Question NW66 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Reply:

The Department allocates funds to universities through the block grant and earmarked grants, outlined in a Ministerial Statement every year. University budgets are approved by their Councils, who have the decision-making responsibility on budgeting issues. The block grant funding is discretionary, and guided by university’s own budget processes. The earmarked grants are subject to specific reporting requirements, including the Infrastructure and Efficiency Grant (IEG) where the funds benefit the greater university community. The Department therefore does not budget for any inaugural ceremonies at universities. Herewith responses from the three institutions:

(a) The total cost for the Investiture of the VC of Unisa amounted to R648 783.00 amongst other things the cost included the following;

• Live Stream at R127 742
• Catering at R341 167
• Entertainment at R93 000

(b) The total cost for the inauguration of the VC of Fort Hare was R134 050.73. The inauguration of Professor Sakhela Buhlungu in 2017 was a joint inauguration ceremony for the Vice-Chancellor and the Chancellor, Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza, as Advocate Ntsebeza was also newly appointed. The Table below reflects the breakdown of the amounts spent:

Catering	R25 000.00
Academic gown and bonnet: Chancellor*	R33 375.00
Academic gown and bonnet: Vice-Chancellor*	R25 385.00
Courier cost: gowns and bonnets	R350.00
Flights and accommodation for the Chancellor and his spouse	R14 940.73
Draping of the hall and sound system	R35 000.00
TOTAL	R134 050.73

*Although the costs of the gowns and bonnets for the Vice-Chancellor and the Chancellor were once-off payments, this attire is of course always worn by the Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor for all formal academic functions of the University. Although these costs have been included in the calculation of the cost of the inauguration, these costs are therefore not strictly speaking ‘inauguration function costs.’ 

(c) The current UCT Vice-Chancellor was installed as Vice-Chancellor at a UCT graduation ceremony in 2018.  The additional expenses incurred for the installation, over and above those of the graduation ceremony, was in the order of R300 000.