The EAAB declares an official dispute.

The Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) wishes to advise that it has formally declared an intergovernmental dispute with the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SSETA) in terms of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act of 2005.



The dispute between the two organs of state arises from various activities engaged in by the SSETA from time to time with reference to the estate agency profession and the training of estate agents which, not only exceeds the legislative mandate of the SSETA but, also, undermines the standing and authority of the EAAB in the exercise of its powers and functions as the statutory regulator and professional body for estate agents.



The EAAB can only conclude that the SSETA seeks unlawfully to intrude on its autonomy, infringe both the rule of law and the principle of cooperative governance, exercise purported powers in an unlawful and unauthorised manner, engage in illegal self-help and, generally, act in a manner unbecoming an organ of state.



The parties to the dispute are now be required to convene a meeting to determine the nature of the dispute, to identify mechanisms or procedures to assist in the settling of the dispute and to agree on such mechanisms and procedures for this purpose and to designate a person to act as facilitator in settling the dispute.



The EAAB will make every endeavour possible to resolve the dispute with the SSETA in compliance with the constitutional obligations to do so imposed on organs of state and for the benefit of the estate agency profession and allied stakeholders.



Issued by: The Estate Agency Affairs Board



Contact: Ms. Portia Mofikoe

Portia.Mofikoe@eaab.org.za



Date: 2 November 2009