SAPOA was initially concerned about a lack of consultation with the commercial and industrial property industry during the process of promulgating the NHBRC’s Code of Conduct, a document that SAPOA believed would have far-reaching consequences.
“The Code of Conduct will effectively over-ride certain existing legislation governing our industry,” said SAPOA CEO Neil Gopal at the time. “That includes the National Building Regulations, the Alienation of Land Act and the National Environmental Management Act, which would all impact SAPOA members.”

Ongoing attempts to talk further and a willingness on the part of both organizations to meet has now borne fruit. A successful and informative meeting was held on 26 September, giving SAPOA the opportunity to present its comments to the NHBRC CEO Phetola Makgate.

“We discussed the Code of Conduct clause by clause and our comments were well received,” explains SAPOA Legal Services Manager, Tsakane Shilubane.

“We are pleased to confirm that the NHBRC accepted our comments and our proposed changes.”
The revised Code of Conduct has been critiqued by the Legal Committee and additional input submitted to the NHBRC for their further consideration.

It’s a very positive start for the SAPOA Legal Committee, which was established earlier this month to understand legislative changes and to engage with both members and other stakeholders in protecting member interests.

“The Legal Committee has certainly made a good start,” says Shilubane. “We look forward to making continued progress in the future.”