Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister of the Department of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, who is present here, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, hon Members of Parliament and our guest - I see only one here - it is said that together we can build better communities and therefore at the centre of better communities is science and technology. Therefore I appeal to this House that all of us should support this Bill because it is at the centre of everything we want to do in cleaning up the science system. We are cleaning up the science system according to this Bill.
To give the background, the Department of Science and Technology was established in 2004, as we know. Before that, this department was part of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, under the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology. The subsequent establishment of the Department Of Science and Technology has impacted on a number of Acts under the authority of the Minister of Science and Technology.
Therefore the objects of this Bill seek to effect, among others, technical corrections to definitions and other references associated with the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology so as to enhance clarity and to strengthen institutional oversight and governance of the public entities reporting to the department.
The amendment therefore seeks to eliminate possible confusion regarding definitions such as the title of the chief executive officer of some public entities, as well as references to the department and the designation of the portfolio of the Minister, as well as to effect other consequential changes that were necessitated by the recent macroreorganisation of the state.
In terms of the science system, since 1988 until now it has been governed by the Scientific Research Council Act, Act 46 of 1988. The amendments seek to change the title of the chief executive officer of the council and to provide for the procedures prior to making appointments of the members of the board to ensure consistency with all the public entities reporting to the department. The Bill also sets a limit on the terms of office of members of the board and provides for the broad representivity of the board.
In terms of the National Advisory Council on Innovation Act, Act 55 of 1997, the amendments correct the references to the department and the portfolio of the Minister and repeal the provision for the establishment of the Minister's committee and provide for the appointment of an independent chief executive officer of the National Advisory Council on Innovation,