PIA NEWS & ARTICLES
news
Jeremie Malan –PIA New President – Inauguration Speech

Blog | Date: November 24, 2020


Thank you to the members of the PIA for entrusting me with this new role as President of the PIA.
I regard this as an honor but also as a privilege to serve the members.
I also trust that the Covid-19 pandemic will be controlled in the coming year and that we can at least return to perhaps a new normal.
I have served as vice-president for the past two years and worked closely with the outgoing President, Isia Ortner. I got to know her well during this time and she always represented the members with the highest of professional conduct.
Her personality is quiet and reserved but she considers the challenges posed and always came up with a well thought out answer or response.
As Past-President she will continue to serve on the PIA Executive as Treasurer and her valuable insights, comments and directions will continue to be not only an invaluable contribution to the PIA but also to myself.
The new Executive also sees Gerd Bolt leaving and he has served as Treasurer / Past-President during this time. Gerd is a university colleague of mine and we completed our studies together in 1983 at University of Pretoria – his dry sense of humor and sharp wit has always remained. We often reminisce about our student days, reflecting on Boukunde, Prof. Alewyn, Swannie’s watercolours and how long is a piece of string? Nonetheless Gerd will continue serving on the Committee and we won’t lose his insights, deliberations and experience.
The Executive also consists of our CEO, Mauneen van Wyk who has the momentous task of keeping us properly informed and coordinated. She tirelessly works to serve the PIA members and remains a library archive of PIA matters. She leaves no stone unturned and continues to do so – thank you Mauneen. We also recognize your staff who work tirelessly i.e. Ishara, Marlize and Evelyn.
My congratulations to the incoming Vice-President, Claire McCusker who will also be joining us on the executive committee. Claire has a clear and present mind for precise outcomes, is patient and supplements this with good understanding of the topic and then undertakes to resolve challenges – welcome!
The committee welcomes various new members and all are most welcome to offer their undivided attention and time discussing matters which if left untouched will have a negative impact on our profession and members. At times I have become exasperated at the topics, politics and emotions but these must all be addressed in a professional format with positive outcomes. Rest assured you will not be rested for long…….. Welcome to the new committee members, Dewar van Antwerpen, Karlien Thomashoff and Marinda Bolt.
The committee also consists of highly regarded members of long standing and who continuously provide professional inputs way past the requirements to serve the members. These members are champions of the profession and serve us all without compensation or reward and we are indebted to them without knowing it. All protocol reserved thank you to Colin Scott and Faan Nel. A special “au reviour” to Faan who has unselfishly contributed to the profession over the past ± 12 years, all of which has been at a very high standard.

Our committee consists of sub-committees with various responsibilities and they are required to attend meetings, preparing reports / minutes, making decisions and advising the committee on a variety of matters. Sterling work is also recognized by Heleen, Arthur, Dries, Len, Camilo, Adriaan, Mostert, Maryke and Erna who last but not least represents us at the NDPW.
As an example of unrelenting but crucial service to our profession the late Ronald Remmers set the parameters and documentation in place for our professional indemnity policies. This was done over many years during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. This is the type of dedication with a no name work ethic that the committee members are required to do to serve the profession.
Often we are asked what does the PIA do for its members and the answers are mostly of administrative content and seemingly uninteresting but without the dedication to resolve matters as a group we won’t be able to serve ourselves better as individuals. Our functions and events with CPD courses are our highlights which are well received and attended. Nonetheless the additional highlight in the coming year will be our bi-annual merit awards programme which traditionally provides high excitement and interest. We look forward to receiving high quality projects which are meaningful, resourceful and sustainable besides being beautiful. The entries will be exhibited at Boukunde and possibly at other public facilities to maximize exposure for our entrants. Furthermore our Practical Practice Programme courses are of the highest standard and will continue to be so with excellent programmes lined up by Mauneen and her team in the new year.
We also trust that other functions in the coming year will be possible again and look forward to the President’s breakfast’s, IDEA: Design Conference, speakers forums where prominent architects can highlight their latest work and visits to particular buildings, districts or towns of architectural interest. These would include bus tours, JAM sessions and wine evenings. We are also investigating architectural movie evenings.
We also continue to liaise with the City Council regarding the administration of SDP’s, building plans and rezoning. The success of these deliberations lies in the unrelentless positioning of our case for better and efficient service from Council and we continue to work for a proper electronic submission and tracking system with more architects at Council to deal with our complicated issues. Nonetheless the past year has been the most challenging yet as their offices were closed for a long time due to the lock down. The PIA represents our members at the Tshwane Public Development Forum where we use the opportunity to state your case regarding building plans, SDP’s and all issues of Council dissatisfaction. One of our present challenges is to comment on the new Green Building local legislation.
We have had many heritage challenges during the past years and sadly we see the steady demise of historic suburbs such as Brooklyn, Arcadia, Clydesdale, Hatfield, west of the CBD and Marabastad. Shanty towns are springing up at will along old Church Street west and also between Mamelodi and Rietvlei Dam. The PIA has voiced concerns regarding the Council’s approach to heritage or lack of it which has led to many buildings demolished for no good reason and replaced with high rise flats. The historic suburbs seem to take the brunt of new aggressive rezoning and in the long term we are all the poorer for it. Nonetheless we have a heritage committee who has set a course to provide electronic documentation and a database of buildings in Tshwane considered to be of value. This is an undertaking in cooperation with the University of Pretoria and the City Council.
We have sub-committees responsible for considering and / or liaising regarding transformation, practice matters, members benefits, education (TUKS and TUT), events and marketing. These committees put in sterling work and long hours to arrange, plan, execute and then start all over again. Too much to say and not enough time…..

One of the duties of the President is to liaise with SACAP and SAIA. The PIA President is a board member of SAIA and also deliberates the massive challenges the profession faces seeking solutions and finance. We have a good working relationship with SACAP and trust this will continue in the new year with various challenges regarding a new MOU. We are concerned though with a proposed new code of conduct from SACAP and have forwarded our concerns to them awaiting reply.
Our Website will be undergoing changes and we look forward to a fresh new look and easy access in the new year.
The PIA undertakes to address all professional matters of our members in the best and most suitable manor given the context and possible outcomes. Don’t hesitate to correspond with our secretariat on any matter you may deem to be of importance and mutual benefit. We can’t resolve all matters but surely will try our best. We also urge you to grow the PIA by firstly paying subscription fees and encouraging other architects to join our membership circle.
I trust that the coming year will be less stressful and that our members’ contribution to architecture in Tshwane will be of the highest standard to which we have become accustomed. Noting that the origins of the PIA was conceived with the foresight and leadership of Norman Eaton who also laid the foundations of a modern style in Southern Africa and which is also referred to as Pretoria Regionalism as part of the Third Vernacular Style.
I sincerely trust that the PIA will continue in the proud footsteps of many excellent and celebrated architects who have preceded us.
The PIA is the members and the members is the PIA.
I therefore accept the nomination as President of the PIA.
Thank you.

SHARE THIS POST
// RELATED CONTENT

news

PIA Radio Talk Series with Pretoria FM

news

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN SPECIFYING THATCH?

news

Is AI going to steal our jobs?

news

PIA Radio Talk Series with Pretoria FM

news

PIA Radio Talk Series with Pretoria FM

news

PIA Radio Talk Series with Pretoria FM

news

PIA Radio Talk Series with Pretoria FM

news

Industry News

news

Office News

news

PIA Radio Talk Series with Pretoria FM

news

HOW TO ACCESS PRIVISEAL ON THE  SACAP CPD PORTAL

news

PIA Regional Awards 2023

news, Featured

ADJUDICATORS FOR PIA AWARDS FOR ARCHITECTURE 2023

news, Uncategorized, Featured

PIA AWARDS 2023

Featured, news

PIA ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2022

news

REGENERATIVE CAPITAL! Exhibition

news

ARCHITECTS AS ARTISTS EXHIBITION 2022

news

WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE 2022

news

PIA 2021/2022 Survey

news

TENDER MORATORIUM

news

City of Tshwane Council Service Review Survey (Plan Submissions and Building Control)

news

City of Tshwane - Region 3

news

TUT MArch Exhibition and 2021 Corobrik Student of the Year Award

news

Construction sector itching to team up with government to build SA

news

Who qualifies as a Black person under the BEE Act?

news

Zutari debates the challenges of sustainable development

news

SACAP - Mentorship Challenges in the Profession

news

PIA OFFICE NEWS

news

Architectural Salary Survey 2021 - 2022 

news

Architectural Salary Survey 2021 - 2022

news

President's Award 2021

news

Presidents Address, PIA Financial and Annual Report

news

PIA Awards 2021

news

PIA OFFICE NEWS:

news

PIA CPD Assist

news

South African building industry in line for more State support

news

What’s Behind Architecture’s Hidden Humor

news

Mixed-use developments an alternative to disintegrated, mono-functional cities

news

Women in construction urged to take advantage of Contractors' Framework

news

Working from Home Is it Legal?

news

PIA OFFICE NEWS SEPTEMBER

news

PIA Awards for Architecture - Date of Awards Function to change

news, Uncategorized

Finance Matters:

news, Uncategorized

PIA OFFICE NEWS : From the President's Pen

news

DPWI Vacancies

news

A Tribute to Harry Johnson

news

Documentation required for the PIA Awards for Architecture 2021 Submissions

news

Tribute to Peter Anthony Kuhn

news

Contact Details of the 9 Building Control Offices in Tshwane

news

Tshwane: CoT electronic submission for Land Use applications - Guidelines

news

New Regulation on Energy Usage to be Displayed

news

NDPWI TENDERS: GENERAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

news

Presidents Pen - February 2021

news

First ever compendium of indigenous technologies provides a powerful toolkit for climate-resilient design

news

CITY OF TSHWANE - NEWS in RECORD: "Metro goes online with city planning application process"

news

JBCC PUBLICATION: JBCC 2020 AND ALL THAT - A practical interpretation by Prof MJ Maritz

news

URGENTLY NEEDED: Members to serve on the following PIA Sub-committees as co-opted members

news

Interviews with Architects on VIA (Channel 147)

news

PIA OFFICE NEWS

news

Professionals willing to assist with backlog at Dept of Public Works & Infra-structure or looking for part-time employment

news

Government's infrastructure plan lacks detail on funding, anti-corruption efforts - MPs

news

PIA OFFICE NEWS

news

PIA Committee

news

PIA Annual Financials Report 2019-2020 & Proposed Budget 2020-2021

news

PIA Annual Report 2019 - 2020

news

CITY OF TSHWANE - HEALTH FEE IMPLEMENTED:

news

SACAP publishes the Guideline and Framework for Professional Fees

news

GABRIEL THERON (GAWIE) FAGAN 15.11.1925 - 13.09.2020

news

Office News September 2020

news

SAIA CEO APPOINTED - MR MTHEMBENI MKHIZE

news

City of Tshwane Emergency Management Services respond to structural collapse at mall

news

WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE

news

LATEST PIA OFFICE NEWS

news

20% off Membership fees for Recruiting

news

Membership Fees

news

SAD News ... Passing of Henk Bakker

news

PIA Office News 06 July 2020

news

Poll: PIA Member cards

news

PIA Office Operational

news

From the pen of the PIA President

news

City of Tshwane Council Closure News

news

City of Tswhane Notice

news

From the pen of the PIA President 29 May 2020

news

City of Tshwane Information

news

Afrisam Construction Webinar

news

From the pen of the PIA President 14 May 2020

news

PIA | Coffee with my Mentor

news

PIA Office News

news

Letter from the PIA President

news

City of Tshwane Building Control: Notice to architects and public with regards closure

news

ERROL - TRIBUTE AND CELEBRATION

news

CONSTRUCTION COVID-19 RAPID RESPONSE TASK TEAM PRESENTATION

news

Latest Release of Funding for South African SMEs

news

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE LOCKDOWN MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO PERFORM IN TERMS OF YOUR JBCC CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT?

news

Important and interesting links for the profession

news

PIA Office News

news

Obituary of our member and past president Ronald Remmers

news

Effect of the lockdown and working from home on the architectural profession.

news

Covid-19 Crisis funding support for South African businesses

news

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL WORKING ON-LINE

news

NCS New Online Short Course

news

Online CPD - Working from Home for Architects

news

UIF RELIEF FUND

news

Extended Deadline: AfriSam SAIA Sustainable Design Awards.

news

JBCC ADVISORY NOTE: EDITION 6.2

news

Important information to note

news

Financial hardship and the Architectural Profession

news

NEWSFLASH

news

Document Sales

news

NOTICE from the PIA President

news

OFFICE NEWS DECEMBER 2019

news

SACAP News

news

Dennis Sharp CICA Awards for Architectural Criticism 2020

news

Office News November 2019

news

PRACTICE THAT MATTERS - PIA PRACTICE COMMITTEE

news

COPYRIGHT ACT 98 OF 1978

news

DPW REIMBURSEMENT RATES

news

City of Tshwane: Fees, Charges, and Tariffs - July 2019 to June 2020

news

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA • UNDERGRADAUTE BROCHURE FOR 2020

news

Publications: Pros & Cons in the Thatching Industry and A Guide to Thatch Construction 2019

news

SACAP Newsletter for December 2018

news

PIA Office News - December 2018

news

CITY OF TSHWANE SURVEY - Please participate

news

MArch(Prof) Exams at UP Department of Architecture

news

R104m debt halts building at 37 Eastern Cape schools

news

AGM Report 2018

news

TUT Student Awards 2017 - Year 6: Antonio Diz Garrido

news

TUT Student Awards 2017 - Year 5: Reghardt Bruwer

news

TUT Student Awards 2017 - Year 4: Aldon Plaatjie - Best Design Student

news

TUT Student Awards 2017 - Year 3: Gericke Nel - Best Design Student

news

TUT Student Awards 2017 - Year 2: Dean Smuts - Best Design Student

news

City of Tshwane Municipal Submission survey

news

The state of the civil construction industry

news

TUT Student Awards 2017 - Year 0: Luan le Grange - Best Design Student

news

Site Development Plan Application - 2018 Revision

news

President's Note to members - SAIA benchmark and Fee Survey

news

4 must-knows about using BIM

news

Central Square at Menlyn Maine

news

PIA STUDENT BURSARY RECIPIENTS

news

Advantage Of Urban Design

news

PIA Architects Receive Highest Honours

news

The capital city is on fire!

news

Our Creative Capital

// GET NEW POSTS VIA EMAIL
// ALL NEWS
// FEATURED NEWS
// FOLLOW

// GET IN TOUCH

// RENT OUR BOARDROOM

// VISIT OUR ONLINE STORE

// LOCATION

273 Tram street, 
Nieuw Muckleneuk,
Pta

// CONTACTS

// FOLLOW

Become a member

Membership is open to all registered professional architectural practitioners or those who are eligible for registration with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP).

The benefits of membership are vast and valuable!

Have any questions?
// SEARCH

Search our Website

Array ( ) BREAK Array ( )
// SEARCH
Select the Specialities you wish to search