23. Any person whose registration has been cancelled in terms of this Act, must return his or her registration certificate to the registrar within 30 days from the date on which he or she is directed by the registrar in writing to do so. 30 Grievance procedure in relation to registration 24. (1) If an applicant is of the opinion that a committee, in its refusal to register him or her, or to cancel his or her registration, other than a cancellation in terms of section 20( l)(u) (iii) or 32(3) (a)(iv), did not comply with section 33 of the Constitution, that applicant may, on payment of the prescribed fees and within 30 days from the date on which the refusal or cancellation came to his or her knowledge, appeaI to the council against that decision. (2) The council must. at its first ensuing meeting, within 60 days from the date of the receipt of the appeal, decide on the appeal and provide the appellant with reasons for its decision. (3) If an appeal is lodged against a refusal of a committee to renew the registration of a registered person, the registration of that person may not be cancelled until the appeal has been decided. Recognition of voluntary associations 25. (1) The council must. within 90 days from the date of its first meeting, submit the framework for the requirements for recognition of a voluntary association to the CBE for approval. (2) Any voluntary association may apply to the council to be recognised as such. 50 (~) Th~ council may, if the voluntary association complies with the reqoirernents determined in terms of section 14(d), recognise that association and issue it with a certificate of recognition. (4) A certificate of recognition is val]d for a period of fi ve years from the date of issue. Act w. a 2(!00 AR CHITF(”Ti ‘R.4L PI?(.WMI(I, X ACT. 20(0 (5) .4 voluntary association must displi)y it~ certitic,l[e of recognition in a prominent pidce tit i[s head office. (6) The recognition of a voluntary assocla:ion iapses--– (Cl) if that association, no Ion:tr complies with the requirements contemplated in section 14( d): or (b) at the e.xpiry- of the five-yea~ period referred to in subsection (4). (7) A voluntary association ntust, at least three months prior to the expiry of its recognition, apply in the prescribed manner to the council for the renewal thereof. (8) A voluntary association whcse recognition has lapsed must, within 30 days from the dale on which it is so directed in writing by the council, return its certificate of recognition. Identification of work 26. (1) The council must consult with-- (a) all voluntary associations. (b,) any person: (c) any body; or (d) any industry, that may be affected by any laws regulating the built environment professions regarding the identification of the type of architectural work which may be performed by persons registered in any of the categories referred to in section 18, including work which may fall within the scope of any other profession regulated by the professions’ Acts referred to in the CounciI for the Built Environment Act, 2000. (2) After the process of consultation the council must submit recommendations to the CBE regarding the work identified in terms of subsection (1), for its consideration and identification in terms of section 20 of the Council for the Built Environment Act, 2000. (3) A person who js not registered in terms of this Act, may not— (a) perform any kind of work identified for any category of registered persons; (b) pretend to be, or in any manner hold or aIlow himself or herself to be held out as a person registered in terms of this Act; 5 10 15 20 2.5 (c) use the name of any registered person or any name or title referred to in 30 section 18 or 21; or (d) perform any act indicating, or calculated to lead persons to believe, that he or she is registered in terms of this Act. (4) Subsection (3)(a) may not be construed as prohibiting any person from performing work identified in terms of this section, if such work is performed in the service of or by order of and under the direction, control, supervision of or in association with a registered person entitled to perform the work identified and who must assume responsibility for any work so performed. 35 Professional conduct 27. (1) The council must, in consultation with the CBE, voluntary associations and 40 registered persons, draw up a code of conduct for registered persons. (2) (a) The council is responsible for administering the code of conduct and must ensure that the code is available to all members of the public at all reasonable times. (b) The council must provide the CBE with a copy of the code of conduct. (3) Al] registered persons must comply with the code of conduct and failure to do so 45 constitutes improper conduct. Investigation of charge of improper conduct 28. ( 1 ) The council must refer any matter brought against a registered person CO an investigating committee contemplated in section 17 if— (a) the council has reasonable grounds to suspect that a registered person has committed an act which may render him or her guilty of improper conduct; Gr (b; a c@mplaint, charge or allegation of improper conduct has been brought 50 against a registered person by any person. (2) At the reqtiest of the council, the investi~ating committee must~-- (a) investigate the Ina[ter: and (/)) ~)~t:iin evi~encc to determir):t \vI:etbet o; no~ irl its o p i n i o n the re:isterecl person co[~cerned may be charged :md. if SO. recommend to the council the charge or charges that may be preferred against that registered person. (~) An investigating commit~ee may nor question the registered person concerned 5 unless the investigating committee informs ti~at registered person [hat he or she — (a) has the right to be assisted or represented by another person; and (b) is not obliged to make any statement and tha[ any statement so made may be used in e\idence against the registered person. (4) The investigating commit[ee must, after the couciusion of the investigation, iO submit a repo~t making its recommendations to the council regarding any matter referred to it in terms of this section. Charge of improper conduct 29. ( 1 ) The council must. after considering a report of the investigating committee in terms of ~ecti~n 2~(2)(/7) and (4). charge a registered person with improper conduct if 15 the council is convinced that sufficient ~rouncis exist for a charge to be prefemed against such a registered person. (2) T’he council must furnish a charge sheer to the registered person concerned by hand or registered mail. (3) A charge sheet must inform Lhe registered person charged— (a) of the details and nature of the charge; (b) that he or she must, in writing, admit or deny the charge; (c) that he or she may, together with the admission or denial, submit a written explanation regarding the improper conduct with which he or she is charged; and (d) of the period, which must be reasonable, within which his or her plea in terms of paragraph (b) must be submitted to the council. (4) (a) If a registered person charged admits that he or she is guilty of the charge, he or she is considered to have been found guilty of improper conduct as charged, after he or she has explained his or her conduct. (b) The council may, subject to section 32(2), impose a penalty contemplated in section 32(3)(a) or (b) on a registered person who has admitted guilt in tem~s of paragraph (a). ~~ 25 30 (5) The acquittal or the conviction of a registered person by a court of law on a criminal charge is not a bar to proceedings against him or her under this Act on a charge 35 of improper conduct, even if the facts stated in the charge of improper conduct would, if proved, constitute the offence stated in the criminal charge on which he or she was acquitted or convicted or any other offence of which he or she might have been acquitted or convicted at his or her trial on the criminal charge. Appointment of disciplinary tribunal 30. (1) The council must appoint a disciplinary tribunal to hear a chacge of improper conduct if a person charged–– (a) denies the charge; or (h) fails to comply with section 29(3)(b). (2) The disciplinary tribunal must consist of at ieast— (a) a person wbo specialises in the professional field concerning the charge; (b) a professional who has appropriate experience; and (c) a person qualified in law and who has appropriate experience. Disciplinary hearing 31. (1) The disciplinary hearing must be conducted by the c!isciplinmy tribunal. (~.) The disciplinary tribunal may, for the purposes of this section, appoint a person to assist it in the performance of its functions. (3) (rr) The disciplinary tribunal T,a.y, for ~he purposes of a hearing, subpoena any p~r~~n ..-. 40 45 5(! 24 No 21819 Act k). 44, 2000 C, O\ ’E RNMF.h’T C,,4ZEITE. I L) ECEM6 ER ‘!(W ARCHITECTLTR. AI. PRC)I’E,SSION ,AC’r. 2000” (i) whu in its opinion may he able w give rm[eria] information concemir): [he subject of the hearing; or (ii) who it suspects Or believes has ifi hls or her possession or custody m under hls or her control any book. document or object which has any bearhg {;n [he subject of the hearing. 5 to appear before the disciplinary tribunal at the time and place specified in the subpoena, to be questioned or to produce a book, document or object. (b) A subpoena issued in terms of paragraph (a), rrlust-- (i) be m the prescribed form; (ii) be signed by the chairperson ot” the disciplinary tribunal or, in his m her 10 absei~ce, any member of’ Lhe disciplinary tribunal; and (iii) be served on the registered person concerned personally or by sending it by registered mail. (4) The disciplinary tribunal ma,y retain a book, document or object produced in terms of subsection (3) for the duration of the hearing. 15 (5) The chairperson of the disciplinary tribunal may call upon and administer an oath t~, or take an affirmation from, any witness at the hearing who was subpoenaed in &errns of subsection (3). (6) At a hearing the registered person charged–– i {a) (b) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (i) (ii) 20 may personally be present at the hearing of the proceedings; may be assisted or represented by another person in conducting the proceedings; has the right to be heard; may call witnesses; may cross-examine any person called as a witness in support of the 25 charge; and may have access to documents produced in evidence; may admit at any time before conviction that he or she is guilty of the charge despite the fact that he or she denied the charge or failed to react in terms of section 29(3)(b) or (c); may, in the case where he or she makes an admission in terms of subparagraph (i), be deemed to be guilty of improper conduct as charged. 30 (7) The person referred to in subsection (2) may during a hearing— (a) lead evidence and advance arguments in support of the charge and cross-examine witnesses; (b) question any person who was subpoenaed in terms of subsection (3); or (c) call anyone to give evidence or to produce any book, document or object in his or her possession or custody or under his or her control which the person referred to in subsection (2) suspects or believes to have a bearing on the subject of the hearing. (8) (a) A witness who has been subpoenaed may not— (i) without sufficient cause, fail to attend dle hearing at the time and place 35 40 specified in the subpoena; (ii) refuse to be sworn in or to be affirmed as a witness; (iii) without sufficient cause, fail to answer fully and satisfactorily to the best of his 45 or her knowledge to all questions lawfully put to him or her; or (iv) fail to produce any book, document or object in his or her possession or custody or under his or her control which he or she has been required. to produce. (b) A witness who has been subpoenaed must remain in attendance until excl~sed by 50 the chairperson of the disciplinary tribunal from further attendance. (c) A witness who has been subpoenaed may request that the names of ~hs members of the disciplinary tribunal be made available to him or her. (d) The law relating to privilege, as applicable to a witness subpoenaed to give evidence or to produce a book, document or object in a civil trial before a court of law 55 may, with the necessary changes, ap~ly in relation to the, ,examination of, or the production of any book, document & o“bject to the disc~plinary trilymal, by, any pe.nwn called in terms of this section as a witness. (e) A w i t n e s s m a y not. aftei },~(i”~ hecc slt {ml iii m 11:1. ving been affiuned ds a !vitness. give ;, false st:i(en]en( o!, :iny n)ar:e!, kl~owiii~ that dnswer or statement (0 be hi~e. (,~) A person may not prm’ent Mother persou (’mm cornplymg with a sllbpoena o~- trmu gi~;ing evidence or plmciuciog a book d~t”~[il~en( or object which he or she is in terms o: this section required to giIe or produce. (9) ‘The record of evidence which nas a bear+ng on the charge before the disciplinary tribunal Jnd which was prest?ntcci before any commission which investigated an event cr conduct is admissible uitbout further cvi,d.ence being led if— (a) the record is accompanied by a certificate from the chairperson; :md (b j the cellifrcate ce~i!ies that the i:lvestigation was lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair. ( 10) If the improper conduct with wl?ich the registered person is charged amounts tc an offence of which he or she has been convicted by a court of law, a certified copy of the record of his or her trial and coli’{ictlo,l by that court is, on the identific;ition of the registered person as the person referrtd to in the record, sufficient proof of the commission by him or her of [hat of fence, unless the conviction has been set aside by a superior court. Proceedings after hearing 32. ( I ) After the conclusion of the hearing the disciplinary tribunal must, within 30 days— (a) decide whether or not die registered person charged is guilty of improper co:lduct; (b) if the disciplinary tribunal finds that the registered person charged is guilty of improper conduct, take cognizance of any aggravating or mitigating circum- stances; (c) inform the registered person charged and the council of the finding; and (d) inform the registered person of his or her right of appeal in terms of section 33. (2) A reiystered person found guilty of improper conduct in terms of this sectio]i ma y— (a) address the disciplinary tribunal in mitigation of sentence; and (b) call witnesses to give evidence on his or her behalf in mitigation of the sentence. (3) (a) If the registered person charged is found guilty of improper conduct, or if hr or she admits that he or she is guilty of thle charge, the disciplinary tribunal must either-— (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) caution or reprimand the registered person, impose on him or her a fine not exceeding the amount calculated acccrdi ng to the ratio for one year imprisonment determined in terms of the .\djustment of Fines Act, 1991 (Act No, 101 of 1991); suspend the registration of the registered person concerned for a period not exceeding one year; or cancel the registration of the registered person concerned and remove his or her name from the register refe~red to in section 11(c). (b) The disciplinary tribunal may take decisions under more than one of the subparagraphs of paragraph (a). (4) At the conclusion of the hearing the disciplinary tribunal must notify the council of its finding. (5) The council must publish the finding and the sanction imposed in terms cf’ subsection (3) in the Gu:ette. (6) The council must give effect to the decxion of the disciplinary, tribunal. Act No. 44, 2000 .4 RCH11’13C’i’lJ R,AI. PROFESSION ACT. 2000 Appeal against decision of disciplinary tribunal 33. (1) (a) A registered person found guilty of improper cunduct may appczd to the council against a finding of the disciplinary triburtal or against the sentence. or both. (b) The appeal must be lodged, within 30 days after the disciplinary h ibunal has informed the registered person of’ its decisior,. (2) The council may –- (a) dismiss the appeal against the decision of the disciplinary tribunal and confirm the finding or sentence or both; or (b) uphold the appeal ag~nst the decision of the disciplin~ tribunal wholly or in part and set aside or vary the finding or sentence or both. (3) If an appeal is dismissed in terms of subsection (2)(a) the appellant may, withir) 30 days, from the date of the dismissal of the appeal, appeal to the C13E. (4) If a registered person found guilty of improper conduct lodges an appeal in terms of subsection (1 )— (a) the decision of the disciplinary tribunal under section 32(3) ; or (b) the publication by the council in terms of section 32(5), may not be put into effect before the council or the CBE, or both, has decided the appeal. (5) (a) The appellant whose appeal was dismissed by the CBE may appeal to the appropriate High Court. (b) A person referred to in paragraph (a) must, after giving notice to the CBE, lodge a notice of appeal with the registrar of the appropriate High Court within one month from the date of the decision of the CBE. (6) (a) The councd may appeal to the appropriate High Court against any decision of the CBE with regard to disciplinary matters. (b) The council must, after giving notice to the CBE, lodge a notice of appeiil with the registrar of the appropriate High Court within one month from the date of the decision of the CBE. Professional fees 34. (1) The council must, in consultation with the voluntary associations, formulate recommendations with regard to the principles referred to in section 4(k)(v) of the Council for the Built Environment Act, 2000, (2) The council must annually, after consultation with the vo~untary associations. determine guideline professional fees and publish those fees in the Gazette. (3) The CBE may review the guideiine professional fees published by t!~e councii, and refer the fees back to the council for reconsideration. (4) If the council, after review by the CBE of the guideline professional fees. is aggrieved about that review, it may refer the matter to the Minister for a final decision. (5) Any person who is aggrieved by the guideline professional fees published in terms of subsection (2), may bring the matter to the attention of the CBE within 60 days from the date of such publication. Appeal against certain decisions of council 35. (1) Any member of the public whose interests and rights are affected by a decision made by the council may— (a) within 30 days from that person becommg aware c,f the decjsion, request the council in writing to furnish him or her in writing with its reaso~s for that decision; (b) within 90 days from the date on which the council furnished hun or her with its reasons for thal decision and after giving notice to the cc?uncil, appeal to the CBE against that decision in terms of section 21 of the Co~~r]cil for the 13uiIt Environment Act, 2000. (2) A person referred to in subsection ( 1 ) may, after giving notice to [he council or the UBE, as the case may be, lodge a notice of appeal with the registrar of the app~ opiiate High Court within one month from the dam of the decision of the cotmcii or Ihe CBE. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 4-5 50 Rules 36. (1) The councii may. by tmm~e in the Lhwtfe. mske rules wilh regard to m: tnatter that is required or pmrnittcd to be pi-escribed in terms of this Ac[. and dny other matter fo] the better execution c)f thij Act or in relation to any power granted or dl~ij imposed by this Act. (2) (u) Before the council makes any ruie umier this section, it must publish a draft of the proposed rule in the Gazette together with a notice calling on interested persons to cumm.ent in writing within a period stated in the notice. but the period may net he less {ban 30 days from the date. of publication of the notice. (h,! If the council alters the draft r-ules as a result of any comment it need not publish those alterations before makhg the rule. (3) The council may, if circumstances necessitate the immediaie publication of a ru!e. publish that rule without consultation as contemplated in subsection (2), provided that the CBE, any of the councils for the professions or any person who is aggrieved by the said rule may— (a) comment after such publication; or (b) appeal to the CBE or the appropriate High Court, as the case tnay be, against such a rule. Procedure and evidence for evidential purposes 37. (1) The register referred tom section 11(c) serves as evidence of all matters which, in terms of this Act, am required or permitted to be noted therein. (2) A certificate purporting to be signed by the registrar to the effect that an entry has or has not been made in the register or that any other function authorised by this Act to be performed, has or has not been perfolmed, is evidence of the matters specified in that certificate. (3) A copy of an entry in the register or of a document in the custody of the registrar, or an extract from the register or from any such document. purporting to be certified by the registrar, may be admitted as evidence in all cmrrts without further proof oi production of the original. Rectification of errors and exemptions 38. (1) When anything which according to this Act is required to be done or performed on or before a specified day or at a specified time or during a specified peliod, has not been done or performed, the Minister may, if satisfied that the failure was due to error or oversight, authorise it to be done or performed on or before another day, time, or during another period and anything done or performed in this regard is of full force and is deemed to have been lawfully done or performed in accordance with this Act. (2) The Minister must, after consultation with the councd, voluntary associations and any other person he or she considers necessary, make rules regarding exemptions from the provisions of this Act. (~) (a) The Minister may. after consultation with the council, voluntary associations and any other person he or she considers necessary, exempt any person, council, voluntary association or industry from any provision of this Act for a period not exceeding two years. (b) The exemption referred ,to in paragraph (a) must. comply with the rules contemplated in subsection (2). Liability 39. (1) The council, the registrar, or any member, committee “or staff member of the council, is not liable for any act performed in good faith in te~s of this Act. (2) A registered person who, .in the public interest--- ,, (a) r e f u s e s t o p e r f o r m a n a c t; (b) omits to perform an act; or {c) informs the council m orher appropriate authority of an act or ornissioa performed. by any other person, which act or omission endangers or is Jiktfy [o endanger the safety or health of the public. or fellow employees. is not liable for tha~ refusal, omission or inforrna[ion. (.3) Any person who was registered in terms of this Act arid whose registration was cancelled, is liable for any action ~aken by him or her while he or she was registered. Delegation of powers 5 40. (1) ‘The Minister may delegate any of his or her powers in terms of this Act, excluding the power to appoint the members of the council, to the f)irector-CTeneral or any other official of the department. (2) The council may delegate any of its powers in terms of this Act to a cornrnittee, a stafl member or a member of the council or any other person or body of persons, 10 excluding the power to hear an appeal In terms of sections 24(1) and 33(1)(a). (3) The registrar may delegate any of his or her powers in terms of this Act, to a member of the staff of the council. (4) Any delegation under subsection (1), (2) or (3) does not prohibit the exercise of the power or the performance of the duty m function in question by the Minister, council or 15 the registrar. Offences and penalties 41. (1) A person contravening section 18(2), 23, 25(8) or 3 l(8)(a), (b), (e) or (“) is guilty of an offence. (2) If the council wilfully or in a grossly negligent manner fails to comply with section 20 15(8) it is guilty of an offeitce and Iiabie to a fine calculated acccrding to ihe mtio determined for a period of five years’ imprisonment in terms of the Adjustment of Fines Act, 1991. (3) A person convicted of an offence in terms of section 18(2), may be liable to a fine equal to double the remuneration received by him or her for work done in contravention 25 of section 18(2) or to a fine equal to the fine calculated according to the ratio determined for three years imprisonment in terms of the Adjustment of Fines Act, 1991. (4) A person who M convicted of an offence in terms of section 23 or 25(8), maybe liable to a fine calculated according to the ratio determined for a period of one month imprisonment in terms of the Adjustment of Fines Act, 1991. (5) A person who is convicted of ar, offence in terms of section 3 l(8)(a), (b), (e) or W), may be liable to a fine equal to the fine calculated according to the ratio determined for three years imprisonment in terms of the Adjustment of Fines Act, 1991. 30 Transitional provisions 42. (1) For the purposes of this section, “effective date” means the date of the first 35 meeting of the council. (2) The South African Council for Architects established by section 2 of the Architects’ Act, 1970 (Act No. 35 of 1970), continues to exist and may” exercise its powers and perform its functions after the commencement of this Act until the effective date. (3) The South African Council for Architects must, within 30 days from the date of commencement of this Act, invite nominations for the first appointment of members in accordance with section 4. 40 (4) For the purpose of the nominations referred to in section 4 and for the first term of oflice of the council, the existing voiuntary associations withiil the architectural 45 profession are deemed to be recognised in terms of section 25. (5) Any person practicing as an architectural technologist or an architectural draughtsperson md a candidate in any of these categories, may continue to practise as such and is deemed to be a registered person u,ntil a date determined by ~he Minister in the Gazette. ,, ,’ .50 (b) From the eflective date, all rights. l:ll_ll]~:.il@lls. :lSSC(!j and liabilities acquired or ir]cuittd by t!le .!kmfh African Couricil f~r’ :irchitect~ in tams of the Architects’ ACL 1970, vest in t.hc council and tht cwrxii is (iec]nd to hale acquired m incurred those TIgh[c. chli rations. asse[s and liabilities in (ems c~i this AL-[. (7) Any ‘~ct pclfiormecf, ,decisi~.}n taken. or rule made 01 purported to ha~e been so 5 pert’onmed, taken or made in tern?s ~jf [!]~ ~rchitec[s’ Ac[, 1970, by the South African Council for Architects remains val:d unless repealed undei this .Act. (8) .Any notice issued or exempiicm granted by the Minister in terms of the Architects’ Act, 1970, remains valid unless repealed under this Act. (9) Any person who at the comm,encemcnt of this Act is registered in terms of the i O Architects > Act, 1970, is deemed to be registered ir] the corresponding category provided for in this Act. ( 10) From the effective date, any rtgister mamtained in terms of the ,4rchitects’ Act, 1970, is incorporated in and is considered m form part of’ a register w be maintained in terms of this Act. (11 ) Any action taken in terms of section 24 of the Architects’ Act, 1970, which is pending at the commencement date of rhis Act, must be finalised in terms of that Act. (12) At the end of the first term of the council 50 per cent of the members of the council may not be reappointed by the Minister. Repeal of laws