Exciting times for Auctioneering in South Africa
SAIA Recognized as The Official Professional Body of the Auction Industry
On 23 July 2021, the South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA) excitedly announced that they have received the prestigious status as an official Professional Body of the Auctioneering sector – the only Professional Body of the Auction Industry in South Africa!
This has been made possible through the dedication, hard work and strong ethical standards that SAIA has put in place over the last 32 years, under the care and guidance of Joff van Reenen, Carin Stoltz-Urban, John Arnesen, the SAIA Board and Sonja Styger.
A Professional Body sets professional standards and registers individual expert practitioners in a specific occupational field. According to SAIA Chairman, John Cowing, the objective of the move is to advance the profession of auctioneering and to protect the interest of their members and the public. As a result, the key roles of the newly recognised body will be regulating entry into the profession, specifying ongoing requirements that need to be met, and enforcing codes of conduct and ethics.
“As a Professional Body, we now have a strong legislative and regulatory foundation that will help us formalise the industry, as well as support and enforce the standardisation of best practice and compliance in the industry to ensure the protection of both the individuals engaged in that profession and to look after the public interest in the industry. We, therefore, advise the public to deal with SAIA members to ensure auctions are conducted within the confines of the South African law and the association’s strict codes of conduct,” says Cowing.
This new status will only be beneficial to members of SAIA by enhancing their trustworthiness, improving employability, garnering respect in the industry as well as being able to provide a sustainable service to expectant members through standardisation, and meeting the demands from stakeholders in the regulatory autonomies and public circles.
“What this means for the industry is that we will be able to promote better understanding and trust of the profession. We want to build pride among our members and provide the public with a guarantee of competence of the duly designated members and member companies- we will do this by setting and enforcing professional standards for the industry.
SAIA will also be the custodian of the registration of individuals as well as the bestowment of the right to practice in the particular field of experience governed by our association,” Cowing stated.
By achieving this esteemed status, SAIA will be breaking new ground in the Auctioneering industry by ensuring closer regulation of the industry at large.
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