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SACAP and SAIA

​​About the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP)

  • Statutory Council established by an Act of Parliament (Act 44 of 2000), which regulates the architectural profession.

  • Duty - To protect the public by ensuring that the profession maintains acceptable professional standards and technical competence.

  • Compulsory - only persons registered by SACAP may practice architecture.

  • Practices are recorded in compliance with the Code of Professional conduct.

  • Establish the identification of work framework for the architectural profession.

  • Establish requirements for the renewal of professional registration and the period of validity of registration.

  • Determine, after consultation with the voluntary associations and registered persons, conditions relating to and the nature of continuing education and training professional development (CPD).

  • Investigate complaints of unprofessional conduct on the part of professionals relating the SACAP Code of professional Conduct.

  • Establish mechanisms for registered persons to gain recognition of their qualifications and professional status in other countries.

  • Either conditionally or unconditionally grant, refuse or withdraw accreditation to all educational institutes and their educational programs with regard to architecture.

  • Administer Professional Practice Exam for professional registration.

  • Regulate the practice of foreign entities in the profession in South Africa.

  • Publish annually guideline professional fees for public guidance.

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About The South African Institute of Architects (SAIA)

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Membership of the Institute is open to all architects, the only prerequisite being a recognised academic qualification, a minimum of 24 months practical experience and an examination in professional practice. Candidate membership is also open to those currently studying towards becoming a professional architect.

  • Voluntary association of architectural professionals established by consent and through the adoption of a ruling constitution.

  • Established in 1996 it incorporates the previous national Institute of South African Architects (established in 1927) and the regional Institutes of Architects of the former Cape (founded 1899), Eastern Province (founded in 1900 as the Port Elizabeth Society of Architects), Border Kei (founded in 1946 as the East London Chapter of the Cape Provincial Institute), KwaZulu-Natal (founded in 1901 as the Natal Institute), Free State (founded in 1921 as the Orange Free State Institute) and Gauteng (founded in 1909 as the Transvaal Institute). The Pretoria Institute of Architects was established in 1993 and the following new regional institutes were established in 1996: Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo (founded as Northern Province) and Mpumalanga.

  • Membership of the Institute is open to all architects, the only prerequisite being a recognised academic qualification, a minimum of 24 months practical experience and an examination in professional practice. Candidate membership is also open to those currently studying towards becoming a professional architect.

  • Voluntary – professionals and candidates elect to join SAIA.

  • Individuals (professionals and candidates) enrol voluntarily.

  • Practices which meet SAIA’s criteria are recognised as Corporate Members if 75% of the eligible principals in the practice are members of SAIA.

  • Objects - To uphold the dignity of the profession and its members. - To promote excellence in architecture. - To contribute to the enhancement of society and the environment.

  • Supports the membership through the establishment of best practice and the provision of practice-related information and publications.

  • Mandated by SACAP to present Category One CPD activities and to validate Category One CPD activities offered by third parties.

  • Run Awards programmes.

  • Investigate (initially through Regional Institutes) complaints relating to non-compliance with the SAIA Code of Ethics.

  • Maintain relationships with international professional bodies to facilitate qualification mobility.

  • Compilation of the Professional Practice Exam Study Aid for candidates.

  • Maintain international relationships, with both umbrella and national individual associations to foster co-operation and good international working relationships.

  • Participate in SACAP process and provide a practice-based view on the fee structures.

  • General Benefits that all members of SAIA are entitled to. Additional Benefits that corporate members are entitled to. It should be noted that Regional Institute membership entitles professional and candidate architects to SAIA membership and all the benefits deriving therefrom.

  • Engage with other professional associations and industry related organization for the benefit of membership.

  • Member of the Africa Union of Architects (AUA), the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), the International Union of Architects (UIA), the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the International Committee Documentation and Conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement (DOCOMOMO).

  • Architectural Practices, which meet SAIA’s criteria, are recognised by the Institute as corporate members if 75% of the eligible principals in the practice are members of SAIA.

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