SACPCMP: protecting the public

As a regulatory entity in South Africa, the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) is often asked “what do you do?”. And although the Council has not one but 13 mandates, its prize focus is the protection of the public.

The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP), which is self-funded, protects 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. SACPCMP-registered persons are the principal agents on all sites, determining the selection of other agents required for the progression and continuation of all construction-related projects. All SACPCMP-registered persons and candidates are bound by a code of conduct that states that they shall uphold and advance the honour and dignity of these professions in keeping with high standards of ethical conduct, and shall:

• act with integrity and sincerity in serving their employers, clients and the public with diligence and care;
• strive to increase their competence and the prestige of their profession;
• shall apply their skill and knowledge to advance human welfare; and
• shall not engage in any act of dishonesty, corruption or bribery.

THE SACPCMP mandate

Through Section 22 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the Council received its mandate, which outlines that “every citizen has a right to choose their trade, occupation and profession freely. The practice of a trade, occupation or profession may be regulated by law.” The purpose of this regulation is for the protection of the public, but what does that mean? Protecting the public is achieved through: 

• the registration of persons working in the built environment (professionals);
• ensuring that these professionals are competent and suitably qualified/skilled;
• working with different entities to support and enable a safer and developed built environment – these include universities, voluntary associations, etc.; and
• providing an avenue of recourse if/when professionals transgress the code of conduct.

The SACPCMP was established to regulate and promote specific built environment management professions. It is a juristic person established by the Project and Construction Management Professions Act (Act No. 48 of 2000) “to provide for the registration of professionals, candidates and specified categories in the project and construction management professions”.

The SACPCMP is further tasked with the protection of public interest, which is achieved by ensuring suitably qualified and registered professionals in specific built environment management professions in South Africa through promoting and enforcing high standards of professional ethics and conduct within the built environment. The SACPCMP registers persons under the following streams:

• construction management and construction project management;
• construction health and safety; and
• the Building Inspectorate.

SACPCMP Registration

To register with the SACPCMP can take from five to nine months, depending on the quality of the application submission, and how quickly (or slowly) applicants respond to requests for missing documents or information. A delay in application payments or booking your exam/interview can also slow down your application process.

To register with the SACPCMP or find out more about professional registration, visit www.sacpcmp.org.za.