The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) has set up a committee to further its transformation goals and a hotline to encourage the public to report any misconduct pertaining to the council’s scope of influence, following reports of malpractice, says SACPCMP president Tjiamogale Manchidi.
The SACPCMP is one of six councils within the Councils for Built Environment Professions, which is a statutory body tasked to register, certify, regulate and promote the built environment management professions. It regulates the project and construction management professions to protect the public by identifying the type and scope of work, registering professionals and maintaining a national register of professionals who adhere to a code of conduct.
However, Manchidi says: “The statistics do not reflect the demographics of the country. SACPCMP also wants to make transformation in construction and project management a priority.”
Manchidi states that women and historically disadvantaged individuals should take priority, adding that the fourth-term council of the organisation is prioritising the empowerment of these groups.
He says transformation involves a concerted effort by the council, staff, registered persons and the private sector
“Forging partnerships and having a clearly defined roadmap are certainly prerequisites to a successful transformation strategy.”
However, focus areas such as transformation sometimes run up against obstacles. He notes that a major challenge in this regard is industry corruption.
Manchidi states that, while the SACPCMP has taken decisive steps such as establishing a transformation committee and launching a presidential forum – where presidents of the voluntary associations of the SACPCMP are called upon to collaborate on transformation programmes for greater impact.
However, individuals within and outside the organisation are collaborating to further their own personal interests with “scant regard for the safety of the South African public” and promoting unethical practices in industry.
In this regard, some employees of the SACPCMP were placed on precautionary suspension as a result of the findings of a forensic audit in the process of being conducted by Moore Stephens Forensic Services.
Any unethical practices go against the SACPCMP grain. “A concerted plan of action is being rolled out to ensure that these individuals are brought to book,” he says.
To report misconduct, contact hotline@sacpcmo.org.za.
