Town and Regional Planner

by Staff Reporter
by Staff Reporter
If you are visionary who enjoys problem-solving and can take initiative then a career as a Town and Regional Planner could be for you.

Career Overview

Town and Regional Planners focus on improving the living conditions of people. They estimate future needs for housing, business and industrial sites, community facilities and open spaces to meet the needs of expansion and renewal. This career offers the opportunity to play a role in developing affordable housing and effective infrastructure in a South Africa that has quickly growing population, and is becoming more and more urbanised.

They need to be able to:

  • Investigate problems concerning prospective development
  • Project future needs in traffic and transportation
  • Keep up with legal issues involving community development and changes in housing and building codes

Required School Subjects

You will need to have taken the following subjects at high school:

  • Pure Mathematics
  • Physical Science 

Recommended subjects:

  • Geography
  • Economics
  • Business Science
  • Life Science
  • Engineering
  • Graphics Design

Institution and APS

The following institutions are highly recommended for tertiary studies:

  • University of Pretoria (UP) – APS of 27
  • University of Johannesburg (UJ) – APS of 27
  • University of Witwatersrand (Wits) – APS of 36+

Required Qualification/s

Town and Regional Planners usually hold a bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate degree.  All graduated Town and Regional Planners may register at the South African Council for Town and Regional Planners after completion of at least three years of approved postgraduate practical experience.  In terms of the qualifications available at the abovementioned institutions, you will be able to complete on of the following qualifications:

University of Johannesburg

  • Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning
  • MEng (Civil Engineering) Research Based

University of Pretoria

  • Bachelor of Town and Regional Planning
  • BScHons Applied Science Architecture

University of the Witwatersrand

  • BSc Urban and Regional Planning
  • MEng Civil and Environmental Engineering

Required Skills

A Town and Regional Planner should have:

  • Above average intelligence
  • Initiative
  • Three-dimensional perception ability
  • Integrity, tact and sociability
  • Wide general knowledge
  • The ability to visualise outcomes

It is also helpful if you’re able to be original, creative and concerned with improving society and living standards in South Africa.

Where you can work

Town and Regional Planners can work for:

  • Local municipalities
  • Provincial planning departments
  • Property developers
  • Private consultants
  • Institutions of higher learning

They can also be self-employed as a consultant.

Working Hours

Most Town and Regional Planners work full-time during a normal work week (40 hours). Although they often have to attend meetings with neighbourhood committees and officials in the community, and sometimes planning commissions, which do take some extra work and time.

Expected Salary

The salary of a Town and Regional Planner varies depending on the level of education and experience they have.

  • 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R180 011 per annum
  • 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R250 000 per annum
  • Over 10 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R575 000 + per annum

What to expect

Most of the work is done in an office but it is also necessary to go out on site to see whether everything is done according to proposed development plans. They also work closely with architects, engineers, economists, sociologists, administrators and management on matters concerning public interest and industry.

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