BACKGROUND

Beginning in around 1998, the utilisation of Construction Mentors has been recognised as one of the most effective tools in the contractor development regime. Many programmes have used Construction Mentorship in conjunction with other development techniques to assist small and emerging contractors to establish themselves and to grow into established entities. 

In the early implementation phases it became clear that the profession of Construction Mentorship needed to be controlled and regulated. In 2004, the National Department of Public Works, together with concerned individuals, approached the SACPCMP to create a new Category of Registration, specifically for this purpose. By having a statutory built environment council evaluating and registering individuals, who would be required to subscribe to the SACPCMP Code of Conduct, the industry would have both a minimum entry standard for the skills, experience and expertise established, but also a regulatory mechanism to ensure the proper implementation of Construction Mentorship in South Africa.

From 1 November 2008, the SACPCMP published Registration Rules for Professional Construction Mentors in terms of Section 18(1) (c) of the Act, 2000 (Act No. 48 of 2000). Registrations in this category commenced on 1 November 2008.

On review of the uptake of registration, in 2010, it was determined that there was a need to review the registration requirements, and it was determined that the entry criteria were too onerous for many of the practicing Construction Mentors. A new process was embarked upon, and the Registration Rules for Construction Mentors in terms of Section 18(1)(c) of the Act, 2000 (Act No 48 of 2000) were published for public comment on 30 January 2012. The SACPCMP began registering people in the new category of Construction Mentor on 24 August 2012.

Voluntary Association

There is a need to establish a Voluntrary Association for Construction Mentors, in order that future developments within the profession can be clearly articulated to the SACPCMP, and the interests of individual Construction Mentors can be pursued. This site is the beginnings of a new Voluntary Association, and it is hoped that this can become the voice for all who operate in the Construction Mentorship profession.