Hon House Chair, hon Deputy President, hon Acting Minister of Science and Technology - who were former Ministers of Science and Technology; I think the House should know that - hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers present here, on 23 April 2013, the Speaker of the National Assembly referred to the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology for its consideration a shortlist of candidates for appointment to the National Research Foundation board, herein referred to as the NRF board.
The NRF was established in terms of National Research Foundation Act, Act No 23 of 1998. The NRF promotes and supports research through funding human resource development and the provision of the necessary research facilities to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including indigenous knowledge systems.
The NRF performs an agency function on behalf of the Department of Science and Technology and acts as a service provider for several other government departments. The National Research Foundation Act also establishes the NRF board, which is responsible for the management and the control of the NRF. The NRF board is appointed in terms of section 6 of the National Research Foundation Act and as amended by the Science and Technology Laws Amendment Act, Act No 16 of 2011. Section 6(2)(c) stipulates that the NRF board is appointed by the Minister of Science and Technology, herein referred to as the Minister, after consultation with the relevant committees of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, and after consideration of the shortlist of candidates.
The NRF board must be made up of persons all of whom have achieved distinction in the field of research and technology, research and technology management, business, public affairs or civil society. The NRF board consists of a chairperson, no fewer than 9 and no more than 11 members, and the NRF's chief executive officer as an ex officio member. The NRF board members hold office for a period of four years and may not serve for two consecutive terms.
The current NRF board assumed office on 1 October 2011. The Minister appointed 12 members, including the Chairperson, Dr Khotso Mokhele. On approval by Cabinet, Dr Mokhele indicated that he was not available for appointment as chairperson and member of the board. Although the current NRF members are within the required minimum number, the Minister wished to ensure that the NRF board had the maximum number of members allowed by the Act so that the members can be fairly distributed to board committees.
The Minister provided the committee with the shortlist of candidates comprising the following individuals: The first candidate is Professor Burton, who is the current Vice-Principal for Research and Postgraduate Education at the University of Pretoria - she is a female candidate - the second being Dr Konar, a chartered accountant and a male candidate; and the third being Dr Marcus, the CEO of Da Vinci Holdings Pty Limited, who is also a male candidate.
The committee deliberated on the shortlist on 5 June 2013 and agreed that all three candidates had the requisite qualifications and experience to serve on the NRF board. Furthermore, the committee noted that current NRF board members were mostly male, which is why I specified whether the candidate is male or female. Hence, in an effort to promote gender equity, the committee recommended Prof Burton for the vacant position on the NRF board.
I therefore present to this House this report for consideration and adoption. I also wish to thank the members of our committee for having worked so hard to process this shortlist. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
There was no debate. Question put: That Prof S G Burton be approved for consideration for appointment to the Board of the National Research Foundation.
Question agreed to.
Prof S G Burton accordingly approved for consideration for appointment to the Board of the National Research Foundation.