition 6.2 May 2018
•  Principal Building Agreement: Contract Data JBCC Edition 6.2 May 2018
•  Nominated selected Subcontract agreement JBCC Edition 6.2 May 2018
•  Nominated selected Subcontract agreement: Contract Data JBCC Edition 6.2 May 2018
• Minor Works Agreement JBCC Edition 5.2 May 2018
•  Minor Works Agreement: Contract Data JBCC Edition 5.2 May 2018

The General Preliminaries JBCC Edition 6.2 May 2018 is available for free in electronic format only from the JBCC website

In addition, the following supporting documentation is available from the ASAQS website;

• JBCC PBA 6.2 Bill No. 1 (Preliminaries) in WinQS
•  JBCC PBA 6.2 Bill No. 1 Excel versio
•  JBCC PBA 6.2 Bill No. 1 (Preliminaries) in PDF
•  JBCC PBA 6.2 Project Specific Preliminaries (lump sum) in Word
•  JBCC MWA 5.2 Bill No. 1 (Preliminaries) in WinQS
•  JBCC MWA 5.2 Bill No. 1 Excel version
•  JBCC MWA 5.2 Bill No. 1 (Preliminaries) in PDF
•  JBCC MWA 5.2 Project specific preliminaries (lump sum) in Word

Members should be signed in with their Firm's profile in order to access the documents.

A brief summary of the major differences between the JBCC Edition 6.1 and the JBCC Edition 6.2 suite of documents can be obtained by clicking here.

Consequently, with the release of the new JBCC suite of documents dated May 2018, the old JBCC Edition 5.1 and 6.1 suite of documents are no longer available.

However, electronic versions of the supplementary forms relating to these documents are still available on the “Documents - Free Forms” page on the JBCC website.

The salary survey was conducted in March 2018. Results were extracted from approximately 102 participating firms (some of which operate in more than one province) covering salaries of 506 personnel, compared to 158 participating firms and 802 personnel in the March 2017 survey.

The results are based on an annual survey of salaried staff, conducted amongst quantity surveying practices in South Africa. The survey excludes information pertaining to the remuneration packages of the principals, partners, members of close corporations and directors.

Last year we saw a sharp drop in the remuneration of quantity surveyors qualified at university and with more than 10 years experience. That seems to have been corrected in this year's survey. Another interesting number that crops up when comparing the 2018 survey to last year is that the number of practicing salaried QS's with more than 10 years experience seems to have declined from 28,2% to 21,4% this year. Your knee-jerk reaction could be that this drop must be ascribed to the number of experienced QS's leaving the country.

One should however, be cautious when comparing figures from one year to the next. The survey suggests trends over longer periods of time and if one compares the 2018 percentage to the 22,0% recorded in 2013 then the balance in experience seems to have remained fairly constant.

How do you compete for work in a market where standards differ and price more often than not determines who gets the work? How do you operate in countries where helping family and friends to get employment or to win a contract is seen as a positive?

Different countries and companies have different tolerances for engaging in practices that others would consider to be bribery or unethical conduct.

Steph Fairbairn, the journal editor asks: "What would you do?" She says: "This is a question most of us face regularly, whether in a personal or professional context. At a time when our industry is in a major stage of transition, the ethics of what we do, and how and why we do it, are more important than ever."

Five likely scenarios for quantity surveyors and project managers are debated – and the only conclusion is that everyone has a different view depending on their background, experience and beliefs.

Here are a few examples from the article on ethical dilemmas:

The contractor submits an interim application for payment on a construction project that includes amounts claimed for work. It is clear to the consultant quantity surveyor from a visual inspection that this work has not been completed on site. When challenged, the contractor suggests that this was a genuine error on their part. What action should the consultant quantity surveyor take in respect of the potential fraud that they believe has been attempted?

Competitive tenders are due to be submitted at a particular date and time, but one of them arrives late and is the lowest of those submitted. The client is very keen for this late tender to be considered and asks the consultant quantity surveyor or project manager to include it in their report, as if it had not been late. What should the consultant quantity surveyor or project manager do in this situation?

and

The consultant quantity surveyor or project manager has been asked by a favoured, and repeat, business client to submit a fee proposal for a particular construction project. Once submitted, the client approaches the quantity surveyor or project manager and indicates that they very much wish to appoint them for the project, but notes that unfortunately theirs was not the lowest fee proposal received. The client advises that if the quantity surveyor or project manager were able to reduce their fee to a certain level – that is, below the lowest fee proposal received – then they would be appointed the project. How should the consultant quantity surveyor or project manager respond?

How do your partners and staff respond to theses scenarios?

Click here to download the journal

Online survey link: https://asset.robertsoncooper.com/cp2018/

Dear Colleague 

It is common cause that our industry is a stressful working environment. What causes this stress? What physical and mental strain are you under because of work pressures? Are you feeling burnt-out? What is the effect on your work-family balance? How does this affect your level of engagement and attitude to team work? What are YOUR feelings?

To try and answer these questions, the Department of Construction Economics and Management at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, has embarked on a project looking into occupational stress, in conjunction with the South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession, using Robertson Cooper’s (UK) ASSET questionnaire. The aim is to investigate work-life balance, work relationships, work overload, job control, job satisfaction, commitment to the organisation, commitment of the organisation, team cohesion potential, resilience, physical and psychological health and psychological well-being - as perceived and experienced by registered quantity surveyors in the construction industry.

We invite all registered quantity surveyors to please respond to this survey. Thank you in advance for agreeing to do so. The survey has ethics clearance from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at UCT. The information you provide will only be used for research purposes and it will not be possible for your individual responses to be attributed to you. Submission of the questionnaire will be deemed to be confirmation of informed consent. The main output of the study will be a report published by the researchers under the auspices of the Department of Construction Economics & Management. The anonymous data will be archived by Robertson Cooper and used in norming, but will also be used for research and dissemination purposes by the research team.

The questions are topical and relevant to all who are concerned about the well-being of people in our industry. Please record your views by linking to the questionnaire located at the following website. This survey is entirely web-based and the results are captured and processed electronically. Trials indicate that the survey takes about 15-20 minutes to complete.

https://asset.robertsoncooper.com/cp2018/

Please call +27 (0) 21 – 650 2452 if you have any queries. Alternatively, please email us at the email addresses shown below.

Kindly complete the survey by 31 December 2018 if at all possible.

Professors Keith Cattell and Paul Bowen                                                      

Department of Construction Economics and Management                                                  
University of Cape Town

Keith.Cattell@uct.ac.za

Paul.Bowen@uct.ac.za

 Click here to download the 2017 CIOB report on the state of well-being in the construction industry

For the first time in its history, the Women’s Spring Breakfast was open to men in the industry and some of our male student members for a more inclusive talk, understanding the positions that men are in and how they can change issues that affect women in the workplace. One of our keynote speakers, Lungisa Sishuba, a Commercial Manager at Inkanyeli spoke of understanding how male privilege hinders the advancement of women in the professional space.

Miranda Baloyi, PrQS, entrepreneur and 3^rd year lecturer at Wits School of Construction Economics and Management, kicked off the programme with the theme of “Laying the Foundation” of empowerment and entrepreneurship by sharing her raw experiences of being a business owner.

The ladies in the panel discussions consisted of Fundi Mazibuko, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Fullserve, who emphasized the importance of presenting yourself well and being authentic. Thobile Nyawo, Founder of Nyawo Construction spoke about perseverance as the key to success and the importance of networking. Pride Ndlovu, Senior Lecturer at Wits School of Construction Economics and Management reiterated the note of networking from a university level as those connections may help in the outside world. She also told our audience about accepting challenges and not letting them deter anyone.

We would like to thank all our keynote speakers and panelists for reserving their time to come and share the day with us. A big thank you to Bongiwe, the Origins Centre Manager for getting the venue ready for us, and Jolene, Manager at Café Fino, for her catering services and décor.

As we close of the year, ASAQS Wits Student Chapter would like to thank all their members for the continued support. Thank you to the ASAQS executive and subcommittees for their hard work, dedication and investment they have made into the chapter. We wish the outgoing leadership happiness and success in their careers and may the new incoming team take the chapter to new heights.

Article supplied by Nthabiseng Motlatle

The high-level roundtable discussion brought together various stakeholders, with a representation from both the public and private sector. Pertinent in our time, is the  ability of  to  adapt  to change and  remain  relevant in the  ever  changing  world.  It was timely and perhaps necessary to bring together all relevant stakeholders to discuss the future of real estate and best practice trends in project management.

Neil Bullen - Global Head of Real Estate at Turner & Townsend

In his presentation, Neil predicts that we will see major and disruptive changes in the real estate delivery model within the next 3 to 5 years.

Worldwide the real estate landscape is changing. On a macro level several factors are driving this change and there is a great expectation of what technology can do. Just think about the tectonic shift that Airbnb brought about in the hospitality industry in just a decade. The new start-up company WeWork is also changing the way that people think about office space. WeWork was founded in 2010, it is headquartered in New York City and provides shared workspaces for technology start-up subculture communities, and services for entrepreneurs, freelancers, small businesses and large enterprises. As of July 2017, WeWork had a valuation of roughly US$20 billion and managed 930,000 m² of office space. It is more of a club than a letting company as it designs and builds physical and virtual shared spaces and office services for its members (clients). The company has over a hundred thousand members who have access to health insurance, an internal social network, social events and workshops, and even an annual summer retreat.

What will this change look like?

“The role of real estate and its clients is changing and we will see a new benchmark for best in class. New capabilities will be required to meet the changing landscape and we will see a new and deeper level of partnering relationships with key suppliers resulting in a win-win for all.” Neil said. 

He predicts that in the real estate industry, which has been resistant to change, we will soon see rapid acceleration in the adoption of digital approaches.

By 2050, an estimated 70% of the world’s 7 Billion people will live in towns and cities. As this shift gains momentum, opportunities arise for those who own, manage and invest in property to consciously shape these changes in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. The delivery model will be horizontally and vertically integrated with the focus shifting to the whole life of the asset, less contracts and new integrated solutions.

What could the benefits of such change be?

It is predicted that the change could result in a 33% reduction in cost, a 50% reduction in project time and a 50% reduction in carbon emissions.

Ziyad Adroos, Turner & Townsend's Head of Real Estate in Africa continued the discussion. In  Africa, the  conversation has  shifted from one of  the  deficits and  gaps  to  one  about opportunities, prospect and  growth. Ziyad touched on  the current situation in South Africa regarding land reform, what the forces for change  are and then explained how corporate  real  estate  could  be  part  of  the  solution . 

Ziyad Adroos heads up Turner and Townsend's Real estate division in Africa

Exploring some of the forces impacting on real estate he showed how Steinhoff's troubles could have far-reaching consequences for the manner in which corporate real estate is managed in the future. Steinhoff International Holdings Ltd. Has approximately 12 000  stores  in over 30 countries occupying 9million m2 of retail space, 2.5 million m2 warehouse space and a  further  4 million m2 property  portfolio.

He mentioned that although land tenure is currently in the spotlight, ageing infrastructure, supply chain management, bureaucracy and the drawn out development process are equally challenging for the development of the real estate sector. “Are the conditions for change in Africa in place?” he asked. In his view, Ziyad, advised that technology is already driving change.  According to Statista.com, in Asia Pacific, e-retail sales accounted for 12.1 percent of retail sales in 2016 but only for 1.8 percent of retail sales in the Middle East and Africa. What effect will increased online shopping have on the already oversupplied retail space in South Africa? What will the effect of self-drive Uber cars be on retail parking lots?

Ziyad believes that the capabilities of vendors are developing and that that there is a greater realisation that risk in the development of real estate needs to be shared where it can best be managed, but that this all depends on a desire to improve

In his conclusion he asked, “Can Africa afford to miss out”?

Report by Bert van den Heever - Webmaster of the ASAQS

On Saturday October 6^th 2018, the ASAQS Wits Student Chapter hosted their first annual ASAQS WSC Student Conference. The theme for this conference was “Creating an enabling environment for Quantity Surveying Students” and comprised of industry professionals that engaged students in various topics that will affect them in their route to employability.

The first session was opened by Tebogo Jempe, a Candidate QS at Equate Africa. Tebogo spoke about the competence and readiness of QS graduates and how the university curriculum is not evolving with the evolving QS industry. “There are market expectations on graduates and they are often expected to have the required skills and experience straight after graduating”.

Lesley Bergstrom, the Executive Assistant to the Registrar at the SACQSP, highlighted key aspects on how QS students and graduates can make themselves more marketable. “Do internships, consider volunteer work, and base your CV on the job you want. Review common interview questions, dress for success, sharpen your communication skills,  know major current trends in the construction industry and join a professional society to grow your network of contacts”.

Professor David Root, Head of School of Construction, Economics and Management at Wits University, gave a brief summary about how the construction programmes at Wits are regulated and if this degree will truly prepare us for the working world.

The second session of the conference highlighted the very controversial topic of land expropriation without compensation. Prisca Simbanegavi, PhD Researcher and Senior Lecturer at the School of Construction, Economics and Management at Wits, opened the discussion. “State land should be used for economic development purposes and it is important for people to be educated on the functions of land. Land should not be used for political gain but for economic liberation. We need to fix this issue as of now and should learn from other countries such as Zimbabwe”.

Mashilo Pitjeng, Managing Director at TseboREAL Asset Management and former President of SAIBPP: “The questions we should be asking ourselves is why do we want to possess land? How does land acquire its value over time? It must be useful and productive to someone. What is the proportion of productive land in South Africa?” He later went on to reiterate some of the points brought up by Prisca;” We should stop looking at land as a position thing, but more for economic prosperity. We also need to fix the tenure system and the issue of special inequality”.

Dr. Oluwayomi Babatunde, Senior Lecturer at the School of Construction, Economics and Management at Wits, gave the students a few truths that will equip them in the working environment and some of them include: cleaning up your digital footprint, telling a story with your CV, not lowballing yourself to get a particular job, being loyal and dependable and working on your dreams after working hours.

The last speaker, Karl Trusler, the EduTech Director at ASAQS, gave an interesting and insightful presentation on the technological advancements that the QS profession has made in the past few decades. “The future of QS will surprise us. We are moving from bricks to clicks and the fourth industrial revolution will include disruptive technology. QS is not only a role limited to estimating and calculating. Some of the skills to stay relevant include: Personal Branding, Digital Fluency, Belonging to a Tribe and Making sense of Complexity and Resilience”.

The ASAQS Wits Student Chapter would like to thank every single speaker and delegate for attending our conference. Thank you to the ASAQS, the SACQSP and Edu-Tech for the contributions they made to make this event a true success. We certainly hope that the chapter will continue to grow from strength to strength with your assistance and continued support.

Article provided by: Nthabiseng Motlatle

The International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS) is a new, high level international standard that aims to provide greater global consistency in classifying, defining, measuring, analysing and presenting construction costs. The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) is working with a growing group of professional and not-for-profit organisations from around the world to develop and implement these standards for benchmarking, measuring and reporting construction project costs.

ASAQS EduTech Director, Karl Trusler, is representing the ASAQS in the ICMS coalition. He says that a global standard in cost reporting will benefit South African Quantity Surveyors, developers, and other professionals in the built environment in a number of ways.

Levelling the playing field for built environment professionals

“When there is global consistency in how the construction costs of a project are represented, investors and clients are able to compare apples with apples,” explains Trusler. “Through the introduction of a standardised cost reporting template, the ICMS is succeeding in creating a common language for the global built environment.”

“Regardless of where they are based, clients can use the ICMS as a guideline to determine where in the world they should develop their projects to achieve the best returns thanks to the consistency and benchmarking it provides. It has the potential to level the playing field globally,” says Trusler.

The way that construction project cost reporting has been presented to clients, developers and investors in the past can vary from country to country and even within countries. Adoption of the ICMS means that construction costs will be presented in the same way whether at a project, regional, state, national or international level.

“The stand-out benefit is that real comparisons of construction projects can be made, and these comparisons will guide more informed decision making. An increasing number of local Quantity Surveyors are becoming involved in projects across our borders into the rest of Africa and beyond. To become and remain globally relevant, they should seek to do their reporting in an internationally standardised way. The ICMS speaks to this need,” says Trusler.

Encouraging widespread adoption of a globally consistent standard

As the ASAQS representative to the coalition, Trusler is tasked with staying informed and connected on global developments related to the ICMS and providing feedback and suggestions from members to the coalition. When asked how widely the ICMS has been adopted in South Africa, Trusler explains that it is still very new and has not yet become the status quo.

“Like any initiative in the built environment, there are early adopters, but the majority of South African professionals in the built environment are waiting to see what the uptake will be. While the larger multidisciplinary practices may adopt the ICMS quicker, the majority of smaller practices in South Africa would be more cautious. Basically, all practices make use of some form of a cost reporting system so to become ICMS compliant, they would need to align their reports to the ICMS cost reporting template.”

The ASAQS plans to encourage the adoption of the ICMS through education.

“When people are informed and grasp the value of a concept, they become motivated, and before long through their own initiatives the concept gains momentum. Across the globe, the ICMS is beginning to gain momentum through the efforts of local organisations. Lobbying at government level is a priority because government adoption will go a long way towards cementing the ICMS as the national standard within countries,” concludes Trusler.

MEDIA CONTACT: Juanita Vorster, 079 523 8374, juanita@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za  

For more information on ASAQS please visit:
Website: www.asaqs.co.za
Facebook: facebook.com/asaqsza
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/asaqs

The HardHat Professional (www.thhp.co.za) is a digital platform that aims to empower Construction and Built Environment Professionals to take greater control of their careers.

THHP has just published a valuable e-book which contains really practical information on how to select- and study for a career in the built environment.

When I asked him how the book came about, Thami Mthethwa, founder of the HardHat Professional said: " I started my career as a Construction Professional and I then went to become a Recruitment Professional specialising in the Construction/Built Environment industries, this is when I observed that a lot of new Hardhat Professionals were making a lot of uninformed career decisions and some were serious that it  negatively impacted their career progression. I also realised that the reason for this is that most of them did not have access to information that will guide them to make better informed career decisions in the construction and built environment industries. I then decided to start The Hardhat Professional a digital platform to empower Construction/Built Environment Professionals take greater control of their careers and this ebook is an extension of that."

The book explains the difference between vocational training, university of technology training and the more theoretical training one will get by attending an academic university. The second chapter explores the top 10 career options for HardHat Professionals that do not require a degree.

In subsequent chapters issues such as applying for a job and then preparing for a job interview are covered. The book also gives practical pointers when it comes to negotiating a salary, etc.

This is definitely a book that all young people should have. Please tell your friends about it and ask them to also spread the word.

Click here to download your own copy of this valuable book for FREE!

“With government infrastructure projects ranging from R1-million to multiple billions of Rands, everyone knows they need to use a construction agreement. Problems continue to arise when they don’t follow the terms that are stipulated in the agreement,” says du Toit.

Built environment professionals have a range of construction contracts at their disposal, including FIDIC, the NEC and the JBCC Suite of Contracts. The  GCC, however, appears to be the go-to agreement for large infrastructure projects where the Employer is a state-owned entity.

The GCC contains a number of clauses that establish the general risks, liabilities and obligations of the contracting parties and the administrative procedures for the administration of the contract. There are many variations between the GCC 2015 and its predecessor, the GCC 2010, with the biggest variation relating to how a Contractor controls his time.

When a construction agreement has been established for a project, the project will have a start date and a completion date. Part of the contract value will be based on how long the Contractor needs to be on site for. If a Contractor experiences delays, he is entitled to claim an extension.

“Upon approval of the extension, additional time will be allocated to the Contractor and this results in additional time-related costs. To prove that the Contractor is entitled to additional time, he will need to show the effect of the delays on his programme schedule. The updates to the new GCC contract now stipulate that any additional time that the Contractor saves has to be added to his float. If a Contractor is ahead of schedule, they must use the additional days that have been awarded to them. This update means that Contractors need to be more transparent in the administration of their time,” says du Toit.

Another change is that Contractors are entitled to suspend work if their Employer doesn’t pay them, bringing the GCC in line with other construction agreements.

du Toit, who has spent over two decades as a practising attorney in the Construction sector, says these agreements tend to be very lengthy and complex.

“During my time as a practising attorney, I saw many lengthy and complex agreements, but few things require such careful understanding and fine-combing than construction agreements. It is for this reason that built environment professionals are encouraged to attend CPD-accredited training courses on the agreements that are at their disposal,” says du Toit.

Steve will be presenting an essential guide to how the GCC 2015 works in practice on 15 & 16 November 2018 at Melrose Place Guest Lodge in Johannesburg. This course is multi-CPD-accredited with ECSA and the SACPCMP.

©2018 Copyright Alusani Skills & Training Network®. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorised reproduction will be actionable under South African law.

New ASAQS Guide to Life Cycle Costing 2018 document to assist built environment professionals

 There is a growing need among both public and private sector building owners and property developers to gain greater insight into what their buildings will actually cost them over their lifespan. The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) is set to launch a new document that will guide professionals in the built environment on the importance of calculating the Life Cycle Cost of a building and how to calculate these costs.

“The production of this document is part of the ASAQS mandate to provide value back to our members by equipping them with resources that will enhance their service offering back to their clients,” explains Larry Feinberg, ASAQS Executive Director.

Life Cycle Costing (LCC) is the total costs of an asset over its entire operating life, including initial acquisition costs, and subsequent running costs. ASAQS EduTech Director, Karl Trusler, says that traditionally, the most important factor taken into account when considering the development of a project are the initial capital costs.

The running costs of a building over the long term, however, far outweigh the initial capital costs, which means that everyone from quantity surveyors and other professionals to building owners and developers should reconsider their approach to the materials and equipment they choose and the design decisions and construction methods they opt for.

A long-term approach to property assets

“Even though buildings are capable to remaining operational for 100 years and longer, service components and certain finishes and fittings within a building generally have a much shorter life span. Therefore, for the purpose of LCC calculations, a time period of 30 to 40 years for the design life of a building is recommended as there are few advantages in going beyond 40 years.”

“The initial capital investment is only the tip of the iceberg when considering the Total Life Cycle Cost of a project. It’s the part we all see, but what we do not always see is the much larger portion of the costs that will be spent on maintaining the building over its lifespan,” says Trusler. “Instead of presenting clients with an estimate indicating the initial cost of erecting a building only, what is needed is a way to show clients what type of costs they are likely to incur to maintain a building over an extended period of time. The new LCC document will equip people with the ‘why’ and ‘how’ to go about doing this.”

The document, which will be launched during the gala evening of the 10^th South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Professions International Research Conference on 1 October 2018, is the product of years of research and work. The three main contributors of the document are Dr Hoffie Cruywagen of the University of Pretoria's Department of Construction Economics, Dr Deen Letchmiah, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of LDM Consulting and President of the SACQSP, and Danie Hoffman, a Board Member of the ASAQS.

“The first half of the document provides background and insights on what LCC is. It offers an academically-researched build-up to the second part of the document, which looks at LCC exercises and practical examples on how to go about providing clients with LCC analysis,” says Trusler.

Lifecycle costing to become the norm

Internationally, LCC is being seen as a means to promote green and sustainable infrastructure procurement for the public sector, and for good reason.

“When you consider the long-term use of public buildings and infrastructure, it makes sense for a complete Life Cycle Cost analysis to be undertaken on proposed developments. This information provides the means to make decisions that will ensure sustainable public sector procurement. In the private sector, developers with a long-term view for their property investments should be interested in these figures for similar reasons. The new LCC document will guide professionals on best practices and the practical application of LCC,” concludes Trusler.

MEDIA CONTACT: Juanita Vorster, 079 523 8374, juanita@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za  

For more information on ASAQS please visit:

Website: www.asaqs.co.za
Facebook: facebook.com/asaqsza
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/asaqs

The WinQS System is marketed and supported by Advanced Cost Engineering Solutions cc which was formed by Mike and Cathy Rocher in June 1996.

As one of the early users of the DOS-based MicroQS measuring system in the 1980's I got to know Mike very well (especially when an import went haywire and Mike would come to the rescue in the middle of the night!). With the advent of GUI and the first affordable Windows-based personal computers, Mike and Cathy left Quantim Computing, the providers of the  MIcroQS software, to form ACE Solutions. They developed WinQS in Mike’s dining room which also served as their office for a couple of years.

Their first breakthrough came about 2 years after start-up with an order of 100  systems and WinQS has grown internationally since then.

As one of the early users of WinQS our working relationship continued and Mike would come to visit me in Vanderbijlpark on a fairly regular basis.

Young QS's will find it unthinkable, but there was huge resistance within the QS-fraternity to switch over from DOS to the more user-friendly Windows operating system as it meant scrapping their old PC's and investing in new hardware and software.

Mike therefor played a major role in moving the QS profession into the computer age and for that, everyone in our profession, young and old, should salute him and know, that as a profession we owe him a huge debt.

In 2008 Mike found a take-off engine and developed it with the suppliers to form DimensionX. With DimensionX QS's now have a advance 5D take-off system.

I will miss Mike's lengthy phone calls and our hours of debating the QS profession that he was so passionate about. I last saw Mike at this year's ASAQS Conference and his laugh and smile as we greeted will remain a very special memory.

Goodbye Mike... and thanks for making my job easier and helping me lead a better life.

Bert van den Heever
Webmaster and Past President of the ASAQS
25 September 2018

Announcement from ACE Solutions

It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the passing of Mike Applewhite on Saturday 22 September 2018.

Mike’s passing is not only an enormous shock and loss to his family, friends and colleagues but also a tremendous loss for the Quantity Surveying Software world.

A memorial service will be held for Mike on:

Date:     28 September 2018
Time:     15:00
Place:    The Country Club Johannesburg (On the cricket field)
              1 Napier Rd
              Auckland Park
             Johannesburg

Please note, as a sign of respect, that the offices of ACE Solutions will be closed on 28 September 2018 but the team will be available for critical support from Saturday 29 September 2018.

We request your understanding and patience during this difficult time. Please share this message with all WinQS and dimX users in your office.

As part of Mike’s legacy, we will continue striving to deliver the highest service delivery standards in line with Mike’s vision when he initially started ACE Solutions and throughout his career.

The ASAQS Wits Student Chapter together with the School of Construction Economics and Management had the opportunity to host Georg van Rensburg from ACE Solutions (WinQS) for a Guest Lecture Titled "BIM for QS's"

The following items regarding BIM were discussed :

3D Design For Architects
4D for Project Managers
5D for Quantity Surveyors
6D for Project Lice Cycle Cost
7D for Facility Managers
8D for Occupational Health and Safety

He further went on to describe"5D for Quantity Surveyors" in detail which included:

Elemental Estimate
BOQ
Evaluation
Final Account

Some of the things that Quantity Surveyors needs to pay attention when using 4D is:
1. Rounding-off of Quantities
2. Specification of New Items

Furthermore, Georg noted that when using BIM processes, communication and collaboration is very important. The process will never work without the two. If you want to be competitive as a Quantity Surveyor, make sure that you know the BIM process.

Article supplied by Ms Nthabiseng Motlatle, Marketing officer 2017/18

Jeffrey Seglin, author of "The Right Thing" says: "Stealing is a no-no; cheating is bad. When it comes to moral quandaries, the thou shalt-nots are no-brainers.The truly tough dilemmas are those small, more ambiguous ones that you may stumble upon anytime, anywhere."

Jeffrey writes "The Right Thing," a syndicated weekly ethics column. He is a senior lecturer of public policy and director of the communications program at Harvard's Kennedy School.

This article first appeared on the CNN website in March 2010.

Here are some of the questions:

1. If something at a yard sale is far more valuable than the posted price, do I have to let the seller know?
2. My boss gave me credit for a project on which a colleague did most of the work. Should i accept the praise?
3. Am I obligated to lend money to friends and family?
4. If someone tells an offensive joke, is it my responsibility to speak up about it?
5. Is it ever OK to sneak a peek at your child's e-mail?

and now for a really tough one; "My boss asked me to cover for him on his expense report by saying I was at a meal when I wasn't. Should I do it?"

To find out Jeffrey's answers click here

You can also follow his weekly blog here

At the Council Committee Meeting held on 5 September 2018, there were a few possible policy changes brought under discussion and voted upon.

A substantial number of registered persons are contravening section 22 of Act 49 of 2000 that is “renewal of registration”. Compliance of registration fees and CPD is a requirement for annual registration renewal. The registration fee is billed annually before end of January, and the final CPD audit is done at the end of the 5-year cycle to determine a struck list.

Going forward the Council is proposing the following in order to receive a letter of good
standing;

1. a) Pay Registration fees
   b) Comply with CPD i.e 25 hours p/a
   c) Signed Code of Conduct declaration (to be downloaded from the SACQSP website) by the profession as read and understood.
2. Code of Conduct
   a) all newly registered candidates (including those with an Honours Degree) will need
   to, as part of their registration process, write PSM 17 (Code of Conduct) as a requirement to their route to Registration.
   b) Registered members will also need to undertake this as part of their 5-year CPD cycle.

The ASAQS will keep you abreast of developments in regard to the above, as and when they occur.