1. In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise- “academic board” means the body contemplated in section I I ; “applicant” means a person who makes an application contemplated in section 29; “auditor” means a person registered in terms of the Auditing Profession Act, 2005 (Act No. 26 of 2005); “Basic Conditions of Employment Act” means the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (Act No. 75 of 1997); “college” means a public or private further education and training institution that is established, declared or registered under this Act, but does not include- (a) a school offering further education and training programmes under the South African Schools Act; or (b) a college under the authority of a government department other than the Department of Education; “college statute” means policy, code of conduct and any other rules developed by a council in accordance with this Act; “council” means the governing structure of a public college; “Department” means the government department responsible for education at national level; “Director-General” means the Director-General of the Department; “Employment Equity Act” means the Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act NO. 55 of 1998); “financial year” in respect of a college means a year commencing on the first day of January and ending on the 3 1 st day of December of the same year; “foreign juristic person” means a person that is- (a) registered or established a5 a juristic person in terms of a law of a foreign country; and (b) recognised or registered as an external company in terms of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act No. 61 of 1973); “further education and training” means all learning and training programmes leading to qualifications at levels 2 to 4 of the National Qualifications Framework or such further education and training levels determined by SAQA and contemplated i n the South Aiiican Qualifications Authority Act, 1995 (Act No. 58 of 1995), which levels are above general education but below higher education; “general education” means the compulsory school attendance phase contem- plated in section 3 of the South African Schools Act; “Head of Department” means the head of a provincial department of education; “higher education” means higher education as defined in the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No.101 of 1997); “Labour Relations Act” means the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995); “lecturer” means any person who teaches, educates or trains other persons or who provides professional educational services at any college, and who is appointed in a post on any lecturer establishment under this Act; “local juristic person” means a person established as a juristic person in South Africa in terms of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act No. 61 of 1973); “management staff’ means the principal and vice-principal of a public college; “Member of the Executive Council” means the Member of the Executive Council of a province who is responsible for education in that province; 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 10 No. 29469 Act No, 16,2006 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 1 I DECEMBER 2006 FURTHER EDUCATlON AND TRAINING COLLEGES ACT, 2006 “Minister” means the Minister of Education; “National Qualifications Framework” means the National Qualifications Framework as defined in the South African Qualifications Authority Act, 1995 (Act No. 58 of 1995); “NBFET” means the National Board for Further Education and Training, established by regulation in terms of section I 1 of the National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No. 27 of 1996); “organ of state” means an organ of state as defined in section 239 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996; &< policy” means- (a) policy determined by the Minister in terms of the National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No. 27 of 1996); or (6) policy determined by the Member of the Executive Council in terms of a provincial law; 5 10 “prescribed” means prescribed by regulation made in terms of section 5 1 ; “principal” means the chief executive and accounting officer of a public college, and includes a rector of a public college; “private college” means any college that provides further education and training on a full-time, part-time or distance basis and which is registered or provisionally registered as a private college under this Act; “PSCBC” means the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council established in terms of the Labour Relations Act; “public college” means any college that provides further education and training on a full-time, part-time or distance basis and which is- (a) established or regarded as having been established as a public college under 25 20 15 this Act; or (6) declared as a public college under this Act; “Public Service Act” means the Public Service Act, 1994 (Proclamation No. 103 of 1994); “SAQA” means the South African Qualifications Authority, established by section 30 3 of the South African Qualifications Authority Act, 1995 (Act No. 58 of 1995); “school” means a school as defined in the South African Schools Act; “South African Schools Act” means the South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996); “staff’ means persons employed at a public college; “student” means any person registered as a student at a college; “support staff’ includes staff who render- (a) academic support services; (6) student support services; (c) human resource management; (d) financial management; (e) administration; (f) (g) catering services; and (h) security services; “this Act” includes any regulation made in terms of section 51; “to provide further education and training” means- (a) to register students for all learning and training programmes leading to qualifications at levels 2 to 4 of the National Qualifications Framework or such further education and training levels determined by SAQA and 50 contemplated in the South African Qualifications Authority Act, 1995 (Act No. 58 of 1995), which levels are above general education but below higher education; and maintenance of the buildings and gardens; 45 40 35 12 No.29469 Act No. 16,2006 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 1 1 DECEMBER 2006 FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING COLLEGES ACT, 2006 (b) to take responsibility for the registration of students, the provision and delivery of the curriculum and the assessment of students; “Umalusi” means the council established by section 4 of the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, 2001 (Act No. 58 of 2001); “vice-principal” includes a vice-rector. 5 Purpose and application of Act 2. (1) The purpose of this Act is to- (a) enable students to acquire- (i) the necessary knowledge; (ii) practical skills; and (iii) applied vocational and occupational competence; and (b) provide students with the necessary attributes required for- (i) employment; (ii) entry to a particular vocation, occupation or trade; or (iii) entry into a higher education institution. (2) This Act applies to all education institutions which have been established or declared a public college or registered as a private college in terms of this Act. CHAPTER 2 PUBLIC COLLEGES Establishment of public college 10 15 20 3. (1) The Member of the Executive Council may, by notice in the Gazette and from money appropriated for this purpose by the provincial legislature, establish a public college. (2) Every public college is a juristic person. (3) Despite subsection (2) but subject to subsection (4), a public college may not, 25 without the concurrence of the Member of the Executive Council, dispose of or alienate in any manner any movable or immovable property acquired with the financial assistance of the State or grant to any person any real right therein or servitude thereon. (4) The Member of the Executive Council- (a) may determine that certain categories of assets below a certain value may be 30 alienated without his or her concurrence; and (b) must publish the value Contemplated in paragraph (a) by notice in the Gazette. (5) The Head of Department may inspect, and must compile an inventory of all, the assets of a public college. (6) The assets of a public college may not be attached as a result of any legal action 35 taken against the college. Declaration of institution as public college 4. ( I ) The Member of the Executive Council may, by notice in the Gazette, declare any institution providing further education and training as a public college. ( 2 ) The notice contemplated in subsection (1) must determine- 40 (a) the date on which the institution becomes a public college; (b) the name of the public college; and (c) the physical location and the official address of the public college. (3) The Member of the Executive Council may act in terms of subsection (1) only- 14 ~ No. 29469 Act No. 16,2006 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11 DECEMBER 2006 ~~-~~ FURTHER EDUCATION AND TKAlNlNG COLLEGES ACT, 2006 (a) (i) after consulting the Minister and the council of the institution, if it is a public institution; (ii) with the concurrence of the responsible Minister, Member of the Executive Council or authority of the institution, if the institution is administered, controlled or funded by an organ of State other than the provincial department of education; or (iii) with the concurrence of the owner and the relevant Member of the Executive Council responsible for finance, if it is a private institution; and (b) after having- 5 10 (i) published a notice in one or more newspapers circulalhg in the area in which the institution provides further education and training, containing the reasons for the declaration referred to in subsection (1); (ii) given any interested person an opportunity to make representations; and (iii) considered such representations. 15 Consequences of declaration as public college 5. ( I ) From the date determined in terms of section 4(2)(a)-- (a) the institution in question is regarded as being a public college established under this Act; (b) the assels, liabilities, rights and obligations of the institution vest in the public 20 college; and (c) any agreement lawfully entered into by or on behalf of the institution must be regarded as having been concluded by the public college. (2) (a) Immovable property vesting in the public college in terms of subsection (l)(b) must, subject to the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, be transferred into its name without payment by it of any transfer duty, stamp duty or other duty or costs due to the State, but subject to any existing right, encumbrance or trust on or over that property. (b) Any fees charged by the Registrar of Deeds resulting from a transfer contemplated in paragraph (a) must be paid in full or in part from funds appropriated by the provincial legislature for that purpose. (3) The officer in charge of a deeds office or other office where the immovable property contemplated in subsection (2) is registered must, on submission of the title deed and on application by the public college, make such endorsements on that title deed and such entries in the registers as may be required to register the transfer in question. (4) The declaration of an institution as a public college in terms of section 4( 1) does not affect anything lawfully done by the institution before the declaration. (5) All funds which, immediately before the date determined in terms of section 4(2)(a), were vested in the institution by virtue of a trust, donation or bequest must be applied by the public college in accordance with the trust, donation or bequest, as the case may be. (6) The Member of the Executive Council must in the notice contemplated in section 3( I ) establish an interim council for the public college for a period not exceeding six months to perform the functions relating to the governance of the college until a council is established in terms of section 9( 1). (7) The Member of the Executive Council may extend the period referred to in subsection (6) once for a further period not exceeding six months. (8) The composition of the interim council must be in accordance with section 10(4) 25 30 35 40 45 and (7). (9) The interim council must co-opt three members of the interim management contemplated in subsection (10)(a) and these co-opted members have no voting powers. (IO) Apart from the functions contemplated in subsection (6), the interim council 50 must in particular- (a) appoint an interim body to manage the day-to-day activities of the college; and (b) ensure that such other structures as may be determined in terms of this Act are constituted. 55 16 No. 29469 Act No. 16,2006 GOVERNMENT GAZEITE, 1 I DECEMBER 2006 FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING COLLEGES ACT. 2006 ( 1 I ) Any decision of the interim council which may affect the right of any structure of the public college, may only be taken after consultation with such structure. (12) Despite sections 197 and 197A of the Labour Relations Act, contracts of employment between the institution and its employees are transferred automatically on declaration of an institution as a public college as from the date of the declaration contemplated in section 4, but any redeployment of an employee as a consequence of the declaration is subject to applicable labour legislation. Merger of public colleges 6. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Member of the Executive Council may, in consultation with the Minister and by notice in the Gazette, merge two or more public colleges into a single college. (2) Before merging two or more public colleges the Member of the Executive Council must- (a) give written notice to the colleges in question of the intention to merge them; (b) publish a notice giving the reasons for the proposed merger in one or two newspapers circulating in the area in which the colleges in question are si tuared; 5 to 15 (c) give the councils of the colleges in question and any other interested persons an opportunity to make representations within at least 90 days from the date of the notice referred to in paragraph (6); and 20 (d) consider such representations. (3) The single college contemplated in subsection (1) is regarded as a public college established under this Act. (4) Section 5( l)(b), (2), (3), (4) and (5) apply with the necessary changes required by the context to a merger contemplated in subsection (1). ( 5 ) The Member of the Executive Council must, after consultation with the councils of the public colleges that are to be merged, determine by notice contemplated in subsection ( 1 )-- ( a ) the date of establishment of the college; (6) the name of the college; and (c) the physical location and o6cial address of the college. 25 30 (6) The councils of the colleges that are merged must have a meeting before the merger to constitute a single interim council comprising of all members of the councils concerned for a period not exceeding six months. (7) The Member of the Executive Council may extend the period referred to in 35 subsection (6) once for a further period not exceeding six months. (8) Despite sections 197 and 197A of the Labour Relations Act, the contracts of employment between the institution and its employees are transferred automatically to the merged single public college as from the date of the merger contemplated in subsection ( l ) , but any redeployment of an employee as a consequence of the merger is subject to applicable labour legislation. (9) If two or more public colleges are merged into a single public college as contemplated in subsection (l), all the rights and obligations between the former employers and each employee at the time of the merger continue in force as if' they were rights and obligations between the new employer and each employee and anything done before the merger by or in relation to the former employers is considered to have been done by or in relation to the new employer. 40 45 (IO) A merger referred to in subsection ( I ) does not- (a) interrupt the employee's continuity of employment; and (b) affect the liability of any person to be disciplined for, prosecuted for, convicted of or sentenced for any misconduct, crime or offence. 50 (1 1) An employee or a student is subject to the code of conduct and rules applicable to the new single public college as from the date of the merger contemplated in subsection (l), but if any enquiry into incapacity or any proceedings in respect of a charge of misconduct had been instituted or commenced against any employee or student before the date of the merger, such enquiry or proceedings must continue in terms of the codes and rules applicable to the relevant public colleges immediately before the merger. 55 18 No. 29469 Act No. 1 6 , 2 W GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11 DECEMBER 2006 FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING COLLEGES ACT, 2006 (12) Until the new single public college has made a code of conduct or rules, the disciplinary codes and rules of the respective old public colleges are applicable to the respective employees and students. ( I 3) If two or more public colleges are merged into a single public college in terms of subsection (I), the new single public college continues with all academic programmes offered by the former colleges under the rules applicable to the respective colleges immediately before the date of the merger, until such programmes and rules are amended or restructured by the new council. 5 Single council for two or more public colleges 7. (1 ) The Member of the Executive Council may determine that the governance of 10 two or more public colleges must vest in a single council if- (a) it is in the best interests of education and the colleges; (b) it is in the public interest; or ( c ) he or she was so requested by the councils of those colleges. (2) The Member of the Executive Council may not act in terms of subsection (1) 15 unless he or she has- (a) given written notice to the colleges in question of the intention to merge them; (b) given notice in the Gazette of his or her intention so to act; (c) given the councils of the colleges in question and interested parties an opportunity to make written submissions to him or her within a period of not 20 less than 90 days; and (d) considered all such submissions. (3) The Member of the Executive Council must, by notice in the Gazette, determine the composition of the single council in a manner that ensures that- ( a ) each public college is equitably represented; and (6) it complies with section 10(6), (7) and (9). (4) Any council that is the subject of a notice in terms of subsection (2) continues to exist until the first meeting of the single council constituted in terms of this section. 25 Closure of public college 8. ( I ) The Member of the Executive Council may, by notice in the Gazette, close a 30 public college. ( 2 ) The Member of the Executive Council may not act in terms of subsection (1) unless he or she has- (a) consulted with the Minister; (0) given written notice to the college in question of the intention to close it; (c) given notice in the Gazette of his or her intention so to act; (d) given the council of the college in question and interested parties an opportunity to make written representations within a period of not less than 90 days; and (e) considered those representations. (3) If a public college is closed under subsection (1)- (a) all assets and liabilities of such college must, after such closure, be dealt with according to law by the Member of the Executive Council; and (b) any assets remaining after payment of all liabilities vest in the Member of the Executive Council. (4) Subsections (2) to (5) of section 5 and section 6(2) apply with the necessary changes required by the context to a closure referred to in subsection (1). 35 40 45 20 No. 29469 Act No. 16,2006 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11 DECEMBER 2006 FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING COLLEGES ACT, 2006 CHAPTER 3 GOVERNANCE OF PUBLIC COLLEGES Public college governance structures 9. ( I ) Every public college must establish a council, an academic board and a student representative council. 5 (2) Every public college may establish such other structures as may be determined in the college statute. (3) The structures referred to in subsection ( I ) must elect a chairperson, vice- chairperson and other office-bearers from among its members in accordance with the college statute. 10 (4) A member of a structure contemplated in subsection (1)- (a) holds office for a period of five years: Provided that such a member remains eligible to be a member of that structure; and (6) may not serve for more than two consecutive terms of office. (5) The procedures for the disqualification, removal and filling of vacancies must be 15 determined in the college statute. (6) The council may not establish or create any juristic person in terms of any other legislation or common law. Council of public college 10. ( I ) The council of a public college must perform all the functions, including the 20 development of a college statute, which are necessary to govern the public college, subject to this Act and any applicable national or provincial law. ( 2 ) The council must, with the concurrence of the academic board- (a) develop a strategic plan for the public college which must- (i) incorporate the mission, vision, goals and planning for funding of the 25 college; (ii) address past imbalances and gender and disability matters; (iii) include safety measures for a safe learning environment for students, lecturers and support staff; and (iv) be approved by the Member of the Executive Council; (b) determine the language policy of the public college, subject to the approval of the Member of the Executive Council; and (c) ensure that the public college complies with accreditation requirements necessary to provide learning programmes in terms of standards and qualifications as registered on the National Qualifications Framework. (3) The council, after consultation with the student representative council, must provide for a suitable structure to advise on policy for student support services within the public college. 30 35 (4) The council of a public college consists of- (a) the principal; (bJ five external persons appointed by the Member of the Executive Council; (c) one member of the academic board elected by the academic board; (d) one external member representing donors; ( e ) one lecturer of the public college, elected by the lecturers of the college; (f) one memher of the support staff of the public college, elected by the support 45 40 (g) staR and two students of the public college, elected by the student representative council of the public college. (5) The chairperson, vice-chairperson or other office-bearers of the council may not be students or members of the staff of the college, but the secretary may be a member of 50 Staff. 22 No.29469 Act No. 16,2006 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11 DECEMBER 2006 FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAlNING COLLEGES ACT, 2006 (6) The council must, in consultation with the Member of the Executive Council, appoint four additional external persons with financial, human resources and legal skills as members of the council. (7) The manner in which the members of the council contemplated in subsection (4)(c) to (g) are to be elected, must, where applicable, be determined by the Member of the Executive Council by notice in the Gazette or in terms of a provincial law and must, in so far as it is practically possible, ensure that- ( a ) the functions of the council or interim council are performed according to the highest professional standards; (b) the council or interim council is broadly representative of the further (c) education and training system and related interests; the members have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the further education and training sector; (d) the members appreciate the role of further education and training in reconstruction and development; and ( e ) the council is broadly representative of the community served by the public college in respect of race, gender and disability. (8) At least 60 per cent of the members of a council must be external persons who are not- ( a ) students or support staff of the public college; ( b ) employed by the Member of the Executive Council; (c) employed by the college. (9) The members of a council or an interim council- (a) must be persons with knowledge and experience relevant to the objects and governance of the public college in question; and (6) must participate in the deliberations of the council or interim council in the best interest of the public college in question. (10) The Member of the Executive Council must- 5 10 15 20 25 (a) by notice in the Gazette, or by any other reasonably practicable means, invite nominations for the appointment of the members contemplated in subsection (4)(b); and 30 (b) consider the nominations and appoint the members with due regard to the criteria contemplated in this section. Academic board of public college 11. (1) The academic board of a public college is accountable to the council for- (a) the academic functions of the public college and the promotion of the participation of women and the disabled in the learning programmes; (b) establishing internal academic monitoring and quality promotion mechanism; (c) ensuring that the requirements of accreditation to provide learning against standards and qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Frame- work are met; and (d) performing such other functions as may be delegated or assigned to it by the 35 40 council. ( 2 ) Subject to the approval of the council and to any applicable policy, the academic board must determine the learning programmes Contemplated in section 43 that will be offered at the public college. 45 ( 3 ) The academic board of a public college consists of- lecturers; (a) the principal; (6) the vice-principal or vice-principals; (c) (d) members of the council; ( e ) members of the student representative council; and (fl such additional persons as may be determined by the council. (4) The number of persons contemplated in subsection (3)(c), (d), ( e ) and cfl and the manner in which they are appointed or elected, as the case may be, must be determined by the council in accordance with the college statute. (5) The majority of the members of the academic board must be lecturers. 50 55 24 No. 29469 Act Nu. 16,2006 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, I 1 DECEMBER 2006 FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING COLLEGES ACT, 2006 Committees of council and academic board 12. ( 1 ) The council may- (a) establish a committee to assist it in the performance of its functions; and (6) appoint a person who is not a member of the council as member of the committee. (2) The chairperson of a Committee must be a member of the council. (3) The council is not divested of the responsibility for the performance of any function delegated to a committee. (4) The council must determine the- (a) composition of a committee; (bj functions of a committee; ( c ) procedure at meetings; and (d) dissolution of a committee. 5 10 (5) Subsections (1) to (4) apply with the necessary changes to the academic board. (6) The council and the academic board may jointly establish a committee to assist 15 them in the performance of functions that are common to the council and the academic board. (7) Subsections ( 1 ) to (4) apply with the necessary changes to a joint committee established in terms of subsection (6). Principal of public college 20