Question NW2698 to the Minister of Human Settlements
22 September 2023 - NW2698
Mphithi, Mr L to ask the Minister of Human Settlements
(1) Whether her Department has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nelson Mandela University; if not, what is the position in this regard, if so, what are the relevant details; (2) Whether she will furnish Mr L Mphiti with a copy of the MoU; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) Whether the MoU involves job opportunities for the students enrolled in a course sponsored by her Department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) and the then Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) currently known as NMU, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on 6 November 2012. The signed MoA provided for the establishment of a Chair of Education in Human Settlements Development Management. The established Chair of Education in Human Settlements Management was responsible, amongst other things, for the design and delivery of a unique professional degree known as the Bachelor of Human Settlements Development Degree. This degree is an undergraduate 4-year integrated multidisciplinary qualification with a focus on human settlements issues. (See Annexure A- MoA)
The partnership was extended for a further two years and an addendum was added to the original Agreement. The addendum extended the scope of the NMMU Chair of Education in Human Settlements and focused on the Capacity Development programme for the Human Settlements Portfolio Committee. (See Annexure B – Addendum).
2. A copy of the MoA and related addendum to the Agreement are attached as Annexure A and B in this response.
3. The expired MoA did not include the provision of job opportunities for the enrolled students that were recipients of the Departmental bursary, because the NDHS already had a Scholarship Implementation Unit that was responsible to facilitate the placement of graduates with Provincial Departments of Human Settlements and Metropolitan Municipalities. The immediate placement of students became a challenge due to the reduction in compensation of employees’ budgets in the different spheres of government, and the impact of COVID 19 on the operational budgets of the Provincial Departments of Human Settlements and the Metropolitan Municipalities.