General Information
1. Appointing an Architectural Profession
The public
is advised that a person who is not registered with SACAP is not legally
allowed to provide architectural services in South Africa.
Members of the public are advised that before they appoint any
architectural professional to prepare building plans for any project, they
should verify registration whether the architectural professional is registered
and in good standing.
Furthermore, members of the public
are advised not to appoint any person registered as a candidate for a project.
A person who is registered as a candidate can only do any work under the
direction, control and supervision of the registered professional. SACAP
has Candidate
Architect, Candidate Senior Architectural Technologist, Candidate Architectural
Technologist and Candidate Architectural Draughtsperson
Members of the public are further advised to ensure that they
appoint registered professionals who are competent to perform the task. The
Identification of Work policy should be used by members of the public for this
purpose.
It is important to note that there are four categories of
registration in the architectural profession Professional Architect,
Professional Senior Architectural Technologist, Professional Architectural
Technologist and Professional Architectural Draughtsperson. We encourage
members of the public to ensure that they make informed choice about who to
hire for your building project in line with the Identification of Work policy.
Members of the public are advised to be cautious about
registered professionals are charging very low architectural fees. Very low
architectural fees that are not guided by the Guideline Professionals Fees. The result of very low architectural fees is generally increased
risk to a customer investment, unnecessary project delays and flaws on the
building, poor materials and substandard building.
2. How to check if architectural professional is registered
Members of
the public are advised that it is important to check the register of
architectural professionals to verify registration before appointing, even in
cases the person is recommended to you by a friend or any person.
Registration can be verified by requesting a registered
professional provide a Privy Seal, a real time registration verification
mechanism. Alternately, registration can be verified from the SACAP website or
through calling SACAP on 011 479 5000.
If a person is not on the register, such person is not an
architectural professional. Therefore, such person is not competent and they
are a risk to your hard earn money.
Members of the public can be confident that are architectural
professionals are highly qualified, hold appropriate insurance and adhere to
the professional standards we set out in the SACAP Code of Conduct.
3. How to submit a complaint.
Ø Complete SACAP prescribed Complaint Affidavit Form
Ø Attach all supporting documents
Ø The affidavit must be under oath / commissioned by a
commissioner of oath
Ø Sent to Legal@sacapsa.co.za or courier/hand deliver to 51 Wessel Road Edenburg 2026.
4. Complaint against unregistered persons
Ø SACAP will take action when some pretend to be, or in any manner
hold or allow himself or herself to be held out as an architectural
professional or use the name of any architectural professional or title or
perform any act indicating, or calculated to lead persons to believe he or she
is an architectural professional.
Ø A complaint against an unregistered person should be submitted to
SACAP for investigation, in addition, a case should be opened with the South
African Polices
Ø SACAP works with the South African Police Services to ensure that
the complaint is fully investigated and prosecuted accordingly.
5. Agreement to provide architectural services
The SACAP Code of Conduct mandates all
architectural professionals not do undertake architectural work without a
written agreement. Therefore, all members of the public should not expect an
architectural profession to start working on the project if no written
agreement is in place.