Hon House Chairperson, hon Deputy President, hon Acting Minister of Science and Technology, Comrade Naledi Pandor, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers present here, hon members, sons of the soil, flowers of the nation, people of integrity, the Africa Institute of South Africa, AISA, was established in 1960 as a nonprofit organisation by various academics with the support of the apartheid government. Its aim was to better understand Africa, develop the required policies and strategies and forestall the liberation struggle in South Africa.
After 1994 the nature of the AISA's work became attuned to global standards and its stakeholders became more universal. In 2001 the AISA Act, No 68 of 2001 transformed AISA into a Science Council initially located within the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology. In 2004 it was moved to the Department of Science and Technology because its ambit includes both natural and social sciences.
The predetermined objectives of the AISA as contained in the AISA Act of 2001 state that it should, firstly, promote knowledge and understanding of African affairs through leading social scientists acting in concert and across all disciplines and through training and education on African affairs; secondly, collect, process and disseminate information on African affairs, give effective advice and facilitate appropriate action in relation to the collective needs, opportunities and challenges of all South Africans; and thirdly, promote awareness and consciousness of Africa at grass-roots level.
On 19 September 2012 the Department of Science and Technology informed the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology of its intention to introduce draft legislation in Parliament that will repeal the AISA Act. The Africa Institute of South Africa Act Repeal Bill, B6-2013 was subsequently referred to the committee on 15 March 2013. The department briefed the committee on the Bill on 27 March 2013, 8 May 2013 and 5 June 2013.
The department's representation presented the rationale for repealing the Act and disestablishing the AISA as a legal entity, which is based on the belief that the AISA's current role and function are not wholly aligned to the department's core mandate and that there is a significant overlap between the mandate and work of the AISA and that of the Human Sciences Research Council, HSRC.
The Bill therefore provides for the repeal of the African Institute of South Africa Act, No 67 of 2001, disestablishment of the AISA; transfer of the AISA's assets, liabilities, rights and obligations to the HSRC; transfer of the AISA's employees to the HSRC; and dissolution of the institute's council.
The committee finalised its deliberations on the repeal Bill on 12 June 2013. It is the view of the committee that the repeal Bill contains no controversial clauses, hence its acceptance by the HSRC, the AISA and all the political parties represented in the committee. I present to the House this legislation for support and adoption. I thank you.
There was no debate.
Bill read a second time.