ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

JUNE-DECEMBER 2004
1. NAME OF COMMITTEE:


Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology
.
Chairperson: Mr. E NN Ngcobo.

2. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE:

The mission of the Committee is to constantly perform a monitoring and oversight role by engaging the Department of Science and Technology and various stakeholders in their progress and development.

The vision of the Committee is to ensure a real and sustainable improvement in the quality of lives of all South
Africans by making Science and Technology the engine of socio-economic growth in our society.

a) List of Entities reporting to the Committee:

• Primarily, oversight over the Department of Science and Technology (DS&T) and then;
• The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
• The Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA)
• The National Research Foundation (NRF)
• The National Laser Centre (NLC)

• The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) • IThemba Labs
• The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
• South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP)

• The National Council on Innovation (NACI)
• The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
• The Council for Minerals Technology (MINTEK)
• The Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
• The Medical Research Council (MRC)
• The Council for Geo Sciences (CGS)
• South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)
• The Godisa Trust
• The Tshumisano Trust
• The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)
• The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)
• The South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP)
• South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)
• The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT)
• The Hartebeeshoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO)
• National Zoological Gardens (NZG)
• Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO)



3. CHAIRPERSON'S OVERVIEW:

The Committee was able to work well together as a team despite political differences that led to the occasional sharp
exchange. There was a great deal of transparency, efficiency and co-operation throughout. Discussions in committee
were often robust, but frank and fair. The Chairperson wishes to extend a word of appreciation to members of the Committee who participated in all the
committee activities despite many other commitments. A word of appreciation also goes to the Department for their co-
operation and willingness to appear before the Committee.



4. CORE OBJECTIVES:

The Objectives of the Committee are to perform alt the tasks required of a parliamentary committee in a democratic
South Africa. The functions here will include: legislative work and oversight

4.1 Legislation:

The Committee dealt with no Bills in 2004:

4.1.1 Matters other than mandated legislation:

4.1.1.1 None
4.2 Oversight:

4.2.1 Institutional Oversight:

The Committee was briefed on the Budget Vote 18 of the Department that report to it as follow

Department of Science and Technology - 1 June 2004.

The Committee also conducted oversight over the Strategic Plan of the Department, as follows

Department of Science and Technology - 9 June 2004.

The Committee also received briefings from other entities reporting to it, as follows:

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) 14 September 2004
National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) -26 October 2004.
National Research Foundation (NRF) - 9 November 2004.

4.2.2 International/National Visits


The Chairperson of the Committee, Mr. E NN Ngcobo, together with Member Mr .B J Mnyandu ,
attended the WSSDeConference . The conference was held in Johannesburg on 1-3 September
2004.


Two Members of the Committee, Mr. K M Khumalo and Ms F Mahomed attended the NRF Poverty
alleviation and social development in Southern Africa Conference in Johannesburg on 16&17
September 2004.

5. OTHER COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES:

The Committee engaged in the following other activities:

PC/DST Strategic Workshop - 10, 11 August 2004.
Consideration of Committee Programme 2004 - 24 August 2004.
Briefing by the Department of Science and Technology on:
Intellectual Property Act Draft - 7 September 04.
Innovation Fund - 7 September 04.
THRIP-7 September 04.
SP11 - September 04.
the Budget Analysis - 19 October 2004.
in Human Resource Development and Scarce Skills Professions - 2 November 04
Development of SMME's - 2 November 04.
Science and Technology Systems Act - 9 November 04.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems - 9 November 04•

Discussion and adoption of Committee's Business Plan for 2005 - 2006 - 2 November 2004.

6. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:

Budget allocated to PC on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology : R393,486. 00

Total Expenditure: R11,826.00 Balance: R381,660.00

7. OUTSTANDING MATTERS:

FORMAL ADOPTION OF ANNUAL REPORT BY THE COMMITTEE

Annual Report of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology, having been put to the Committee, was
adopted by the Committee on :-------------------------------




COMMITTEE SECRETARY DATE




CONTROL COMMUTE SECRETARY DATE


COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON DATE