Chairperson, the Department of Higher Education and Training focuses on higher-education matters, including skills development functions, which were transferred from the Department of Labour. It is because of the transfer of the skills development functions from the Department of Labour to the Department of Higher Education and Training that we have before us today the Skills Development Amendment Bill, which seeks to make sure that the transfer of the skills development function is done within the ambit of the law.
The Skills Development Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Skills Development Act, Act 97 of 1998. The following are some of the key objectives of the Skills Development Amendment Bill: to define certain words or expressions and to delete certain obsolete definitions; to amend provisions relating to the establishment, amalgamation and dissolution of Sector Education and Training Authorities, Setas; to provide for the incorporation of a subsector of one Seta into another Seta; to provide for the composition of an accounting authority for every Seta; to provide for a standard constitution for every Seta; to regulate the conduct of members of an accounting authority or staff members of a Seta when engaging in business with the Seta; and to repeal or amend certain provisions which became obsolete as a result of the transfer of the administration of the said Skills Development Act to the Minister of Higher Education and Training.
The following are some of the specific amendments that this Bill makes to the principal Act.
Clause 1 of the Bill amends section 1 of the Act by introducing a number of definitions relating to Setas and their constitution, and by deletion of references and definitions relating to redundant legislation with references that are applicable to the current and applicable legislation.
Clause 5 amends section 9 of the Act in order to allow the Minister of Higher Education and Training to establish Setas for a period specified by the Minister and to re-establish the Setas, if needed, after that period has lapsed.
Clause 8 amends section 10A of the Act in order to ensure that the service level agreements, SLAs, of Setas comply with government policies and service delivery strategies.
Clause 11 of the Bill amends section 13 of the Act and it provides for the introduction of a standard constitution for the Setas.
The Department of Higher Education and Training tabled the Bill to the Select Committee on Education and Recreation on 29 November 2011. The Select Committee on Education and Recreation, having considered the Bill tabled in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, Act 108 of 1996, recommends that the House approves the Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.