NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE
PROCEDURAL AND RESEARCH SERVICES
26 SEPTEMBER 2006

TO: Hon MG Goeieman
NCOP PROVINCIAL WHIP


NEGOTIATING MANDATE; FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING COLLEGES BILL (B23B-2006]

Please be advised that the Portfolio Committee on Education was unable to meet to formulate a Negotiating Mandate.

We received a briefing on 7 September 2006. The scheduling of the public hearings commenced soon after that. Because of the vastness of the province plus the fact that we had the people’s Assembly event during that time impacting on the business of the legislature, we were unable to meet before 27 September 2006.

We have managed to conduct public hearings in all the five major regions where the FET institutions are located. The last public hearing was held on Friday, 22 September 2006. Monday, 25 September 2006, was a public holiday and members were already on recess. It was therefore impossible to convene a meeting to formulate a negotiating mandate.

During the public hearings, it emerged that the stakeholders are vehemently opposed to the Bill. It advised that the NCOP schedule be amended to accommodate the province. We would like to suggest that the negotiating and final be dealt around 10 and 17 October 2006, respectively.

Thank you.

P Williams
Chairperson – Portfolio Committee on Education