Dear Member,

As the year draws to a close, I’ve been compelled to reflect on all the highs and lows that have affected our country, industry, and the future of Quantity Surveying in the country. I’m not breaking any news when I say that we are operating in a tough economic climate, but a handful of articles and forecasts indicate that there are signs of recovery in the market.

A concern that is at the top of my mind is that many professionals have moved to pursue opportunities abroad. Even in times of positive change, built environment professionals will be forced to do more with less if we want to assist the Government in future-proofing the country with human-centric infrastructure that meets the needs of our people.

A step in the right direction has been the progress made by the newly appointed Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille. Not only is Minister de Lille open and willing to listen to the public outcry of professionals in the built environment, but service providers are being paid following her investigation into the nonpayment of invoices within the stipulated 30-day period. There is still a way to go to transform the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure into a flourishing Government department, but I feel hopeful with Minister de Lille steering its direction and strategy. As professionals from the various disciplines within the construction sector join forces and increase collaboration, we will continue to have a stronger voice when we approach Government about the challenges we face. ASAQS Members can expect a follow-up survey on the issue of non-payment of invoices so that we can make further inroads into determining who the non- and late-payers are in the industry. This survey will also be circulated to other Built Environment Professionals through their respective Associations and Institutes, which will represent one of the first collaborative efforts to address our industry’s collective challenges. One of my hopes for 2020 is that fewer built environment professionals will be doing work for which they are not compensated.

I am also excited to be a part of the committee that is being formed to align present ASAQS documentation with the International Construction Measurement System (ICMS). Reporting and costing methods used in the construction industry have significant variance according to the market, which impedes transparency, increases investment risk and makes it difficult for developers and clients across the globe to compare projects. I believe that an international standard which aims to provide greater global consistency in construction costing will benefit Quantity Surveyors, clients and Government.

The ASAQS is working with Universities and student chapters to create more awareness about our profession and the important role we fulfil in construction development. My goal is for school learners to have Quantity Surveying on their list of booths to visit when they attend University Open Days because they are interested in learning more about the degree and career.

Throughout my term, I will focus on supporting the ASAQS team in putting actionable goals to our strategies. I am humbly at the Board and Members’ service and I would like to encourage you to have the liberty to make suggestions on how we can improve our service offering and make Quantity Surveying more rewarding.

Have a restive and blessed holiday season.

Christelle Bown

The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) held its annual Board Meeting on 6 November. Here is an overview of the discussions, decisions and updates from the meeting:

External and international liaisons

The ASAQS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) on 1 August 2019. We will potentially offer training assistance to MBSA members and we will continue to focus on strengthening our cooperation with the MBSA. We are also in the process of drafting a MOI with the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) and the first draft of this agreement should be completed by the end of this year.

Internationally, the ASAQS has been accepted as an Associate Member of the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS). Our active participation in this board of established international bodies will strengthen the proud and competent standing of all professional quantity surveyors in South Africa.

Internal news, praise and progress

Edutech was once again congratulated on delivering a successful ASAQS conference, which was held in Cape Town in August. Edutech, together with a sub-committee, is updating current documents and will compile a guideline for the use of the International Construction Measurement Standards.

The ASAQS “Fees Committee”, which is chaired by Dr Stephan Ramabodu, met with senior representatives of the Competitions Commission. This created a much-needed platform for issues from both sides to be clarified and the Competitions Commission commended us for initiating this discussion. The Fees Commission is drafting a document for consideration and discussion by the Commission.

The Board was informed that Elizabeth Mbanjwa has resigned from the ASAQS. Elizabeth’s portfolio dealt with member registration and we are currently creating a revised portfolio for this position, which will include a significant Public Relations component.

Chapter news, membership fees, salary survey results

We would like to thank all the provincial ASAQS Chapters who submitted reports about their activities. The Chapter Board Representatives who attended the Board meeting will report back to their respective committees. ASAQS Executive Director, Larry Feinberg, has requested that all Chapters submit their proposed budgets for the 2020/2021 financial year as soon as possible so that grant transfers can be completed by the end of February 2020.

The ASAQS’ membership collection figures stand at 88.7% of all invoiced members. This collection rate compares to 90.7% at the same time last year. This small but significant drop is likely due to the current economic pressures that the construction sector is under.

Larry Feinberg reported to the Board that the response to the annual salary survey was once again poor this year. I would like to call upon all members to please participate in this important survey as it serves as a valuable guide to employers and employees as well as potentially be used to formulate more accurate recommended fees scales.

The ASAQS website relaunch is also underway and we are excited to unveil the new look in the near future. 

A/Prof Kathy Michell has been elected to represent Africa on the RICS Governing Council.

We wish to congratulate Kathy on her election and wish her the very best for her term of office. We know that she will bring her immense knowledge and experience to bear when representing this continent in the Governing Council.

The RICS have now publicly announced the Governing Council election results, these can be found here: https://www.rics.org/uk/about-rics/corporate-governance/elections/

We received the following query from one of our members:

According to The Standard System of Measuring Building Work Edition 7, should the formwork be measured:

(a) Stating the projection and giving the total height from top of base (bearing level) to the top of the column?
(b) Stating the projection and stating the total height above bearing level, the bearing levels taken between the concrete slabs?
(c) Should the area of formwork be measured through the slabs?

To find out what the Standard System requires from you click here.

EduTech is there to provide our members with technical support. If you have a query please log in on your profile and visit the EduTech Technical Information/ Technical Query page to send your question to us. Your question is posed to our panel of wise men and an answer is compiled and sent back to you FREE OF CHARGE!

Construction has traditionally been thought of as a male-dominated industry and if you were asked to name a female role model in the sector you’d probably be hard pressed to think of anyone. Thanks to the ever -changing concerted efforts to encourage women into the sector, today more women more than ever are taking up what was once considered ‘male’ positions and smashing outdated stereotypes.

Enterprise development and empowerment of the emerging sector is core to the cidb’s strategy towards fulfilling and implementing an integrated strategy for the reconstruction, growth and development of the construction industry. The cidb has identified women as a critical target for development.

The aim of the Empowerment & Recognition of Woman in Construction Awards (ERWIC Awards) is to encourage excellence among women and commitment among stakeholders to support women to develop and grow. It is also to shine the light on role models for women in lower grades, and motivate women in the higher grades.

The annual event celebrates, acknowledges and awards excellence of women within the construction industry.

Call for entries. Entries will be available online and will be open for 8 weeks from 1 March 2020 to 30 April 2020.

Click here to download the brochure.

The latest (October/November 2019) edition of the Property Journal form RICS carries an article by Andrew Green which states that the second edition of ICMS will have a major impact on life-cycle cost analysis, project reporting and facilities management.

He says: "The World Bank and governments around the globe have incorporated both capital and life-cycle costs into their procurement decisions, so construction cost management and procurement is increasingly demanding a whole-life, value-for-money approach. However, there is currently no international standard for classifying and benchmarking costs across all types of project or throughout the life cycle of buildings or infrastructure – leading to discrepancies in the accounting process or in comparing and predicting project finances. Life-cycle costs is vital to the financial management of construction projects and facilities management, representing a crucial consideration in whole-life cost decisions when income and non-construction costs, such as acquisition and financing, are included."

He continues: "Life-cycle costs enable critical decisions to be made about the importance of capital and longer-term costs that could ultimately affect an asset’s performance, longevity and how resilient it is. Other life-cycle costs could be part of facilities-related costs as well, such as environmental sustainability and occupancy costs such as subtenancy rent. Recently published, the second edition of the International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS 2) now includes other life-cycle costs such as asset renewals, operations and maintenance, and end-of-life costs. It has been developed through a process of extensive collaboration between industry representatives from 46 countries."

Please click here to download the journal and continue reading the article (Click on Bookmark 25)

 Mr Karl Trusler of EduTech says that his Centre will be investigating the alignment of present ASAQS documentation with the ICMS during the course of next year. 

Zandile Makhathini, Chairperson of the Built Environment Matters Committee on the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), has worked in various roles within government departments for the past twenty years. In 2012, she became the head of an infrastructure programme at the Department of Public Works and in 2015 she was able to appoint a Quantity Surveyor for the first time.

“Before 2015, there weren’t formally appointed Quantity Surveyors at the Department of Public Works. After requesting a special dispensation from HR to appoint a Quantity Surveyor for my projects, I was able to appoint one at an uncompetitive salary. The lack of competitive salaries for Quantity Surveyors is one of the biggest reasons for the lack of professional expertise within the Department. There is currently only one Quantity Surveyor and three candidate Quantity Surveyors who manage the projects that make up the R12-billion budget of the Department,” says Makhathini.

Engineers and construction managers aren’t quantity surveyors

Quantity surveyors are the built environment professionals equipped and trained to manage the complete contractual and financial aspects of construction projects. They provide key oversight and management that helps to ensure that a construction project is completed within its projected budget by pricing/forecasting as well as measuring the value of the work done on-site. Makhathini says that these skills are in short supply within the Department and that built environment professionals who haven’t been trained in cost estimating manage the financials of projects.

“Government departments are at a critical point where they need to recognise that a Quantity Surveyor’s skills are specialised and greatly needed on our projects.  Engineers and construction managers do not have the same skills as professional Quantity Surveyors. As a construction manager, I’m fully aware of my limitations, which is why I’ve appointed a Quantity Surveyor as part of my project team. Instead of expecting engineers and construction managers to excel in cost estimating and cost control, we need to entrust this responsibility to people who have mastered these areas of expertise. Government departments need to make roles for Quantity Surveyors available at competitive salaries so that they can control costs and help us derive value from our building projects and assets,” says Makhathini.

Maphefo Mogodi, Acting Chairperson of the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), says Quantity Surveyors are trained experts that provide an accuracy of estimates that other professionals simply aren’t trained to provide.

“Consultants involved in a project often tell the client that they can do the bill of quantities and they include this task in their fees. Quantity Surveyors are the ones with the nuanced expertise to provide a level of transparency and clarity to the costs that other professions aren’t equipped to offer,” says Mogodi.

Makhathini says that having a Quantity Surveyor on her projects has led to financial and project management benefits.

“Quantity Surveyors can foresee problems before they arise and do cost exercises to advise me on how I can achieve my goal while remaining within budget. During the design phase, they work with the design team and they focus on containing costs throughout the construction phase up until delivery to ensure we get value for money. Without a Quantity Surveyor, it becomes difficult to manage design changes and project costs,” says Makhathini.

Quantity Surveyors can help root out corruption

In September 2019, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille called for an overhaul of the department’s register after more corruption revelations were uncovered. Despite the department being custodians of over 30 000 pieces of land and more than 81 000 buildings, the values and status of properties are mostly unknown.

While these numbers relate to completed projects, Makhathini says the number of unsubstantiated variation orders on government projects is a symptom of the poor cost control that happens on a project planning and construction level.

“Each and every bill of quantities should be properly accounted for and substantiated. Without costing specialists, government departments will continue to lack control over the numbers, and they will continue to be subjected to abuse by dishonest contractors and consulting companies. When we have Quantity Surveyors working alongside our construction managers, engineers and accountants, we will be able to pinpoint wastage across the entire value chain and root out corruption,” says Makhathini. 

Solving bottlenecks, managing contracts and providing legal input

Quantity Surveyors on projects can help solve bottlenecks on-site and improve project delivery, says Mogodi.

“As most professionals in the built environment know, the government is often a slow payer and this lack of adequate cash flow often leads to delays on construction projects. A Quantity Surveyor is in the position to work with contractors on site, work out what money needs to be paid for the value of the progress that has been made, and move projects forward in a systematic and cost-effective way. Having a Quantity Surveyor keep their pulse on project costs and ironing out issues with the contractor on site can drastically improve project delivery,” says Mogodi.

Besides managing progress on-site and working with contractors, Quantity Surveyors can also assist with contract management before projects go to site and provide the construction expertise that is needed if and when a project ends up in court, adds Makhathini.

“Many times, corporate lawyers are hired to represent government departments during the litigation process, but in some instances these lawyers don’t have experience with the JBCC, FIDIC, or other contracts that government uses for construction projects. These frequent disputes erode profit margins and ultimately affect project delivery. If a Quantity Surveyor is involved in the project since inception, they can ensure that the contract management was handled correctly and provide input to the legal teams who have been appointed for the litigation process. A Quantity Surveyor’s expertise can therefore assist in minimising costs related to project delays and litigation,” says Makhathini.

Minimising waste

When asked how government departments can be convinced of the value that Quantity Surveyors can bring to a project, Mogodi says that the result of a Quantity Surveyor on a project easy to see and quantify: there is no waste.

“Quantity Surveyors are there to assist the contractor in making sure the client gets value for money and that there isn’t wastage on projects. If you don’t employ a Quantity Surveyor on your project, you are losing out. The projects with cost overruns are often the ones where no Quantity Surveyor has been appointed,” says Mogodi.

Larry Feinberg, Executive Director of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors, says it is incumbent on the government to recognise the deficiencies in project cost management and that appointing Quantity Surveyors will go a long way in alleviating corruption.

“When Quantity Surveyors are appointed at municipalities and within government structures across South Africa, the mismanagement of funds will be substantially curtailed. While engineers, architects and other built environment professionals can do contract administration bills of quantities, they will never come close to being as meticulous and as accurate as trained Quantity Surveyors. When Quantity Surveyors oversee contractual and accounting budgets, government will be able to get clear cut answers as to why there are cost overruns on projects, which will reflect a better fiscus for our country, and provide government with stringent budget oversight mechanisms and ultimate accountability,” comments Feinberg.

MEDIA CONTACT: Stephne du Toit, stephne@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za
For more information on ASAQS please visit:
Website: www.asaqs.co.za
Facebook: The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors

Value Management is concerned with improving and sustaining a desirable balance between the needs and wants of stakeholders and the resources needed to satisfy them. Stakeholder value judgements vary, and VM reconciles differing priorities to deliver best value for all stakeholders....” (IVM, 2013)

Click here to download the paper from the ICEC website

As reported by Lesetja Malope in City Press

‘I was a single mum, depending on my salary, and had to prepare myself that as an entrepreneur I was my own personal assistant, my own tea lady, my own everything’

From the streets of East London’s Mdantsane to the leader of two companies, Sandi Mbutuma is building a reputation in the construction sector.

A single child, Mbutuma was fortunate to have had an opportunity to have her career path plotted out for her in high school.

“When I was at Cambridge High School in East London, we went to a career guidance and assessment programme at the then University of Port Elizabeth.

“Before that programme, I wanted to be a dentist. After a week of assessments, we sat down with professionals and they found my personality was more inclined to analysing quantity, which was not far off from my second option of accountancy.

“From then on I knew what to work towards academically,” she says.

Mbutuma’s numerical literacy at school was a good springboard for her as she met the requirements for entry into the quantity surveyor programmme at Durban’s ML Sultan Technikon.

Sadly, it lasted only a year because she was physically abused by a fellow student.

“I did my first year there but I was manhandled and physically abused by a male student. My parents took a decision to look for an institution that was more likely to offer protection,” she says.

It was then that she enrolled at the Wits Technikon (now the University of Johannesburg’s Doornfontein campus) to do her first year again.

“The high number of dropouts is partly because pupils have a certain picture of what the career should be, but when they get to varsity they’re shocked. And at that point you are already in a new environment. I remember in my first class, I could not switch on a computer, so I raised my hand and said my computer was not working. The lecturer had to switch it on because I was too embarrassed to say I didn’t know how to,” she says.

Please click here to read how Sandi went on to win the Young Business Achiever Award in 2013 and start Azarro Quantity Surveyors two years later

(c) https://city-press.news24.com

The Council requires the assistance of the profession, stakeholders and members with the amendments to the Professional Code of Conduct.

The link above is the current Code of Conduct we encourage members and stakeholders to peruse the Code of Professional Conduct and forward all suggestions and comments to Disciplinary@sacqsp.co.za

You may also want to compare our code of conduct to the code adopted by the engineers.

There are subtle differences.

The Code of Professional Conduct for Registered Quantity Surveyors places the control of the business entity under the control of a registered person by stating: " A quantity surveying practice shall be controlled by two-thirds registered Professional Quantity Surveyors in terms of number, shareholding directorship and voting power whereas the Code for Registered Engineers seems to be silent on how the business entity is controlled as long as the work is carried out by a registered person.

There are two methods to measure service pipes in trenches:

Method A - earthworks to be measured in the earthworks trade

Method B - reads in the Standard System as follows:

Pipe trenches (method “B”)

Where expedient pipe trenches may be included in the descriptions of the pipe or group of pipes and separated into successive total depths in increments of 1m, in which case descriptions shal

l include excavation, bedding, backfilling and compaction and disposal of surplus material

Excavations in material of a more difficult character shall be suitably classified and given in cubic meters as extra over, in which case the width of the excavations shall be determined as described in method "A"

In the model bills there are only 2 items:

1.  ?mm Pipes laid in trenches (trenches elsewhere)

2.  ?mm Pipes laid in and including trenches not exceeding 1m deep

Is it required to mention all the items included, as specified above, in the description in the BOQ or will the item in the Model Bill as item 2 above be good enough?

To find out please click here

EduTech is there to provide our members with technical support. If you have a query please log in on your profile and visit the EduTech Technical Information/ Technical Query page to send your question to us. Your question is posed to our panel of wise men and an answer is compiled and sent back to you FREE OF CHARGE!

The ASAQS expresses concern regarding late- and non-payment by national, provincial and municipal government

The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) contucted a survey that showed that the majority of Quantity Surveyors experience late- or non-payment of contractors on national, provincial and municipal projects. ASAQS President Christelle Bown presented the survey findings during a panel discussion at the 2019 Master Builders Annual Congress, which was held on 9 September in Johannesburg.

“Over 140 ASAQS members participated in the survey, with the majority of respondents saying they experience late and non-payment on government projects. The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille, recently said that her department had paid R106-million in outstanding invoices. While this is a step in the right direction, it is still only a drop in the ocean of the R6-billion of government debt, that needs to be paid to contractors and professionals in the built environment,” says Bown.

The survey also highlighted that the Eastern Cape and Gauteng were the provinces where their members experience the most payment-related problems from government entities.

08 OCTOBER 2019

Government’s plan to get rid of pit latrines and fix mud schools

The Eastern Cape department of education has welcomed plans by national government to get rid of pit latrines and fix mud schools in the province as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa a few weeks ago.

City Press has been reporting about the number of schools with improper structures – most of them built of mud, sticks, asbestos and corrugated iron.

Read the complete article here

11 OCTOBER 2019

Dozens of Eastern Cape school upgrades abandoned

Algoa FM reports that:

Contractors have abandoned more than 50 major school upgrade projects in the Eastern Cape after government departments failed to pay them on time.

Many of these schools have been stripped of valuable materials and vandalised after being abandoned.

One example is Makhanda’s Grahamstown Primary School. The school moved into temporary prefabricated premises in February to make way for a R55 million upgrade. The revamp, originally due for completion in 2021, was to have included an administration block, a new library, an IT centre and a school hall, according to the school’s principal, Leon Coetzee.

Then in June, the contractors left abruptly, telling Coetzee that they had not been paid by the provincial Department of Public Works, the implementing agent for the project. This came as a complete surprise to the school, as they had not been informed by the provincial Department of Education or of Public Works that funds were not available to pay the contractors.

“Much later, after the contractor left, the [provincial education] department came and told us that the project had been stopped until further notice,” said Coetzee.

Read the complete news item here

12 OCTOBER 2019 

How much longer will taxpayers be expected to foot the bill for the disasters caused by bungling government departments? How much longer can consultants and contractors survive under these trying conditions?

A request for guidance on the application of the excessive variation clause 4.3 in the Tariff of Fees was received. It read:

"I am involved on a project where practical completion was achieved 314 days after the adjusted

(and approved ) practical completion date

My question is, must I (clause 4.3 is not clear on this matter ) deduct 15 per cent from the 314 days or do I work on the full 314 days (from the approved practical completion date up to the actual practical completion date ) when calculating the additional fee for stage 5"

Can you advise the fellow member? Should he or she factor in any extensions of time granted in the calculation?

Click here to view the answer and a worked example.

EduTech is there to provide our members with technical support. If you have a query please log in on your profile and visit the EduTech Technical Information/ Technical Query page to send your question to us. Your question is posed to our panel of wise men and an answer is compiled and sent back to you FREE OF CHARGE!

So where in the world is Patrick Waterson?

"On a boat" I hear you say?! But where is the boat?

Will this help?

Still not sure?

At sunrise on Wednesday morning the 25th September 2019, Patrick Waterson, a past president of the ASAQS steered his Voyager 44ft Cat named Waterdragon through the Corinth Canal.

His solo 100 sea mile journey from Missolonghi to the Almira boatyard near Athens was done at night as Patrick had been waiting for favourable weather to get the boat stowed away for the next year. He says that soon after casting off in Missolonghi, a real Highveld storm was brewed up by the Greek gods with thunder and lightning and a 40 knot wind pushing him all the way to the entrance of the canal.

According to Wikipedia, the Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island. The canal was dug through the Isthmus at sea level and has no locks.The canal was initially proposed in classical times and a failed effort was made to build it in the 1st century AD. Construction started in 1881 but was hampered by geological and financial problems that bankrupted the original builders. It was completed in 1893 but, due to the canal's narrowness, navigational problems and periodic closures to repair landslides from its steep walls, it failed to attract the level of traffic expected by its operators. The canal is currently used mainly by tourist ships; around 11,000 ships per year travel through the waterway.

Patrick says that that it costs 204 Euro to use the 6.4Km canal but saves the 700-kilometre journey around the Peloponnese and enabled him to be back at work on Monday!

Leaving the Corinth Canal...	and mooring the Waterdragon in Almira.

The SACPCMP have just published new Recommended Guideline Tariffs of Fees for registered Construction Health and Safety- and Project and Construction Management Professionals.

According to these newly published guidelines the project manager and health and safety professional should earn R1,139,495.00 or 11,40% on a project of R10,000,000.00. To this should be added the fees of the architect, currently at 10,61% and the quantity surveyor 7,58% (based on their 2015 guidelines). The fees of the structural-, civil- and electrical engineers also need to be factored in. A mystery figure only they will know how to calculate using their guidelines published at the beginning of December 2015.

Do our Councils seriously think that on a project of R10m the poor developer will be able to pay about 35% in fees and still have an economically viable project? Are these fee scales not undermining the credibility of our professions and are they not partly to blame for the 70% and 80% discounts that are offered on these recommended tariffs?

In an article published in July, Seqafrica.com, the largest online magazine for the Risk- and Compliance professions said; "The publication of fee guidelines that cannot be associated with professional rate x time is totally useless. There is enough competition in the PM marketspace to drive rates down. And while there may be a shortage in Pr.CHSA supply, clients know from experience that a project manager, architect or engineer is in a higher price bracket than a H&S practitioner with a Pr.CHSA designation." (see https://sheqafrica.com/sacpcmp-loses-sight-of-construction-reality/)

The ASAQS firmly believes that there is a definite place for fees based on the value of projects, especially where the scope cannot be fully defined at the time when the services of the consultant is sought. Numerous complaints from our members underline this problem. It has become common practice to expect the professional team to tender fixed fees on term contracts where the client actually needs their input to develop the scope of the project(s) and the brief to the professional team!

In this respect, professional teams are at a complete disadvantage when compared to contractors who receive (or should receive) carefully documented bills of quantities, drawings and other supporting documents that fully set out the scope of the works and the risks that tenderers will face.

Is it not time that our Councils come together and develop a single framework for the determination of professional fees that is applicable to all professionals? Strong inputs from clients, agencies and government bodies need to be taken into account when grafting such a framework so that it passes muster with the Competition Commission. Fees derived from such a guideline should differ due to underlying variables but lie within an acceptable range to prevent the excessive discounting of fees which has become the bane of our professions.

There are various individuals and institutions that strongly disagree with this view and feel that there should be no fee guidelines nor any ID's of work that spell out what clients can expect from a registered professional and that it should be left to free market competition to sort out the mice from the men.

What do you think?

Please have your say by answering our short survey on fees:

https://www.asaqs.co.za/surveys/default.asp?id=Fees_Survey

To see what others have said click here

The Sandton skyline-defining skyscraper, the Leonardo, is the tallest building in Africa. The R3-billion project, developed by 75 on Maude, a Legacy Group and Nedbank partnership, has already surpassed the former stand-out in Sandton, The Michelangelo. At 233m with 55 floors, it also beats the 201m architectural height of the Carlton’s Centre, previously the tallest building in South Africa.

Coined as the pinnacle of luxury living in Africa’s richest square mile the Leonardo is intended to symbolise a beacon of hope in a trying economic climate in South Africa. Only local contractors and labour were employed on the project with each individual leaving their own uniquely South African stamp on the building.

According to Jamie Hendry, Director at Legacy Development Management, this allows the Leonardo to radiate its own soul. Each visitor will, therefore, have a unique emotional journey during their time at the Leonardo.

“Whether you’re walking through the art-filled public spaces, absorbing the ultimate lifestyle experience on level seven or the magnificent unobstructed views with a drink at the sky bar, the Leonardo will create unforgettable memories for many generations of South Africans.”

The Legacy Group is known for its proud South African heritage and its investments in the country’s construction sector during times when others weren’t willing or able to take the same risks.

Cost control for a skyline defining project

“Estimating and controlling the cost of developing tall buildings is no easy feat,” says South African Association of Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) member, Steven Schneid from S.M. Schneid Quantity Surveyors.

“The initial capital cost estimate – which is vital in calculating the viability of the project at an early stage – could not be calculated based on data and information gathered from smaller projects. The nature of the development demanded detailed measurement on each specific floor. All calculations had to be done manually with more detail, fact-checking and number crunching than the team had ever encountered before.”
 
The Quantity Surveying work started in 2015 with a number of amendments to the initial estimate.

“We started by preparing mini bills of quantities for each aspect of work and sent these out for quotes,” says Schneid. “This enabled the team to remain agile in finalising a cost estimate that met the viability requirements of the project.”

“The client made it clear at the outset that he wanted a world-class building design that was flexible enough to accommodate future changes. The tendering and negotiation phase demanded a coming together of the project team, contractors and sub-contractors to ensure that the client received the best value for money during a tough time in the South African construction sector,” says Schneid.

“Understanding what is important to a client allows a QS to scrutinise costs and replace specified products for equivalent options that are more cost-effective while not sacrificing on quality and standards,” says Schneid.

“Steven has been outstanding in all cost control aspects of the project. He has given a huge effort to the project and we have developed a relationship built on mutual trust. We truly value his dedication and effort throughout the project,” says Hendry.

Hendry, who is also a Quantity Surveyor, says that Quantity Surveyors and the ASAQS – an organisation dedicated to upholding and elevating the status of Quantity Surveyors – will continue to play an increasingly important role.

“Poor economic conditions, combined with all the changes and challenges in the local built environment, means that developers are looking for credible figures, accountability and reliable cost management. Experienced Quantity Surveyors are well-versed to manage this function,” comments Hendry.

MEDIA CONTACT: Stephné du Toit, 084 587 9933, stephne@thatpoint.co.za, www.atthatpoint.co.za  

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

“Over 140 ASAQS members participated in the survey, with the majority of respondents saying they experience late and non-payment on government projects. The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille, recently said that her department had paid R106-million in outstanding invoices. While this is a step in the right direction, it is still only a drop in the ocean of the R6-billion of government debt, that needs to be paid to contractors and professionals in the built environment,” says Bown.

The survey also highlighted that the Eastern Cape and Gauteng were the provinces where their members experience the most payment-related problems from government entities.

“The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure isn’t responsible for the entire R6-billion in outstanding payments. Finding the sources of all the outstanding debt and addressing it with the appropriate departments and implementing agents will require a collaborative approach from built environment stakeholders,” says Bown.

Accounting for violence and disruption on projects

Another issue that was addressed during the panel discussion was how Quantity Surveyors should account for the community facilitation and safety measures that are needed to combat the ongoing violence and intimidation that has plagued many infrastructure projects in the country.

“There is a provision for a Community Liaison Officer in the bill of quantities for government projects. A possible solution could be the addition of a Social and Community Facilitator consulting role, which would be an additional cost to the client but could potentially minimise the cost of delays and damages from the construction mafia and other illegal activities on project sites,” says Bown.

Closer collaboration needed

On 1 August, the ASAQS and MBSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work more closely together to address challenges in the local construction sector. The recently held Congress cemented this sentiment, with members of the ASAQS and the MBSA committing to working more closely together in future.

“It is vitally important that the many stakeholders in the built environment continue with their current attitude of sincere and meaningful collaboration. These engagements create a platform that allows us to address the diverse and multi-faceted issues that our industry faces from a position of commonality. By keeping each other informed these stakeholder engagements can prioritise the central issues that are common to us all and simultaneously create action plans that deliver viable and sustainable solutions,” says Bown.

She concludes by encouraging ASAQS members to participate in upcoming surveys and she compels other built environment professionals to do the same. “Input from different role players can help shed light on the backlog of outstanding payments for government projects. The ASAQS will continue to contribute to meaningful dialogue surrounding these issues. We endeavour to make a change for the better.”

Nthabiseng Motlatle is the Chairperson of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyor’s (ASAQs’) Wits Student Chapter.  She is studying towards her degree in BSc Construction Management and works as a Student Quantity Surveyor at the multinational Turner & Townsend’s Illovo office, which she says is her biggest opportunity yet.

Motlatle leads a team of tutors at the ASAQS Wits Student Chapter who assist students with tough Quantity Surveying subjects and modules. Throughout the year, they create polls to find out which subjects are pain points for students and tutors who excelled in those subjects are then paired with the students accordingly. The tutors are mostly senior and final year students who can include the time spent tutoring as part of their practical experience hours, which needs to be submitted as a requirement to pass each year of study at the University’s School of Construction, Economics and Management. The tutors source exercises and past exam papers, which they then work through alongside students.

The ASAQS Wits Student Chapter uses social media such as Facebook and LinkedIn to keep group members updated about speaking engagements and events, to great success. They also research news and trends that impact the built environment to ensure that their teachings are relevant and up-to-date with what professional Quantity Surveyors need to know.

Motlale says that helping students pass gives her a sense of relief. Knowing how easy it is to pass the subjects when the information is conveyed in a way that resonates with a student is rewarding because she knows the time and financial costs of repeating subjects are high.  

Motlale grew up in a family of four in Meredale, Johannesburg, and was fascinated with buildings and the construction process from a young age. Her affinity for problem-solving and determination to pursue a career in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) led her to become a Quantity Surveyor. Her goal is to drive transformation and change in the industry. The person who has impressed her the most is the late founder of the Motheo Construction Group, businesswoman and philanthropist, Dr Thandi Ndlovu, and she wants her own legacy to include having changed the built environment for the better.

Motlale predicts that the environmental impact of rapid urbanisation will lead to more stringent green building legislation in the future and that technology, among other disruptors, will lead built environment professionals to become increasingly specialised.

She recently presented at the annual ASAQS Conference and Gala Dinner, where she gave members and attendees insights on the current quality of education. She told attendees that Quantity Surveying students often struggle to find vacation work and that the support that the Wits Students Chapter needs is in the form of mentorship and training through practical work experience. Her advice to young women who want to advance in the field of quantity surveying is to not feel threatened because it’s a male-dominated field – the opportunities are endless – and to stay true to who they are because the profession requires highly ethical professionals.

The member then goes on to explain that edges and risers can be formed by formwork that can extend beyond the level of the concrete whereas material used in formwork to steps in slabs must be cut to exact dimensions. The stripping times also differ which means that material used in edges, risers, etc. can be recycled more often.

Shouldn't steps in the soffit of slabs be measured separately?

To find out what the Standard System requires from you click here.

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Christelle Bown – President ASAQS Photo credit: Claire Clarke - Framed by Claire Photography

Bown’s appointment was announced at the highly successful 2019 ASAQS conference themed Shift towards Opportunity, held at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town on the 1st August 2019 and attended by over 300 delegates.

Nthabiseng Motlatle was recently elected as Chairperson of the ASAQS Wits Student Chapter. “It is a great time for young women to enter the Quantity Surveying. We have more women, like the incoming president of the ASAQS, taking up leadership positions than ever before. I am very proud to be a young woman in a position of leadership today and take this role very seriously,” says Nthabiseng.

Sticking to the conference theme we asked these two ladies a few questions:

Christelle Bown – President ASAQS

Q:           What is needed to shift a mindset from focusing on challenges to focusing on opportunities?

A:           Different people need different things to cause a shift in mindset. Some need a traumatic personal event and for another a spoken word may suffice. For me, personally, during our recent ASAQS Conference in Cape Town, I realised I must shift my attitude to not only focus on the opportunities but first identify the opportunity(s) in every challenge I may face, daily.

Q:           In your opinion, which shifts are necessary in the Quantity Surveying profession to keep it relevant in the long term?

A:           If we can all shift our mindset to focus on the opportunities within the challenges, we stay relevant. That said, if I look back on Quantity Surveying from the days when I started out as a Candidate QS to today, the QS profession has made major shifts despite QS’s being labelled as ‘set in our ways’, ‘conservative’, ‘reluctant to embrace changes to procedures which have worked for us for a long time’. We have made shifts and will continue to shift towards opportunities.

Q:           If you had the authority to shift one piece of legislation or regulation related to the Quantity Surveyor's role in the built environment, what would it be?

A:           Do I only get to change one? I would then choose something which may not result in a higher income stream, but rather fulfilling a need I believe is out there and feel passionate about. I would like to make it mandatory or at least very strongly advised, for the average person who wants to build and/or alter their own residence to appoint a QS. Like they must appoint an Architect to get the plans approved and an Engineer to sign off on the structure, they need a Quantity Surveyor to protect their financial interests.

Q:           What shift will you be working towards during your term as ASAQS president?

A:           Even better communication with our ASAQS members. There are so many valuable and exciting things currently happening at Board level and our members deserve to know and understand more about exactly what the ASAQS is doing for the profession. I get the comment/question “So, why must I be a member of the ASAQS? What are they actually doing for me?” far too often and want to change this.

Nthabiseng Motlatle, ASAQS Wits Student Chapter Chairperson

Q:           In your experience, what is the benefit of shifting from an instant gratification mindset to a longer-term focus?

A:           For me, everything is about setting goals for yourself and achieving them. The student

Nthabiseng Motlatle, ASAQS Wits Student Chapter Chairperson with Mr Larry Feinberg ED of ASAQS. Photo credit: Claire Clarke - Framed by Claire Photography

chapter has always been centered around catering for student members’ academic and professional needs. When we sit down at the beginning of every year to lay down a plan of action for the chapter, it is always with this in mind. It is rewarding when someone comes up to us at the end if an event and thank us for the positive message or guidance we have brought into their lives. This is the exact why this chapter was formed. It is this gratification that fuels us to provide better services in future and one of the reasons that this student chapter has become so successful in a such a short period of time.

Q:           What positive shifts have you seen in your own life due to your active involvement as an ASAQS member?

A:           Before I joined the ASAQS, I was very uncertain about my future in the built environment. I almost missed out on an opportunity to be part of this incredible profession because of my lack of knowledge. When I started attending the events hosted by the Wits student chapter in 2016, my view on this profession changed and I started taking an interest in it. I would do research about the profession and job shadowed quantity surveyors several times, which helped me make an informed decision for my Honours year application. Becoming a member and ultimately, part of the executive committee, has helped sharpen my communication skills, meet and exchange contact details with successful industry giants. My leadership skills have improved immensely. I work for one of the best global infrastructure companies in the world and I owe most of this success to the ASAQS.

Q:           Did you have to make any mindset and habit shifts to enable you to lead the ASAQS Wits Student Chapter?

A:           I was very nervous when I assumed the position of chairperson. My greatest support has come from the various committees within the Wits student chapter. I try to ensure that everyone whom is part of the committee express themselves with every decision that must be taken. I have included both the sub and executive committees in all our decision-making processes and I think this has been the winning formula for the chapter thus far.

The annual Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) Conference was held on 1 August at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town. This year’s theme was ‘Shift towards opportunity’ and among the over three hundred delegates was the President of the Master Builders South Africa, John Matthews, President of the South African Institute of Architects, Dr Luyanda Mpahlwa, Stakeholder Director from the MEC office, Boingotlo Nthebe, as well as the Chief Director of Construction Sector Regulation at the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Devon Pillay, among other esteemed guests.

In his opening address, ASAQS President Larry Feinberg said that in an ever-shifting world where work is scarce and competition is fierce, the economies that thrive are the ones who continue to adapt and learn, as well as share their knowledge with others.

“During my many conversations with Quantity Surveyors, skills development and training is consistently cited as one of the biggest challenges our industry faces. The Association will place sustained emphasis on delivering technical programs that strengthen our profession through education, training and upskilling. The way we do business is changing and the ASAQS continues to work towards ensuring that South African Quantity Surveyors remain world-class by staying ahead of changes in the industry,” said Feinberg.

Green buildings outperform the rest

Phil Barttram, MSCI Executive Director, gave a presentation on the ROI of green buildings. “Over the past three years, the Total Return for Green Star Certified Prime and A-Grade buildings has been higher than for non-certified offices driven by consistently better capital growth. This shows that there is perceived lower risk in the future income stream of certified offices.”

According to Barttram, Green Star Certified buildings are more popular with tenants and building occupants. “Green buildings have more natural light and are generally more attractive for tenants. These buildings are resilient to increasing vacancies and the reduced perception of risk is underpinned by the lower vacancies and higher net income growth,” said Barttram.

Strategically planning the next steps

Deshun Deysel, one of South Africa’s leading female high-altitude mountaineers, gave an inspiring keynote presentation at the event. Deysel told attendees that although we can't always control what happens in our external environments, humans have full control over your thoughts.

“Your thoughts become your reality, which is why you need to set your mind on the things you can control. In the same way that mountaineers regroup during an expedition, businesses should always go back to basecamp to regroup and strategically plan how they are going to move forward. South Africa is experiencing a basecamp moment. It’s time to regroup, rethink, and strategize the next move,” said Deysel.

Dr Luyanda Mpahlwa gave a presentation on the importance of socially inclusive development. “Collaboration between the private and sectors are needed to avoid working in silos. Through collaboration, we will empower ourselves, inspire confidence and be able to contribute to a better future,” said Mpahlwa.

Signing of MoU between ASAQS and MBSA Back left: Roy Mnisi - Executive Director of MBSA, Mohau Mphomela Executive Director of MBSA North, Larry Feinberg - Executive Director of the ASAQS, Christelle Bown – New President of the ASAQS  Front left: John Matthews - President of MBSA, Yunus Bayat – Outgoing President of the ASAQS

During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the ASAQS Outgoing President Yunus Bayat and MBSA President John Matthews. The ASAQS looks forward to continuing its partnership with the MBSA.

Please block out a suitable date in your calendar.

These full-day interactive sessions will be presented by Prof. Tinus Maritz who is the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Building Contracts Committee (JBCC). Prof Maritz qualified as a quantity surveyor in 1973, he obtained his masters and doctorial degrees in 1988 and 2003 respectively, all at the University of Pretoria (UP). He further holds an arbitration diploma of the Association of Arbitrators (SA). He was appointed as a full time lecturer at UP in 1975 and retired as Head of Department of Construction of Economics 42 years later in 2017. He was also actively involved in private practice until 2012.

Please email info@jbcc.co.za in order to register for seminars.

Through their legacy practices, the AECOM AFRICA PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION COST GUIDE 2019/20 (30th Edition) has been published for many years. It is the result of on-going cost research and is made available to clients and colleagues as a service to the property and construction industry. We are proud to know that it became respected within the industry.

We are delighted to share our cost guide with clients and colleagues through the ASAQS web site. They are encouraged to contact us directly, should they wish to positively contribute to make our publication even more respected and relevant in the future.

About AECOM

AECOM is a premier, fully integrated professional and technical services firm. It designs, builds, finances and operates infrastructure assets around the world for public and private sector clients. In Africa, AECOM has offices in more than 20 countries, including Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa and Uganda. With top-level professionals in multiple locations; AECOM understands Africa's specific infrastructure needs, as well as the challenges of working on the continent. Its multidisciplinary teams of award-winning engineers, planners, architects, environmental specialists, economists, scientists, consultants, and quantity surveyors (cost), project- and programme-managers are committed to delivering projects that improve the quality of life of communities throughout Africa, and are within budget.

Click here to download your personal copy of the 2019 AECOM Cost Guide

Without commitment countrywide from officials and politicians, economic growth will never happen, says Deon van Zyl, chair of the Western Cape Property Development Forum

As an industry body representing the interests of the development, consulting and construction sectors involved in fixed capital projects, ranging from public infrastructure to private developments, the Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF) recently welcomed the State of the Province Address (SOPA) delivered by the newly elected Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, on 18 July.

To a large extent, Premier Winde’s SOPA mirrored the SONA address of President Ramaphosa on the desperate need for economic growth and job creation.

The property development industry is the bellwether industry that reflects the state of the economy.  This industry, which began to haemorrhage a few years ago due to the state of the economy, is now in crisis mode.  It is being decimated, on the one side, by the collapse of the construction industry and the resultant exodus of qualified contractors and consultants to foreign shores. On the other, and  in terms of those who are unable to seek work elsewhere, particularly among its semi-skilled workforce, it is resulting in abject poverty and increasing numbers of “men at the side of the road”, who congregate daily in the desperate hope of a wage for the day.  Private sector investment is being hamstrung by lack of political certainty and ever-increasing regulation and red tape.

The construction industry employs labour and the consulting industry employs scarce skills.  Developers, whether public or private sector, are entrepreneurial in their thinking and invest multigenerational.  All are critical to the economy and to the wellbeing of our nation.  All depend on growth as fuel for their respective specialist skills.

Last week, the newly appointed Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, for the first time officially placed a growth target of 2.5% on the table, the goal being to deliver on the desperate need for job creation.  He has bought into the concept of an economic war room, and has included the property and construction industries among the first to be included.  And to this end, he has set his personal focus on unblocking growth inhibitors, much the same language as used by President Ramaphosa in his most recent SONA address.

Both President Ramaphosa and Premier Winde are clearly singing from the same hymn sheet even though they stand in different political realms.  They have both confirmed their desire to lift the country to its full potential and create a future for generations to come by addressing safety, education and economic growth.

Winde has, without reneging on the Western Cape’s history of clean governance, thrown down the gauntlet to the standard delivery excuse of audit compliance: “We will not slow down a single second of delivery for the sake of compliance with the Auditor General.”  These are strong words; the words of a statesman and not a party employee. Words that are synonymous, again, with those of President Ramaphosa. 

Party political opportunism and excuses have held the country to ransom for far too long.  The Western Cape can be the practical illustration of leaders with different party-political affiliations using the same language, sharing the same goals and working together to achieve true value for its citizens.

While we celebrate national and provincial leaders for delivering strong messages, service delivery remains largely a municipal function.  We are yet, however, to hear this type of strong language come from the mouths of mayors and municipal functionaries.  Our call therefore to each mayor in the Western Cape, and in the rest of South Africa, is:  declare growth and reduction in red tape to be your personal commitment to the people of this country.  Dare to challenge the NIMBYs who oppose change and, by implication, growth.

Both President Ramaphosa and Premier Winde have voiced their concern on the tenacity of Apartheid planning and the lack of social integration.  This will only be addressed if we use public resources to break down historic boundaries, by investing in infrastructure linking communities, and by redeveloping public-owned land.  It is time to stop talking and to start doing.  This power is at municipal scale.  It is time for each mayor to declare their personal commitment.

We wait in anticipation to hear similar language from the mouths of each mayor in the Western Cape, and also from each one in the rest of the country.  More so, we expect mayors to go beyond lip service and start to truly measure their own performance in terms of capital budget expenditure and the removal of unnecessary hurdles to investment and job creation.   We challenge each one of them to look their children and grandchildren in the eye and to guarantee them a better future.

We expect each mayor to fight the 2021 local authority election from the basis of proven delivery and economic growth and not based on more promises.

DEON VAN ZYL

WCPDF CHAIRPERSON