Politician Profile Page
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Certificate backlog: update by SITA & Umalusi, with Minister
20 Oct 2020
The Committee met with the Department, Umalusi and SITA virtually to engage on the progress report on the eradication of the certification backlog. In previous engagements, the Department had set a target of June 2020 for an 80% eradication of the certification backlog – the infamous Day Zero. The certification ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Saving the 2020 academic year: DHET, USAf & SAUS briefings; meeting postponed
16 Oct 2020
Video: Higher Education, Science and Technology
The Committee met virtually to discuss saving the 2020 academic year, but the meeting was postponed after the Chairperson announced that the Minister would not be attending as he was chairing interviews for the DDG posts for the Department of Science and Innovation. Members ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Buffalo City & Coastal TVET colleges on governance & administration
14 Oct 2020
The Committee met virtually with the Council Chairperson and Executive of the Coastal KZN and Buffalo City TVET Colleges as well as their Student Representative Councils to assess governance and administration.
Besides dissatisfaction with the lack of content and poor quality of the presentations, Members were not happy with a ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
NACI 2020 Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators Report; SMU Vice Chancellor inquiry: way forward
13 Oct 2020
The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology was briefed by the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) on the SA science, technology and innovation-indicators report. The meeting took place on a virtual platform. The STI Indicators Report provides statistics and assessment of NSI contextualised globally since 2019
The ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Allegations of maladministration at NSFAS: NEHAWU briefing & NSFAS response
9 Oct 2020
Video: Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology (NA) 09 Oct 2020
In a virtual meeting, the Committee received a briefing from the Administrator of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme as his term neared its end. The Administrator’s brief was confined to responding to allegations that had been ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
VUT Matters: Administrator progress report & NEHAWU; NSFAS Administrator
6 Oct 2020
The Committee met virtually with the Administrator of the Vaal University of Technology and the executive team, and other stakeholders to assess progress in stabilising the University following the catastrophic collapse of the University Council and the appointment of the administrator in August 2019. The intervention process is scheduled to ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
SMU Vice Chancellor inquiry: postponed
1 Sep 2020
Video: Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology (NA) 01 Sep 2020
The Committee was supposed to begin its enquiry into the process followed by the Venda University Council in dealing with allegations of sexual harassment against Prof Peter Mbati, allegations of mismanagement of infrastructure projects during his tenure, ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Governance Matters & Investigations at SSETA and W&R SETA: with Deputy Minister present & stakeholder input
25 Aug 2020
The Committee held a virtual meeting with the Services Seta and Wholesale and Retail Seta to discuss governance matters, investigations and get a report back on issues raised previously. OUTA, the SA Qualifications Authority and the National Skills Authority provided input on these matters.
The Wholesale & Retail Seta reported ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
DHET Quarterly performances; Revised Annual Performance Plan
19 Aug 2020
The Portfolio Committee met virtually to receive a briefing by the Department of Higher Education and Training on its performances for 2019/20 second to fourth quarters and 2020/21 first quarter.
The presentation highlighted the Department's focus areas during the 2019/20 financial year as the following: the filling of vacancies, resolving ...
Higher Education, Science and Innovation
SMU allegations of poor governance & Vice Chancellor appointment, with Minister and Deputy
18 Aug 2020
The Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology briefed the Committee on the actions taken in response to the allegations of poor governance at Sefako Makgatho University as well as the alleged irregular appointment of its Vice Chancellor. The Department also touched on the sexual harassment allegations levelled by Professor ...