In response to Sylvester Martin's call to action for construction professionals, seasoned construction professional Prince Lufu presents his proposed remedies to the undue influence of politically connected individuals within the South African construction sector.
I applaud Sylvester Martin's emphasis on the distinction between entrepreneurs and tenderpreneurs in the construction industry. Entrepreneurs, even if they lack formal construction expertise, are driven by a genuine desire to establish sustainable businesses. In contrast, tenderpreneurs solely rely on their political connections as their primary selling point.
I believe the dilemma for both the anonymous construction professional and his senior counterpart in distinguishing between the two might require them to identify the culprits involved in their negative experiences and this may inadvertently reveal their own identities. This presents a complex challenge, as the culprits may feel embarrassed, and the consequences for both parties could be significant..
The professional bodies like SACPCMP, CIOB, RICS, ASAQS, SACE and CBE are actually toothless to fight for the rights of Construction Professionals. They are there as statutory bodies to control the conduct of the said respective qualified professionals they are constitutionally mandated to govern. The people leading these institutions are also hand picked and appointed by government officials, likely DGs thus these are politically sensitive jobs.
In my opinion, the solution can be realized through a collaborative effort between professional organizations and the government. This partnership should aim to accomplish the following objectives:
1) Establish a robust "BEE arm" initiative dedicated to promoting and supporting the interests and contributions of black professionals within the built environment sector, ensuring that their voices and perspectives are taken seriously and valued.
They must have a drive to produce black contractors from graduates with experience pushing grade 6/7 upwards.
They need to state that any black contractor must have a tertiary qualification or trade as an owner and at least 5 years experience in any grade.
2) RPI and other qualifications, coupled with 15 to 20 years of relevant experience, create a significant barrier to entry.
It's disheartening to see individuals approach this endeavor without genuine passion, merely dabbling and mistreating others along the way. They seem to believe they can abandon their responsibilities at will, displaying a complete lack of commitment and respect.
3) To those individuals assuming an elevated role as entrepreneurs, along with claims of possessing capital and potentially purchasing grades and tenders, it is imperative that they present a joint venture agreement. This agreement must be established with one of the groups specified in sections 2 and 4 below.
4) Employees and general workers with a minimum of 10 years of experience should be granted a special exemption.
The foremost candidates for incubators are those who can be recognized as active participants and primary selections. These individuals possess a deep understanding and unwavering commitment to the industry, as it is their sole focus and area of expertise.
The intention is to convey to individuals that if they are involved, they should embrace it as a way of life, not merely a short-lived fad or a passing phase to make a quick buck and then move on.
Prince Nqobani Lufu, is a skilled and seasoned professional, with over 18 years of experience in contracting and consultancy. He holds a BSc in Construction Management degree from Nelson Mandela University. He is passionate about systems, especially ISO 9001 and other fields related to the built environment.
Prince has conducted extensive research on ISO 9001 setup at the honors level, demonstrating his commitment to continuous learning and expertise in the field. Currently, he operates as a self-employed consultant, providing valuable services in both construction management and project management.
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This could be a remedy to the current situation at hand big time but our government has deaf ears because certain individuals are benefactors as you've mentioned so they just turn a blind eye. Yes, these professional bodies must account and show why they're there in the first place. I once saw an electronical petition since we're scattered of which I think it can work.
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