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Memorandum from the Parliamentary Office
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 394
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 18/10/2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 31 OF 2013)
Mr M J R de Villiers (DA-WC) to ask the Minister of Higher Education and
Training:
Whether he or his department has received a feasibility study for any
university in the 2012-13 financial year; if not, what is the position in
this regard; if so, (a) for which universities, (b) what budget allocation
was (i) provided and (ii) spent in each case and (c) what are the further
relevant details?
CW625E
REPLY:
a) Feasibility studies were received for the establishment of the new
universities in the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces, as well as
for the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and University of Limpopo (UL).
b) New universities (Sol Plaatje University in the Northern Cape and the
University of Mpumalanga in Mpumalanga):
i) The budget allocation was R2.12 billion for the 2013/14 to 2015/16
MTEF period.
ii) The first allocation of R300 million for the 2013/14 financial year
will have been utilised by the end of the year.
c) Following the assessment report by the Independent Assessor into the
affairs of the WSU, an Administrator was appointed to take over the
governance and executive management functions of the institution. The
Administrator submitted a turnaround strategy for WSU which contains
eight goals and requires the institution to make changes to critical
areas including governance structures, student governance, financial
support structures, human resources and infrastructure (academic
requirements and support service environment). Subsequently, the team was
requested to submit a feasibility study motivating for the funds needed
to cover the wide range of activities identified in the strategy. These
include new infrastructure requirements, Information Technology upgrades,
arrear maintenance provision, Human Resource harmonisation, technology
enabled teaching, provision for maintenance and payroll. WSU submitted a
feasibility study indicating that an investment of R3.151 billion was
required to implement the Turnaround Strategy. The Department has already
assisted the university with an additional amount of R858 million. This
is over and above the subsidy allocations, foundation provisioning
grants, research development grants, clinical training grants and
teaching development grants provided in terms of the funding framework.
New Medical School at the University of Limpopo in Polokwane
A new academic health complex in Polokwane is being developed, with
planning at an advanced stage for a new Medical School of the University
of Limpopo attached to the hospital. This will become the country's 9th
Medical School and is scheduled to take in its first students in 2015.
The Project Steering Committee (PSC) of the UL was convened to manage and
drive the establishment of the Medical Facility in Polokwane.
A geotechnical site investigation report was compiled in 2010 on the
hospital site and School of Medicine site. A Traffic Impact Assessment
and assessments of requirements for parking, storm water management, main
power supply and emergency power provision were done.
A feasibility study was requested and submitted to my Department with a
request for an amount of R434.5 million. Budget sources would be in the
form of capital grants from the Department for the proposed
infrastructure and equipment for the skills laboratory pending the
approval for additional funding from National Treasury. A discussion was
held with National Treasury regarding the funds required for the project.
However, at this stage no additional funding has been secured.
Compiler/contact persons: Dr Engela van Staden
Ext: 5889
DIRECTOR â GENERAL
STATUS:
DATE:
REPLY TO QUESTION 394 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr B NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
STATUS:
DATE: