Council to deal with architects who violate customers’ rights

Architects who violate customers’ rights by not rendering services as per the agreement and those who operate without valid licences are eligible to find themselves at the wrong end of the law following a warning that was issued by the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (Sacap) acting registrar, Toto Fiduli during the Sacap Polokwane Municipality Workshop at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium’s press theatre on Friday.
Fiduli said they have been dealing with a number of cases where professionals fail to deliver as per the contract and people rendering services without relevant qualifications. He emphasised that although the industry is not transformed yet, services can only be rendered by qualified people and warned that they have a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Police to help the council deal with lawbreakers. He advised that people can check the credibility of an architect on Sacap’s website before entering into a contract.

“Our customers should work with persons who are registered to receive good services. One of our core mandates is to protect the public in their dealings with registered architects. The MoU with the Police is to help us investigate cases and deal harshly with perpetrators,” Fiduli stated, adding that municipalities should always ensure that they appoint registered architects to get best services.
He further outlined that the architectural sector was not transformed and remains white dominated.
The workshop formed part of other programmes that intend to educate black communities about the industry and assist individuals to become registered professionals. Fiduli stated that the workshop forms part of a national programme hosted by Sacap in partnership with municipalities.
Polokwane Municipality representative Tshegofatso Malatji said the workshop was long overdue and hoped that such sessions would be held often to iron out a lot of confusions in the architectural industry.
Customers who want to check architect’s credibility can visit Sacap’s website www.sacapsa.com or phone them on 011 479 5000.

Story & photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za