The South African Institute of Valuers (SAIV) has signed a Collaboration Agreement with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to enhance cooperation, strengthen professional standards and advance education and knowledge-sharing across the valuation and property sectors in South Africa and beyond.
 
The signing, which took place on 5 November at Protea Hotel Balalaika, Johannesburg, marks a significant milestone in aligning the South African valuation profession with international best practice while building a stronger platform for collaboration, skills development, and professional recognition across Africa.
 
Commitment to Raising Professional Standards
Opening the session, SAIV President Kobus Nel welcomed the RICS delegation and expressed optimism about the collaboration. “We know RICS’ reputation for excellence in standards, training and global professional recognition is well respected,” Nel said. “Signing this agreement marks a significant step forward for SAIV and our members. It allows us to collaborate with a globally respected body, share knowledge and access world-class standards and resources,” he added.
 
Nel further highlighted that the agreement is aimed at creating a bridge between local expertise and international best practice, ensuring that South African Valuers stay at the forefront of the profession. “We look forward to working together in a real and practical way,” he noted.
 
The partnership aligns perfectly with SAIV’s mission, he said.  “Our focus is on equipping South African valuers with the skills and credentials they need to succeed in a changing environment, from sustainability and digital disruption to global capital flows. Working closely with RICS makes sense for our members, our profession and the broader built environment industry.”
 
A Global Institution Adapting to Local Realities
Nicholas McLean, Acting President of RICS, emphasised that the collaboration is part of RICS’ broader mission to decentralise and better engage with, and learn from, regional professional communities.
 
“Over the last 10 years, too many of the levers and decisions reverted to London,” McLean said. “There’s a realisation now that this is fundamentally wrong. We’re reorganising and decentralising to empower regional and country advisory boards to better represent, listen to what’s happening in local markets and respond to local priorities.”
 
He highlighted that valuation remains the bedrock of the surveying profession:
 
“Whatever we do, whether as brokers, consultants or agents, valuation is critical to our clients and to governments. We have a public duty as well as a professional one, and we need to ensure our advice and standards reflect local realities.”
 
McLean also outlined RICS’ plans to modernise and diversify access to the profession.  “We have to be radical in the way we approach education. We’re seeking to modularise training so that people can qualify flexibly, whether it takes 5 years or 15. That’s how we can make the profession more equitable and more accessible.”
 
A Shared Vision for the Future
The meeting also covered shared objectives, including expanding professional development and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities across both memberships, enhancing mutual recognition of qualifications and professional pathways, encouraging research collaboration and joint advocacy on policy issues affecting the valuation profession, and strengthening youth engagement and mentorship initiatives to ensure the sustainability of the profession.
 
“By working with RICS, SAIV members gain enhanced global recognition and access to new opportunities, while RICS strengthens its offering and presence in Africa. Together, we can raise the profile of the profession, protect the public interest, and ensure the highest standards of valuation practice,” Nel added.
 
Maclean reaffirmed RICS’ commitment to deeper engagement across South Africa and the continent. “We have about 7,500 chartered surveyors across the Middle East and Africa, and this is our fastest-growing region,  expanding by nearly 10% a year. South Africa, in particular, is critical to our profession globally.”
 
He added that RICS is revising its internal governance to give greater international representation. “We’re changing the structure of our professional practice groups so they reflect valuers from around the world. South Africa will play a key role in shaping that future.”