PETITION TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL FOR THE PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONS (SACPCMP)

RE: Petition Against Unfair Treatment of Registered Members, Lack of Support, and Non-Compliance with Consumer Protection Obligations

11 April 2025

We, the undersigned, being registered professionals and stakeholders in the construction and project management fields, particularly those serving in occupational health and safety (OHS) roles, hereby petition the SACPCMP to urgently address the following concerns that are having a detrimental effect on members and the industry at large:

1. Exorbitant Annual Registration and Renewal Fees

Many professionals, especially unemployed and underemployed Health and Safety Officers, are unable to afford the high annual registration and renewal fees imposed by SACPCMP. The fees are not aligned with the realities of the job market and economic challenges in South Africa. We believe that this constitutes unfair pricing and may contravene the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, particularly:

Section 48(1)(a) which prohibits suppliers from requiring consumers to pay prices that are unfair, unreasonable, or unjust.
Section 40(1) which outlaws unfair, unreasonable, or unjust practices by service providers.
We call for a tiered fee structure that considers employment status and financial capability, with exemptions or discounts for unemployed professionals.

2. Poor Communication and Customer Service

SACPCMP’s offices are routinely unresponsive to phone calls and emails. Members are left without critical support or guidance, which is unacceptable for a statutory professional body. This lack of responsiveness violates the SACPCMP’s own Code of Conduct and undermines Section 3(1)(a) of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA), which requires administrative action to be lawful, reasonable, and procedurally fair.

3. Failure to Notify Members of Suspension or Deregistration

Numerous professionals have been suspended or deregistered without any prior notice or communication from the SACPCMP. This directly contradicts:

Section 4 of PAJA, which provides every person the right to be informed of administrative action affecting their rights.
SACPCMP’s own Constitution and Rules which emphasize transparency and fairness in the registration and disciplinary process.
Immediate corrective action is required to ensure members are notified in advance of such decisions and given an opportunity to respond or appeal.

4. Lack of Value and Support for Registered Members

SACPCMP fails to deliver tangible value to its registered members. There is no consistent upskilling, access to job platforms, workshops, or meaningful networking opportunities. Many members are unaware of any benefits of registration beyond compliance with employer requirements. Meanwhile, exploitation of Safety Officers continues, as SACPCMP does not enforce fair treatment or standard rates across the industry.

This contradicts the SACPCMP Mandate under the Project and Construction Management Professions Act No. 48 of 2000, which requires the Council to:

Promote the interests of the public and the profession (Section 13).
Guide the profession in promoting ethical and professional standards.
 

5. Non-Compliance with SACPCMP Constitution and Guidelines

According to the SACPCMP Constitution and related guidelines:

The Council must “enhance the status of the professions” and “safeguard the interest of the public and the environment.”
The Council must “maintain a high standard of professional ethics.”
We argue that the current conduct of SACPCMP, including the issues listed above, fails to uphold these commitments.

We therefore demand the following:

An urgent review and restructuring of annual registration fees with special consideration for unemployed members.
Improvement in SACPCMP’s communication channels and responsiveness.
Implementation of a mandatory notification process for all registration status changes.
A transparent and structured value offering for all registered professionals, including job assistance, training, and mentorship.
Greater regulation of professional conduct across the industry to protect safety officers from exploitation.
An independent audit or inquiry into SACPCMP’s compliance with its legislative and constitutional obligations.
 

Conclusion

As per the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, every person has the right to fair administrative action, access to information, and consumer protection. SACPCMP, as a statutory body, is not exempt from these principles and must be held accountable.