Builders' Gripe with NHBRC

IN light of recent issues highlighted by key industry bodies, the Master Builders Association of South Africa (MBSA) as well as a number of construction industry associations and industry professionals - including engineers and architects - met last month in Cape Town to discuss the role of the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).

According to Rob Johnson, executive director of the Master Builders Association of the Western Cape (MBAWC), the meeting was called to examine recurring issues faced by individuals and organisations when dealing with the NHBRC and to discuss a way forward to avoid such occurrences in future. “We decided it was about time that the relevant parties joined forces to resolve the ongoing problems that have been highlighted by a number of our members. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the issues at hand and decide on a constructive way forward.”

Topics brought to the attention of the chair included, among others, the lack of service delivery, inadequate communication from the NHBRC, unfair enrolment procedures and problems with the handling of non-compliances.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the NHBRC, including the chairperson Sibongile Nene who addressed the audience and said that she was happy that the forum had been called and that a united step forward was the only way to resolve current issues.

Johnson explains that a task team will now be established to present the issues discussed at the meeting directly to the NHBRC in an attempt to facilitate a resolution. “We are aware that the problems cannot be resolved overnight, but we feel that this is a step in the right direction and both the NHBRC and the MBSA are committed to positive change and the improvement of procedures to strengthen our industry,” says Johnson.

The Master Builders and Allied Trades’ Association (MBA), Western Cape, is a registered trade association for employers in the building industry. Its membership comprises some 400 companies, most of whom are either builders, building subcontractors, building merchants or manufacturers of building products.

Membership of the MBA is on a voluntary basis. Its members handle some 70% of all the building work in Cape Town and employ a similar percentage of the total building industry workforce.

Apart from campaigning for continually higher standards, the association also plays an active role in industrial relations, the drawing up and adaptation of the building contract law, safety procedures and, most importantly, training.

“In the last field, particularly, the MBA, Western Cape has for many years been the acknowledged leader.”

“Some 50% of all the training done for the building industry nationwide takes place in the Western Cape - and we have a proud tradition of producing skilled and semi-skilled people who have worked on major projects all over Southern Africa,” says Johnson.

Article by: Cape Business News
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