SACAP INPUT & CONCERNS 

COMMENT ON POLICY DOCUMENT ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE STATUTORY REGULATORY FRAMEWORK OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT PROFESSIONS.

SACAP supports the initiation of an urgent and major policy intervention by Government to more comprehensively address and streamline transformation within the built environment so as to address the critical challenges of sustainable delivery and to serve the imperatives of the national democratic revolution.

SACAP maintains that such policy interventions should be premised upon a high level and transparent review process, which cuts across the range of government Departments whose spheres of activities impact on policies and practice within the built environment. We would expect that a major outcome of such a process would be that Government needs to exercise stronger leadership to more effectively rally all relevant stakeholders around common programmes and action plans to achieve national transformation objectives and imperatives. We would further expect that an effective vehicle for championing this would be one which is created as an arm of government, is made up of an expert and dedicated corps appointed by government and which is directly accountable to government.

SACAP is concerned that the policy document under review falls far short of the above imperatives. It narrowly focuses on changes to the regulatory environment only and conceals the basis which informs the policy recommendations. 

Whereas the Preamble to the document states that it’s aim is to stimulate debate, the lack of transparency with regards to the basis informing the policy, the non-negotiable timetable for implementation which will see it frog-marched through parliament and the stance of DPW officials in presenting the policy proposals as an au fait accompli, all serve to achieve the opposite, which is to essentially stifle any meaningful, constructive and healthy debate. We contend that encouraging wide ranging debate and thereby facilitating buy- in from all key stakeholders is critical to the successful implementation of such a policy.

The policy document proposes the complete dismantling of all built environment regulatory structures under the jurisdiction of DPW, and replacing it with an entirely new single structure. Such a major overhaul, regardless of its intended merits, and of the speed with which it may be promulgated, would require a new infrastructure which would need to be tested and would require considerable effort, co-operation and support for it to function effectively and efficiently. 

Of critical concern, is that the effort and time involved in establishing such a new structure will divert energies away from the urgent and overdue interventions necessary to address the challenges of transformation which are demanding immediate and drastic interventions.

The work of all the regulatory Councils is underpinned by the significant participation of voluntary organisations with a wealth of knowledge and experience and supported by committed and dedicated staff complements within the Councils. The manner in which this policy review process is being conducted, the stifling of debate and the consequent lowering of morale, serves to disarm the critical “foot soldiers” whose enthusiasm and commitment , aligned with strong leadership provided by Government, is critical to the successful implementation of any new policies.

SACAP strongly urges DPW to allow for the review the policy proposals and implementation process to be subject to a more informed, transparent and consultative process, with realistic timeframes,so as to ensure that a more substantial basis is created for achieving national objectives.

MALCOLM CAMPBELL
SACAP PRESIDENT

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