Akani April 2020

Akani
The NHBRC Stakeholder Magazine
#04, April 2020
To build
corona virus
and the NHBRC
Continues service to our customers through the crisis
Freedom Month
The year of 2020 : 26 years of freedom
and democracy
Property Practitioners
Regulating and transforming the
industry
THE NATIONAL HOME BUILDERS REGISTRATION COUNCIL

COVID-19
April
Volume 4 Issue 1
This month we observe :
Freedom Month
World Autism Awareness Day
Child Labour Day
World Health Day
World Haemophilia Day
Easter
International Mother Earth Day
World Book and Copyright Day
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E
Global / African Vaccination Week
World Malaria Day
World Intellectual Property Day
World 1. Veterinary NHBRC COVID-19 Day
Freedom Day
World 2. Day 2020 for Budget Safety and Speech Health at Work
3. Property Practitioners
Bill
4. Competent persons
breakfast
5. Corona Virus, WHO
6. Freedom Month
7. Buza uBrenda
NHBRC’s COVID-19 Response
Mr Otsile Maseng, Acting CEO
There’s no other way to say it – the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has
caused concern for all of us. It has impacted nearly every aspect of our lives
and is changing every day. At the NHBRC, we have several measures in place
for everyone’s well-being, including encouraging good hygiene and cleaning
practices, providing of protective gear for our employees and implementing
social distancing.
Since the country is on national lockdown for the foreseeable future, I
therefore recommend that all Registrations, Renewals, Enrolments, and
Complaints, be done via our new emailing dropbox as per the list below:
1. Gauteng: GP-online@nhbrc.org.za
2. Western Cape: WC-online@nhbrc.org.za
3. Eastern Cape: EC-online@nhbrc.org.za
4. Free State: FS-online@nhbrc.org.za
5. North West NW-online@nhbrc.org.za
6. Limpopo: LP-online@nhbrc.org.za
7. Mpumalanga: MP-online@nhbrc.org.za
8. KwaZulu-Natal: KZN-online@nhbrc.org.za
9. Northern Cape NC-online@nhbrc.org.za
Acting CEO : Mr Otsile Maseng
However, you may still need to come and undergo testing and collect all
Certificates once the lockdown restrictions are relaxed. Please be mindful
that no construction of homes may take place during the lockdown period.
Today and always, we are focused on delivering on our mandate and
adhering to the lockdown regulations. The safety of our employees and
customers is paramount to us. We urge you to save lives by staying home.
Together we can beat Covid19!

Budget Speech
2020
Page 2
Budget Speech Highlights
The Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivered his budget speech during the week, during his speech The Finance
Minister stressed the need to reaffirm the government’s commitment to close the gap between spending and
revenue, implementing a plan for stronger economic growth and cooperation between government and the business
sector.Budget outline:
· Projected revenue: R1.58 trillion
· Projected expenditure: R1.95 trillion
· Budget deficit: R370.5 billion
· Gross national debt: R3.56 trillion (65.6% of GDP)
Below are highlights from the Budget speech: (Infographics by Alec Hogg)

Property Practitioner Regulations
By EAAB
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Property Practitioners Act into law in
September 2019. The Act seeks to regulate and transform the industry.
However, the Department of Human Settlements has to come up with
regulations which are necessary to give effect to the commencement of the
Act. It is in this context that the Department is calling on Property
Practitioners (Bond Originators, Auctioneers, Trusts, Property Evaluators,
Assessors) and the public at large to comment on the draft regulations to be
published by the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation.The Act
has repealed the Estate Agency Affairs Act 112 of 1976 (EAA Act) in its
entirety. It did so to achieve three primary objects:
To address the slow transformation in the property sector;
To integrate and consolidate all role-players within the property sector
under one umbrella statute; and
To address the deficiencies in what has been a largely ineffective
system of monitoring estate agency matters and protecting consumers
and their trust funds.
The Act is significantly stricter and more far-reaching than its predecessor, the
EAA Act. In light of the serious consequences of non-compliance with the Act,
any person who may fall under the broad definition of “property practitioner”
would be well-advised to seek guidance from a legal practitioner and ensure
strict compliance with the provisions of the Act.
For more information please visit www.eaab.org.za
Competent Persons Breakfast Session in East London
By Samkelo Gqeba
In an effort to forge a closer tie with key stakeholders in the province, the NHBRC Eastern Cape Office
hosted a Home Builder and Developers Business Breakfast Session at Hemingway’s Hotel in East London.
The session was attended by home builders, competent persons and developer’s operating in the Buffalo
City Metropolitan Area. The aim of the engagement was to strengthen the relationships and bridge
communications gaps between the NHBRC and the home builders who are key stakeholder.
The NHBRC was represented by Provincial Manager Mr Ernest Sonnenberg, Administration Department,
Provincial Engineer, Inspectorate and Training Officer. The Provincial Manager opened the session with a
high level presentation on the NHBRC’s mandate and valuable final products (VFP’s).Topics presented at
the session were, engineering and Training opportunities for emerging contractors, women, youth, military
veterans and people living with disabilities. The home builders and engineers used the platform to voice
their input and concern in connection with enrolment fees and engineering related matters.

Akani
Page 4
Corona Virus
By The World Health Organisation (WHO)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and
recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical
problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely
to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the
disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands
or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an
infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for
example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many
ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated
information as soon as clinical findings become available. In the meantime – stay home, stay safe, stay
informed!

Freedom Month
Page 5
The NHBRC clamps down
Kossein and Daughters Trading (perpetrator/offender –
Piet Sebetse) appeared at the Wesselsbron Magistrate
Court on Monday 16 March 2020. Some of the charges
against the builder include Victimisation/Harassment and
Life Threatening Intimidation against an NHBRC Home
Inspector, Transgression of Section 10 and Section 14 (1)
of the HCPMA.
The builder was found guilty, and was given a R6000 fine
and has been suspended for five (5) years.”
Freedom Month 2020
This year marks 26 years of freedom and democracy. The Freedom
Month celebrations offer us an opportunity to reflect on progress
made thus far in transforming our society, while also examining our
challenges.
The month celebrates freedom and commemorates the first
democratic post-apartheid non-racial elections that were held on
April 27th 1994, which saw Nelson Mandela elected as President.
Since 1994, we have moved from an oppressive society to one which
values human rights for all through advancing human development
and restoring human dignity.
Our vibrant democracy is anchored by the constitution which
guarantees equal rights for all.
www.gov.za
April is World Book and Copyright Day
“Celebrating the
scope of books - a
link between the past
and the future, a
bridge between
generations and
across cultures”

Page 7
Akani
Page 6
NHBRC Movements
The NHBRC is pleased to announce the following changes in their leadership
structures:
Ms Ongezwa Mgwebi: SCM Manager
Services
Ms Craig Makapela: Acting Executive: Business
Ms. Ongezwa Mgwebi Mr. Mzikayise Mayongo Mr. Vonani Lucky Mabasa
Supply Chain Manager Prosecutor Prosecutor
Gauteng Gauteng Gauteng
2020 Human Settlements Indaba
The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation,
Lindiwe Sisulu, MP hosted the 2020 Human Settlements
Indaba and Exhibition. The main objective of the Indaba
was to strengthen partnerships with different stakeholders
for sustainable human settlements through innovation,
intergovernmental relations, infrastructure development
and maintenance and inclusive special planning.
The Indaba took place on 6 March 2020 at the Birchwood
Hotel and Conference Center in Ekurhuleni.
The Minister of Human Settlements,
Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe
Sisulu, MP

Buza UBrenda
Sanibonani! My name
is Brenda the Builder.
As citizens, we have
rights, but with those
come obligations. I
am here to assist you
in realising your
rights as a housing
consumer and
understanding the
NHBRCs mandate.
Second Hand
Inspection
Dear Brenda
I recently signed an offer on a preowned
house and I would like an
inspection. Please can you asssit?
Tony Hunter, Port Alfred
Dear Tony
The second hand home inspection
industry in South Africa is small ad
unregulated at present. Home
inspections are sometimes undertaken
by undertrained or inexperienced
inspectors and there is no
standardized operating procedure to
ensure quality of service. I
recommend approaching your local
municipality for assistance.
NHBRC Inspections
Dear Brenda
Is the NHBRC compulsory or I can decide if I want to registered?
Kabaka Kivunu, Kempton Park
Dear Kabaka
Thanks for the question. Yes, the registration with NHBRC is compulsory and is mandated by the
National Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act of 1998, section 10. This applies to anyone or
any organization that constructs homes for human habitation. This would include home builders,
property developers, owner builder, property owners/sellers, rental landlords, and converting
nonresidential property into residential homes.
Ask Brenda by emailing thenhbrc@nhbrc.org.za with the subject line : BUZA UBRENDA