Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) and the Construction
Education and Training Authority (CETA) successfully hosted the highly anticipated second
annual Built Environment Recognition Awards (BERA) on 27 November 2024. The event, under
the theme “Road to Professional Registration,” showcased exceptional achievements and
progress within the built environment sector.
BERA 2024 brought together over 300 industry leaders, professionals, and academics in a
celebration of innovation and excellence. The event served as a platform for collaboration,
knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities, emphasizing the importance of
professionalization within the sector.
Key highlights of the event included a virtual address by the Minister of Public Works and
Infrastructure, Hon. Dean Macpherson, who said, “The contributions of the CBE and initiatives
like this provide the skilled professionals we need to deliver projects on time, within budget, and
to the highest standards of public trust.”
Another highlight was the presence of the Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure,
Hon. Sihle Zikalala, who said: “We applaud the CBE swiftly after the policy directive in the 2023
Budget Vote; it established a Built Environment National Logbook to track progress, standardize
recognition processes, and strengthen relationships with tertiary institutions and councils.” He
emphasized the impactful role of BERA in promoting excellence and professionalism in the
sector, particularly inspiring best practices among youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
The event was closed by CEO Dr. Msizi Myeza, who congratulated young professionals for
obtaining their professional registration status and indicated the CBE’s commitment to
supporting the professionalization of the built environment sector.
The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) is a Schedule 3A Public Entity that reports to the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. It is a regulatory body established under the Council for the Built Environment Act 43 of 2000 (the CBE Act) that coordinates the following six Councils for the Built Environment Professions – Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Property Valuers, Project and Construction Management, and Quantity Surveying – and through memoranda of understanding these include Town and Regional Planning, Land Surveying, and Environmental Assessment.