PICC MoU Consultation Process and Invitation

ECSA and PICC have had a number of engagements following the development of the MoI, and the last meeting with the DDG took place at ECSA offices on the 30 August 2013 for bilateral discussions on process and protocol. This process was necessary to pave way for the development of the MoU.

ECSA and PICC have been working on finalising a draft MoU. The said MoU has been finalised and is available for input by all the relevant stakeholders - click here for the document.

Purpose

To commence a consultation process which should culminate in the signing of the MoU at the end of October 2013.

Action Required

To review, amend and make recommendations on the draft MoU.

A consultative meeting is scheduled to take place on the 28 October 2013 at 15h00 at the ECSA offices. Confirm your attendance to the meeting by email to Vatiswa at piccmouconsulting@ecsa.co.za by Wednesday, 16 October 2013.

The following comments were submitted directly to ECSA:

"The MOU appears to fair in most aspects but I do not agree with clauses 4.1.8 and 4.1.9 as South Africa has been a democratic and free country since 1994 as South Africa has been a democratic an and free country since 1994 thus having had 19 years [almost a generation] for any inequalities to have been nullified. The South African government has publicly stated that this is a non-racial society therefore there must be no distinction based on colour whatsoever. Anyone aged under 20 years cannot be regarded as previously disadvantaged. There is a vast pool of highly experienced and qualified engineers who are either unemployed or prematurely retired due to the BEE and Affirmative Action policies. It is agreed that these were necessary in the early years but should have been phased out after the momentum was established. It is outdated and causing serious deficiencies in the South African infrastructure as has been evidenced by service delivery protests [lack skills, the will to work, lack of planning and maintenance, etc]. Any appointments and training incentives must be on merit and not on colour.

Yours sincerely
Bruce Prescott (FSAIMechE)"

"In response to the email communication of the 2 October and the attached draft MOU, I make the following observations and recommendations:

1. ECSA as a statutory body is there to regulate the engineering profession. It is charged with:

• Accreditation matters
• Registration matters
• Evaluation matters
• Recognition matters
• Setting engineering competency standards
• Maintenance of codes of conduct
• Investigation of improper conduct
• Publishing guidelines for professional fees
• Identification and categorization of types of engineering work
• Ensure achievement of the objectives of the act
• Make recommendations to government and other statutory bodies

2. No provision is made in the act for ESCA to assume some of the roles as described in the MOU namely:

• Support to government (PICC) for effective delivery or to ensure adoption
• Facilitator to mobilize engineering expertise and skills
• Coordination its stakeholders with the interest in infrastructure development
• Represent stakeholders (as per the list not provided)
• Operationalization and prioritization of recommendations
• Encouraging candidates/graduates
• Developing a cohort of mentors
• Requesting and appealing to companies for investment
• Development of funding mechanisms and programmes
• Institutionalization of support for graduate or candidacy training
• Work in concert with any government department
• Determine the extent of engineering skill availability
• Setting infrastructure delivery management standards
• Registration and administration of non-profit trusts
• Solicitation of funds
• Establishment of research programmes

3. Nowhere in the Act is it contemplated that ECSA should develop minimum competency regulations or a category for a specific level of government.

Considering the impact the acceptance of the provisions in the MOU would have on ECSA's ability to execute its mandate of regulation, I cannot support ECSA in agreeing to the MOU.

Mark Tucker (MSAIMechE)"