Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma has appointed a Commission of Inquiry to look into the broader issues affecting the funding of higher education.
The announcement of the commission on Thursday comes after the President’s meeting in October 2015 with vice chancellors, chairpersons of university councils, presidents of student representative councils and representatives of student organisations to discuss concerns with regard to fee increases and funding of higher education.
After that meeting, the President said government would lead a process that will look at the broader issues affecting the funding of higher education, taking into account other efforts that are already underway in this matter.
On Monday, 11 January, Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande said government has set aside an additional R6.912 billion to support university education. He said government had listened to the concerns raised by university students last year during their march against university fee increases.
The President has appointed the Commission of Inquiry in terms of Section 84(2)(f) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
The commission will be chaired by Honourable Justice Jonathan Arthur Heher, a former judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal. Judge Heher was appointed as a judge of the High Court in 1993 and as a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2003. He retired from the bench in 2013. Judge Heher will be assisted by Adv Gregory Ally and Ms Leah Thabisile Khumalo as Commissioners.
Adv. Ally was admitted to the bar in 1990. Ms Khumalo is a practising attorney and is a founder and Director of Mngoma–Mlaba Khuloa Inc.
The commission will enquire into, make findings, report on and make recommendations on the following:
1. The feasibility of making higher education and training fee-free in South Africa, having regard to:
1.1. the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, all relevant higher and basic education legislation, all findings and recommendations of the various Presidential and Ministerial Task Teams, as well as all relevant educational policies, reports and guidelines;
1.2. the multiple facets of financial sustainability, analysing and assessing the role of government together with its agencies, students, institutions, business sector and employers in funding higher education and training; and
1.3. the institutional independence and autonomy which should occur vis a vis the financial funding model.
2. The Commissions Act, 1947 (Act No. 8 of 1947), shall apply to the commission, subject to such modifications and exemptions as may be specified by proclamation from time to time.
3. The commission shall submit interim reports and recommendations to the President whenever it is necessary.
4. The commission must complete its work within a period of eight months from the date hereof and must submit its final report to the President within a period of two months after the date on which the commission completes its work.
5. Regulations will be made in terms of the Commissions Act, 1947 and will apply to the commission to enable it to carry out its investigation properly and to facilitate the gathering of information by conferring on the commission such powers as are necessary, including the power to enter premises, secure the attendance of witnesses and compel the production of documents.
6. The terms of reference may be amended at any time in consultation with the commissioners.
7. All organs of State, institutions and stakeholders are required to cooperate fully with the commission.
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