PRESS RELEASE
The South African property industry is multifaceted and ever-changing, requiring highly skilled professionals to help navigate and interpret the market. However, professional property valuers are scarce, and the profession needs active development. The South African Institute of Valuers (SAIV) looks after the interests of property valuers and the local property valuation profession and, as such, is pleased to open this year’s applications for the SAIV Bursary Programme.
SAIV General manager, Lerato Pooe, explains: “The SAIV Bursary Programme furthers our commitment to supporting the profession in creating a graduate base of valuation professionals in South Africa.” The Programme was established many years ago to assist students studying towards a property valuation qualification, that are in their second year of study and upwards. The students are also given support through the SAIV Mentorship Programme to acquire the necessary mentorship and experience. “They are also able to register with the legislative body, the South African Council for the Property Valuers Profession (SACPVP) as Candidate Valuers as they meet the requirement of having a mentor through the programme” explains Pooe. She adds: “The SAIV bursary fund has witnessed incredible growth since its inception and we are proud to say that despite the year’s challenges, in the 2021 academic year, we more than doubled the number of students that we supported in 2020.”
Over the years, the Programme has seen many students prepare for successful careers. Previous bursary recipient, Kwanele Ntuli says he looks forward to becoming a professional valuer and growing his career in the wider built environment sector. “This is a really exciting industry which actually offers a plethora of opportunities,” he says. Ntuli is currently studying at the University of Johannesburg and is a Candidate Valuer at Ethekwini Municipality.
Phanny Motshabi, another beneficiary of the programme adds: “I look forward to exploring this profession and seeing where opportunities lie. At school, we are told about many mainstream careers. High schoolers should be exposed to the other kinds of jobs available to them. I didn’t know the valuation profession existed when I was in high school.”
SAIV Southern Branch Executive member, Kate Douglas Hurt, says the SAIV was vital in seeing her complete her studies. “Without SAIV’s assistance, I would have had to drop out of my studies in the final year. I now look forward to contributing as much as possible to the Institute for – hopefully – many years in my career as a valuer.” Hurt believes that an understanding of new technology and software will start to play a stronger role in valuations, especially for banks. “We will need to see younger, tech-savvy professionals enter the field,” she says.
Unlike some bursaries, funding received from SAIV through the bursary programme, is not repayable on completion of the course; it just requires that the recipients complete the course. “It has been truly incredible to witness the impact that the programme has had on the lives of some graduates, and we look forward to seeing them become the movers and shakers of the profession”, concludes Pooe.
The full terms and conditions are available on our website. https://saiv.org.za/education/bursaries/ Submissions close on 31 October 2021 for the 2022 academic year.
