Higher Education and Training Laws Amendment Bill [B23B-2012]: finalisation

Meeting report

Election of Acting Chairperson
The meeting commenced with the secretary to the Select Committee on Education and Recreation (the Committee) informing Members of the Chairperson’s absence and the procedure to elect an Acting Chairperson. Ms M Moshodi (ANC, Free State), nominated Ms D Rantho (ANC, Eastern Cape) as the Acting Chairperson, Ms R Rasmeni (ANC, North West) seconded the nomination. There were no objections to the nomination and deliberations commenced.

Higher Education and Training Laws Amendment Bill [B23B-2012]: finalisation
The Acting Chairperson welcomed all present and requested that introductions be made. She asked if Members had any objections to the written response of the Department of Higher Education and Training (the Department) to the questions raised by the Committee in its last meeting. There were no objections or comments from Members.  The Acting Chairperson remarked that the purpose of the meeting was to ensure finalisation of the Bill and welcomed observations from Members on the Bill.

Clause 1
The Committee approved the amendment of section 27 of Act 101 of 1997.

Clause 2
The Committee approved the substitution of section 38A of Act 101 of 1997 as inserted by section 3 of Act 38 of 2003.

Clause 3
The Committee approved the substitution of section 38B of Act 101 of 1997, as amended by section 3 of Act 38 of 2003.

Clause 4
The Committee approved the amendment of section 38C of Act 101 of 1997, as inserted by section 3 of Act 38 of 2003.

Clause 5
The Committee approved the substitution of section 38H of Act 101 of 1997, as inserted by section 3 of Act 38 of 2003.

Clause 6
The Committee approved the substitution of section 38I of Act 101 of 1997, as inserted by section 3 of Act 38 of 2003.

Clause 7
The Committee approved the insertion of sections 38J, 38K, 38L, 38M, 38N and 38O in Act 101 of 1997.


Clause 8
The Committee approved the amendment of section 41A of Act 101 of 1997, as inserted by section 6 of Act 55 of 1999 and amended by section 15 of Act 23 of 2001 and section 11 of Act 63 of 2002.

Clause 9
The Committee approved the insertion of sections 45A and 45B in Act 101 of 1997.

Clause 10
The Committee approved the amendment of section 47 of Act 101 of 1997.

Clause 11
The Committee approved the insertion of sections 49A to 49E in Act 101 of 1997.

Clause 12
The Committee approved the amendment of section 13 of Act 67 of 2008.

Clause 13
The Committee approved the short title.

The Acting Chairperson stated that the Committee agreed to and approved the Bill. She thanked the Department and the Committee for the effort put into the Bill up to conclusion.

Mr Mdudzi Manana, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, apologised for his and the Minister’s continued absence at the Committee’s meetings which he attributed to the clash with cabinet meetings. He thanked the Committee for the efforts put into the Bill despite the absence of the political heads of the Department. He reiterated that the Bill had no sinister motives but sought to ensure greater accountability in public institutions of higher learning. He also thanked Department officials for the efforts put into the Bill.

The Acting Chairperson thanked all present.

The meeting was adjourned.