I now recognise the hon Matlanyane, who will introduce the topic to the House on behalf of the chairperson of the committee. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon members, the intention of the Geomatics Profession Bill is to transform the geomatics profession. The Principal Act of 1984, which is the Technical Surveyors Act, established the SA Council for Professional and Technical Surveyors, whose responsibility is to control and regulate education, training, registration and discipline of surveyors. The Principal Act ... [Interjections.]
Order, hon Hon Matlanyane, will you please take your seat. There is an informal meeting taking place on my left hand. [Interjections.] Hon members, even if it's a strategy meeting, now that you are in the House, it is immaterial. Hon members, you are requested to strategise in your caucuses because here we want the business of the House to continue. I request all members to please take up their seats. You may continue, hon member.
The Principal Act relates specifically to surveyors while the Geomatics Bill transforms this profession into the broader and more modern understanding of geomatics, which embraces other geomatic disciplines. It is this that necessitated the substantive legislative review which could not be merely done by amending the Principal Act. The vast array of issues addressed in the Bill renders the Principal Act outdated and irrelevant to the registration of practitioners and governance and transformation of the geomatics profession.
The definition of a geomatics practitioner accommodates all disciplines of geomatics and therefore avoids the need for constant amendments to the Principal Act as it accommodates new disciplines as they emerge within the geomatics profession. One of the central thrusts of the Bill is to ensure that the profession is representative of the South African demographics. This specifically relates to the composition of the existing council's entry requirements into the profession, the funding of the council, rationalisation of the categories of the geomatics profession and overhauling the work reservation of the discipline procedure.
In order to take forward these changes, the Bill establishes a new SA Geomatics Council, which will have the mandate to ensure accessibility to the geomatics profession. The transformation of the geomatics profession is a process of moving from where we are today to a profession that is more inclusive in terms of demographics, representativity, skills transfer, scarce skills development, and economic empowerment, as well as adopting a grounded approach to external monitoring that is sensitive to internal procedures and values without compromising standards.
We need to place on record that we do agree with the current chairperson's complaint, as part of public participation that with the introduction of the Bill there will be a lowering of standards in the profession. I would rather have a closer working relationship with the newly transformed Geomatics Council together with the South African Qualifications Authority, SAQA, which will ensure that even higher standards are achieved.
In our deliberations on the Bill, we engaged on the autonomy of the power of the council, since it was not clear if the Council has jurisdiction over the branches and not only its members. What we have resolved is that people who are not registered might not do geomatics work and could be punished with a fine.
The Bill ensures and provides for liaison with the National Qualifications Framework and the SA Qualifications Authority by the Geomatics Council. We noted that most of the institutions have accreditation in order to ensure the quality of individuals. Further the council has the power to set standards for the profession without usurping the powers of the SA Qualifications Authority.
In conclusion, the Bill accelerates the transformation of the geomatics profession in a meaningful manner, which will serve the interests of both the profession and the public for the benefit of present and future generations. The Portfolio Committee on Rural Development and Land Reform submits the Bill to the National Assembly. I thank you. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Bill read a second time.