Background
During a Plato (now known as the South African Geomatics Council or SAGC) AGM in 2001, it was decided to open a category in the, then surveying only, statutory body for GISc people. This was mainly due to surveyors who changed their careers to GIS and wanted to be registered with a professional statutory body.
The requirements for this first registration were VERY much natural science orientated with the result that all the BA GISc people were excluded. GISSA opened discussions with SAGC on behalf of the GISc community and during the Plato (SAGC) AGM of 2003 it was decided to re- open the GISc category. The requirements were rewritten by the GISSA committee, and aligned with the GISc SAQA Qualifications; it was approved during the Plato (SAGC) AGM. The grandfather clause re-opened from the 1st of January 2005 till the 30th of June 2005.
The categories which were opened for GISc were as follows:
- Geomatics Technician GISc Practitioner (GTc. GISc)
- Geomatics Technologist GISc Practitioner (GTg. GISc)
- Geomatics Professional GISc Practitioner (GPr. GISc)
During an EAC meeting in March 2008 the academic model for the evaluation of GISc qualifications was finally approved. This model, which was based on the SAQA qualifications, allowed the screening committee to evaluate applicants' qualifications.
WHY CHOOSE A SAGC REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL?
When you work with a geomatics professional registered with the SAGC, you can have confidence in their expertise, integrity, and commitment to providing accurate and reliable spatial information.
The SAGC is responsible for the qualifications, registration process, regulation, and promotion of the geomatics profession in South Africa.
By choosing a SAGC registered practitioner, you are ensuring that your projects are handled by professionals who adhere to high standards of competence and ethics.
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GEOMATIC COUNCIL ARE TO:
- Regulate the geomatics profession so as to promote and protect the interests of the public in relation to geomatics work, as long as it is not inconsistent with any other applicable law;
- Register persons in terms of this Act;
- Institute and enforce disciplinary action against registered persons contravening the provisions of this Act;
- Support the functioning of disciplinary and appeal structures established under this Act;
- Ensure and promote a high standard of education and training in the geomatics sector; and
- Advise the Minister on any matter referred to it by the Minister or on any matter it considers necessary to achieve the objects of this Act.
