ATC140327: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology on its activities undertaken during the 4th Parliament (May 2009 – March 2014), dated 12 March 2014.

Science and Technology

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology on its activities undertaken during the 4th Parliament (May 2009 – March 2014), dated 12 March 2014.

Key highlights

1. Reflection on committee programme per year and on whether the objectives of such programmes were achieved

The initial briefings to the Committee focussed on the mandate and work programme of the Department of Science and Technology (the Department) and the entities that report to it. These briefings allowed the Committee to identify the critical issues regarding the science, technology and innovation (STI) sector. These critical issues and the parliamentary term programmes informed the planning of the Committee’s term programmes and oversight visits. Overall, the Committee achieved what it had set out to do in the 4 th Parliament. Nevertheless, it would of preferred to have had even greater engagement with the entities reporting to the Department and conducted more oversight visits, these jointly with other interested and affected parliamentary committees, if the parliamentary programme had allowed time and space for these to be undertaken.

The general structure of the Committee’s term programmes, which would accordingly be amended when the National Assembly referred matters to the Committee, was as follows:

First term - The Committee considered the impact of the State of the Nation Address on the STI sector and refined its programme in this regard, and considered the budget allocation to the Department. Briefings on topical issues, legislatively mandated issues (for example, monitoring performance and expenditure for the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report) and/or oversight visits were also undertaken.

Second term: The Committee considered the Strategic Plans and Annual Performance Plans of the Department and the entities. Briefings on topical issues, legislatively mandated issues (for example, monitoring performance and expenditure for the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report) and/or oversight visits were also undertaken.

Third term: The Committee planned briefings on topical issues; legislatively mandated issues (for example, monitoring performance and expenditure for the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report) and/or oversight visits were also undertaken.

Fourth term: The Committee evaluated the performance of the Department and entities as documented in the Annual Reports and engaged with the Office of the Auditor-General on these matters. The Committee then compiled its Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report, which was submitted to the National Assembly.

2. Committee’s focus areas during the 4 th Parliament

· STI human capital development;

· Transformation of the STI sector;

· Adequate funding of the STI sector;

· Increased public awareness and understanding of the STI sector;

· The impact of STI on the development of society and in particular on rural development;

· The mandated roles and areas of responsibility of the various national departments and stakeholders in the STI sector;

· Enhancing the international standing and profile of South African STI; and

· The enabling environment created by the STI policy, legislative and strategy framework.

The Committee also exercised consistent monitoring and evaluation of the following high-value projects:

· The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Radio Telescope and the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT);

· The development of a vaccine for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other medical science initiatives funded by the Department;

· The progress of the PhD project, the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) and other human capital development initiatives;

· The operationalisation of the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) as the two new entities established during the 4 th Parliament;

· The development of the Bioeconomy Strategy;

· The development of South Africa’s satellite building capacity and the use of satellite imagery for improved environmental and settlement planning and monitoring;

· The implementation of the five Grand Challenges; and

· The progress with and implementation of the recommendations of the Ministerial Review of the STI Landscape and the reviews conducted on the activities of the entities and projects.

3. Key areas for future work

· The critical issues focussed on during the 4 th Parliament will require continued monitoring and the strategies, plans and programmes developed and implemented to improve the current situation will have to be consistently evaluated;

· The role of the Department and its entities in the national infrastructure development plan must be interrogated, monitored and evaluated;

· The legislative review process embarked on by the Department, which will span the next two to three years;

· The Implementation of the Bioeconomy Strategy;

· The development of other key strategies, for example, the strategy to increase investment in research and development (R&D);

· The enhancement of intergovernmental and stakeholder relations so that successful pilot projects in support of technology solutions can be scaled up to the benefit of all South African communities;

· Strengthen the role of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI);

· The impact of the current Innovation Instruments (TIA, National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), Offices of Technology Transfer (OTTs), and Centres of Competence (CoCs);

· The development of SKA and MeerKAT;

· The development of South Africa’s next satellite and a satellite industry;

· Regional and international STI initiatives and collaboration;

· Measures to improve the co-ordination of the National System of Innovation (NSI);

· The establishment of the five new Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and the impact the existing CoEs has had;

· Beneficiation of natural resources where South Africa has geographic and competitive advantage, for example, Platinum Group Metals, Fluorspar and Titanium;

· How the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act (No. 21 of 2007) and its regulations will protect our designated astronomy advantage areas from the impacts of hydraulically fracturing the Karoo shale reserves for gas; and

· Infrastructure for STI.

4. Key challenges emerging

· Some briefings were scientifically technical and incorporated lots of scientific jargon; making it difficult to fully understand what was presented;

· Although copious amounts of information on various STI topics and initiatives are available; information specific to the Department, its entities and projects were not always available electronically on the internet, which is the fastest way of accessing information needed within a short space of time; and

· For a number of R&D initiatives, the distinction between the roles, responsibilities and collaborative efforts of the Department, its entities and partners was not always clear.

5. Recommendations

· Due the cross-cutting nature of science, briefings and oversight visits should, where applicable, include all interested and affected parliamentary committees;

· The Committee may need to consider additional meeting times to accommodate increased interaction with the Department’s entities;

· Due to the complexity of STI and the NSI, the Committee should consider incorporating briefings and/or workshops with experts in the fields of measuring STI performance and impact and evaluating STI policy; and

· Greater interaction with the STI industry would provide the Committee with information regarding the impact of STI policies aimed at growing this sector of the economy.

· The Committee be included, by the Department, in more initiatives geared to market and communicate the impact of STI initiatives; and

· The Committee should consider and investigate strategies to enhance public understanding of and involvement in S&T by, for example, hosting its own programme in support of key national events like National Science Week.

1. Introduction

1.1 Department and Entities falling within the ambit of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology

The Department of Science and Technology (the Department), first established as a national government department in 2004, aims to create a prosperous society that derives sustainable and equitable benefits from South Africa’s investment in science, technology and innovation (STI). Hence, the Department is responsible for the development, co-ordination and management of a National System of Innovation (NSI) that seeks to transform South Africa’s economy from being resource-based to a knowledge economy. The 1996 White Paper on Science and Technology (the 1996 White Paper), the 2002 National Research and Development Strategy, the 2004 New Strategic Management Model for South Africa’s Science and Technology System and the 2007 Ten-Year Innovation Plan, inform the Department’s mandate. The 1996 White Paper was the first policy document to introduce the concept of a NSI. The NSI comprises all the role-players and stakeholders of the science and technology system and links these to social and economic activity to support and promote the attainment of national objectives.

a) Department of Science and Technology

The Department’s five strategic goals are:

· To develop the innovation capacity of the NSI and thereby contribute to socio-economic development;

· To enhance South Africa’s knowledge-generation capacity in order to produce world-class research outputs and turn some advanced findings into innovation products and processes;

· To develop appropriate STI human capital to meet the needs of society;

· To build world-class STI infrastructure to extend the frontiers of knowledge, train the next generation of researchers and enable technology development and transfer as well as knowledge interchange; and

· To position South Africa as a strategic international research, development and innovation (RDI) partner and destination through the exchange of knowledge, capacity and resources between South Africa and its regional and other international partners, thereby strengthening the NSI.

The Department contributes to and reports on the following government outcomes:

· Outcome 2: A long and healthy life for all South Africans;

· Outcome 4: Decent employment through inclusive economic growth;

· Outcome 5: A skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path;

· Outcome 7: Vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities and food security for all; and

· Outcome 10: Environmental assets and natural resources that is well protected and continually enhanced.

During the 4 th Parliament, the Department undertook an extensive review of the STI landscape and its readiness to meet the needs of South Africa. A Ministerial Review Committee was established in 2010 with the specific mandate to report and advise the Minister on the extent to which the recommendations of the 2007 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) review of the NSI have been acted upon; the current performance of the STI system and to make appropriate recommendations on steps necessary to strengthen the NSI. The report of the Ministerial Review Committee, finalised in mid-2012, made extensive recommendations regarding improvements to the NSI. The Department established a Working Committee to review the recommendations and decide which would be implemented and how. This work remains ongoing. A key outcome of this process was the hosting, by the Department, of the first Science, Technology and Innovation Summit in July 2013.

b) Entities

During the 4 th Parliament, the following entities reported to the Department:

· National Research Foundation;

· Council for Scientific and Industrial Research;

· Human Sciences Research Council;

· Academy of Science of South Africa;

· National Advisory Council on Innovation;

· Africa Institute of South Africa – The President assented to the Africa Institute of South Africa Act Repeal Act (No. 21 of 2013) on 9 December 2013. This entity is being incorporated into the Human Sciences Research Council as an in-house research centre;

· South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions;

· Technology Innovation Agency – was a new entity established by the promulgation of the Technology Innovation Act (No. 26 of 2008). It became operational during the 2009/10 financial year and was officially launched in November 2010; and

· South African National Space Agency – was a new entity established by the promulgation of the South African National Space Agency Act (No. 36 of 2008). It was operationalised during a 3-phase process, with the final phase (fully operational) effected during the 2012/13 financial year.

c) Entities

Name of Entity

Role of Entity

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

CSIR is governed by the Scientific Research Council Act, 1988. Its mandate is to foster industrial and scientific development in national interest, through multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, either by itself or in partnership with public and private sector institutions.

National Research Foundation (NRF)

The NRF was established by the National Research Foundation Act, 1998. Its objective is to support and promote research through funding, human resource development and the provision of the necessary research facilities for the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of S&T, including indigenous knowledge. In this way the NRF contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of all South Africans.

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

The HSRC, governed by the HSRC Act, 1968 is a statutory body mandated to undertake, promote and co-ordinate policy-relevant, problem-orientated research in the human and social sciences. Its research activities and structures are aligned to South Africa’s national development priorities, notably poverty reduction through economic development, skills enhancement, job creation, the elimination of discrimination and inequalities, and effective service delivery. The HSRC is poised to play a key role in the implementation of the Cabinet-approved Ten-Year Innovation Plan (2008-2018), particularly in relation to the grand challenge of human and social dynamics.

Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)

TIA’s object is to support and enable technological innovation across different sectors of the economy in order to achieve socio-economic benefits through structural financial and non-financial interventions, development and maintenance of human capacity for innovation, building a culture of innovation and leveraging local and international partnerships.

South African National Space Agency (SANSA)

Established in terms of the South African National Space Agency Act to promote the peaceful use of space, co-operation in space related activities and foster research in space science.

Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)

ASSAf was established through the ASSAf Act 2001. Its objectives are to promote common ground for scientific thinking across all disciplines, to promote innovation and independent scientific thinking, to promote the development of the intellectual capacity of all people, and to link SA with scientific communities at the highest levels, particularly in Africa. The Academy publishes scientific reports, investigates matters of public interest about science, and manages South African journals.

Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA)

AISA is established in terms of the AISA Act, 2001. It focuses primarily on political, socio-economic, international and development issues in contemporary Africa, and contributes to the goals of the NSI through research programmes which impact on knowledge production, human resource development ( especially developing capacity in African studies, a scarce resource in South Africa), social science, and innovation.

National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI)

NACI was created by legislation to advise the Minister of Science and Technology, and through the Minister, the Cabinet, on the role and contribution of science, mathematics, innovation and technology, including indigenous technologies, in promoting and achieving national objectives.

1.2 Functions of committee

Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa sets the mandate of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology (the Committee), which is also aligned to the mission and vision of Parliament. Hence, the Committee must:

· Consider, amend and/or initiate legislation that is specific to, or impacts on STI;

· Monitor and oversee the financial and non-financial performance of the Department and its entities;

· Monitor and oversee the implementation of the Department’s policies and legislation;

· Consider and review the strategic plans and budgets of the Department and its entities;

· Consider sector-related international treaties and agreements; and

· Provide a platform for the public to participate and present views on specific topics and/or legislation in relation to the STI sector.

1.3 Method of work of the committee

The Committee held weekly meetings on Wednesdays (allotted slot) as per each Committee Term programme to:

· Engage the Department and its entities on topical issues and other legislative mandates;

· Consider Strategic Plans, Annual Performance Plans (APPs), Budgets and Annual Reports of the Department and its entities;

· Oversee the implementation of the Department and entities’ programmes and budgetary use as per the APPs for each relevant Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period;

· Consider legislation as tabled;

· Engage the Department on government priorities as per the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF);

· Undertake oversight visits to provinces and entities; and

· Engage other relevant government departments and institutions, for example, the Auditor-General, on issues related to the science and technology sector.

1.4 Purpose of the report

The purpose of this report is to provide an account of the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology’s work during the 4 th Parliament and to inform the members of the new Parliament of key outstanding issues pertaining to the oversight and legislative programme of the Department of Science and Technology and its entities.

This report provides an overview of the activities the committee undertook during the 4 th Parliament, the outcome of key activities, as well as any challenges that emerged during the period under review and issues that should be considered for follow up during the 5 th Parliament. It summarises the key issues for follow-up and concludes with recommendations to strengthen operational and procedural processes to enhance the committee’s oversight and legislative roles in future.

2. Key statistics

The table below provides an overview of the number of meetings held, legislation and international agreements processed and the number of oversight trips and study tours undertaken by the committee, as well as any statutory appointments the committee made, during the 4 th Parliament:

Activity

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

Total

Meetings held

21

27

22

28

28

126

Legislation processed

0

0

1

0

2

3

Oversight trips undertaken

0

5

2

1

1

9

Study tours undertaken

0

0

0

1

0

1

International agreements processed

0

1

0

0

0

1

Interventions considered

0

0

0

0

0

0

Petitions considered

0

0

0

0

0

0

3. Stakeholders

None

4. Briefings and/or public hearings

· STI human capital development;

· Transformation of the STI sector;

· Adequate funding of the STI sector;

· Increased public awareness and understanding of the STI sector;

· The impact of STI on the development of society and in particular on rural development;

· The mandated roles and areas of responsibility of the various national departments and stakeholders in the STI sector;

· Enhancing the international standing and profile of South African STI;

· The enabling environment created by the STI policy, legislative and strategy framework;

· The progress with and implementation of the recommendations of the Ministerial Review of the STI Landscape;

· Audit opinions and the events that lead to material findings and matters of emphasis – especially regarding TIA;

· Monitor the incorporation of AISA into the HSRC and ensure that AISA’s research focus is strengthened; and

· The review of TIA and the forensic investigation into its financial matters.

The Committee did not conduct any public hearings during the 4 th Parliament.

5. Legislation

The following pieces of legislation were referred to the committee and processed during the 4 th Parliament:

Year

Name of Legislation

Tagging

Objectives

Completed/Not Completed

2009/10

None

2010/11

None

2011/12

Science and Technology Laws Amendment Bill

S75

To effect technical corrections to the principal Act and to the strengthening of institutional oversight and governance.

completed

2012/13

None

2013/14

Africa Institute of South Africa Act Repeal Bill

Science and Technology Laws Amendment Bill

S75

S75

To provide for the disestablishment of the Africa Institute of South Africa; to provide for the transfer of assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of the Institute; to repeal the Africa Institute of South Africa Act.

The Bill seeks to streamline the process for the nomination and appointment of members of the Board or Council of the entities. It also seeks to harmonise the process for the appointment of chairpersons of the boards or councils of such entities, as well as their chief executive officers.

completed

completed

a) Challenges emerging

AISA Act Repeal Bill (B 6 – 2013):

· The Bill sought to repeal the AISA Act (No. 68 of 2001) and disestablish AISA as a legal entity. During the deliberations on the Bill, the Department stated that AISA would be incorporated into the HSRC as an in-house research centre. The Committee then questioned whether the incorporation should not be included in the Bill. The Department, on advice from the Office of the State Law Advisor, did not include the act of incorporation in the Bill, but assured the Committee that since it did not want to lose AISA’s expertise and assets, incorporation within the HSRC was a strategic imperative; and

· A provision in the Bill required that AISA’s MTEF budget allocation be ring-fenced within the HSRC’s budget. Since the provision would bind Parliament to a future budget allocation irrespective of the prevailing economic circumstances, it was removed. Parliament votes annually on budgetary allocations to Departments and entities. The Committee advised the Department to enter into an administrative agreement with AISA and the HSRC to ensure that incorporation plans were adequately supported.

Science and Technology Laws Amendment Bill (B 36 – 2013):

· The Bill sought to streamline many processes related to the Boards and Councils of science councils and entities. However, during the Committee’s deliberations on the Bill, the Committee discovered many inconsistencies with the stated intention of the Bill. These inconsistencies required the Committee to make a series of additional amendments; and

· One of the streamlining processes was to remove the National Assembly’s consultation role when members of Boards and Councils are appointed for specific science councils. The Committee, wishing to ensure that its oversight role was not diminished, included provisions requiring the Minister of Science and Technology to, within 30 days of the appointment or reappointment of a member of a Board or Council, submit a report to the National Assembly relating to the matter. In addition, the same applies when a Board or Council is dissolved and when regulations are promulgated.

b) Issues for follow-up

The 5 th Parliament should consider following up on the following concerns/obligations that arose:

· Monitor the incorporation of AISA into the HSRC and ensure that AISA’s research focus is strengthened;

· The Science and Technology Laws Amendment Bill (B 36 – 2013) amends seven Acts. This Bill is part of a legislative review process that, as stated by the Department, will span two to three years and would; therefore, require ongoing monitoring by the 5 th Parliament;

· To track and record the reports submitted by the Minister to keep the Committee informed of decisions regarding the Boards and Councils of science councils and entities; and

· To track and record the reports submitted by the Minister to keep the Committee informed of any regulations promulgated.

6. Oversight trips undertaken

The following oversight trips were undertaken:

Date

Area Visited

Objective

Recommendations

Responses to Recommendations

Status of Report

1-3 February 2010

Visit to the PlantBio National Innovation Centre for Plant Biotechnology and the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) in Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria respectively

The main purpose of the visit was to strengthen the Committee’s understanding of entities and programmes falling under or operating in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

The Committee acknowledged that their knowledge around the details of existing biotechnology projects and programmes was limited.

The Committee resolved to engage with the relevant structures under DST and NRF to explain what biotechnology awareness programmes exist and how it is promoted at the different levels in our society (educators, learners, consumers, communities).

Follow-up briefings on issues relating to biotechnology.

The Committee was encouraged to incorporate more visits to other biotechnology initiatives, specifically those falling under the Biotechnology Innovation Centre’s (BIC’s) in their programme.

Published

5 May 2010

Visit to the MeerKAT Project Office in Pinelands

Main purpose of the visit was to receive brief on developments relating to the building of the MeerKAT telescope.

The Committee was generally happy with the update provided. No specific recommendation.

Minutes submitted for this meeting.

22 July 2010.

Visit to the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) in Rondebosch, Cape Town.

The objectives of the visit to CHPC were to ascertain the extent to which:

§ the use of advanced computational technologies contributes to the advancement of scientific boundaries by enabling world-class research;

§ technology is used to foster innovation through partnerships for training a new generation of skilled researchers in areas underpinned by high performance computing and data curation, particularly those of strategic national and continental importance;

§ public-private partnerships are promoted and high performance computing are utilised by the commercial sector.

Committee saw this project as an opportunity for consultative relationships and collaborative projects with the Departments of Basic and Higher Education.

Published

4-6 August 2010

Visit to the Offices of DST, TIA, CSIR and the Satellite Applications Centre in Pretoria

Oversight on functions and operations of DST and entities.

Published

24 -25 October 2010

Visit to the Human Sciences Research Council

Annual report oversight

Formed part of Budget Review Report

29 - 30 March 2011

Visit to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) in Carnarvon and the South African Large Telescope (SALT) in Sutherland

The main purpose of the visit was for the Committee to familiarise themselves with the locations for the telescopes and also to deepen their understanding of the different projects. SALT and SKA were two examples of Government’s efforts to exploit South Africa’s geographic advantage for astronomy-related research, and to harness the benefits of astronomy science and technology for socio-economic growth and sustainable development. The visit followed the DST’s detailed brief on the progress with regard to SKA.

The DST should continue to keep the Committee informed regarding progress leading-up to the bid to host the international SKA radio-astronomy facility and whether all plans are proceeding apace.

This recommendation was complied with.

Published

29 July to 5 August 2011

Visits to the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South African National Space Agency (SANSA), Hartebeeshoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO), the Cradle for Humankind, the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and the Moses Kotane Institute in Pretoria, Gauteng and Durban respectively, from

§ At TIA , receive a briefing on the status with regard to its operationalisation process and of the migration of entities to TIA;

§ At CSIR, visit the Titanium Centre of Competence unique research facilities; and other research technologies geared towards improved service delivery;

§ At SANSA, to visit the site, and receive a briefing on governance processes, operationalisation overview and space operations;

§ At HartRAO site visit; to enhance members’ understanding of use of facility;

§ At the Cradle for Humankind, to understand the extent of DST’s role in promoting and supporting the study of the palaeoworld.

§ At CAPRISA, in line with government’s priorities to enhance the health of the people this visit was to understand the types of research this organisation was involved with and its impact it has on HIV infected persons.

§ Extend a courteousy visit to the Moses Kotane Institute to see initiatives at provincial level contributing to an economy that creates opportunities for all.

To receive updates on the projects and programmes visited.

Complied with.

Published

4 to 5 September 2012

Visits to the iThemba L aboratory for A ccelerator- B ased S cience (iThemba LABS) in Faure , the Department of Science and Technology (DST)/Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) low cost housing project in Kleinmond, and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Space Science in Hermanus.

NRF governance focus and to view the low-cost housing project.

Parliamentary Committee’s collaborate to ensure that DST projects and programmes are taken forward.

Published

22 to 26 July 2013

Visits to Cofimvaba, the University of Fort Hare, the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), the South African Research Chair (SARChI) for Medicinal Chemistry and Nanotechnology at Rhodes University, the South African (SAEON), Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre, and the KwaNobuhle Essential Oils Project

The Committee visited the Cofimvaba Schools District Technology Project to witness how the introduction of new and tested technologies contributes to the improvement of quality of teaching and learning in rural schools.

The focus of the Committee’s visit at UFH was to enhance its understanding of particular DST initiatives piloted at the University, relating to its Human and Social Dynamics Grand Challenge and the Global Change Grand Challenge.

The KwaNobuhle Essential Oils Project is one of the initiatives implemented by the DST whereby science and technology is used to alleviate poverty.

Parliamentary Committee’s collaborate to ensure that DST projects and programmes are taken forward.

a) Challenges emerging

The following challenges emerged during the oversight visit:

· The dearth of high-level skills and funding was continuously raised as impediments to growing highly technical and specialised fields of science;

· The need for greater co-operation and linkages between the three spheres of government, the industry and academia to ensure that technology solutions developed and/or funded by the Department are scaled-up;

· The Committee continuously urged the Department, science councils and entities to enhance their communication and marketing strategies to enhance public understanding of science and technology;

· Scientifically technical and jargon-laden presentations impeded the Committee’s understanding of some of the research and development projects being undertaken; and

· For a range of programmes being implemented, the linkages and collaborative efforts between, and the roles of the science councils, entities and various stakeholders were not always clearly stated in the presentations.

b) Issues for follow-up

The 5 th Parliament should consider following up on the following concerns that arose:

· Monitor the various programmes to enhance STI human capital development;

· Monitor the development of the research and development investment strategy;

· Monitor the strategies to enhance intergovernmental and stakeholder collaboration;

· Monitor the enhancements to and implementation of the various communication and marketing strategies; and

· Provide clear guidelines as to what the Committee expects from presentations.

7. Study tours undertaken

The following study tour was undertaken:

Date

Places Visited

Objective

Lessons Learned

Status of Report

21 to 30 July 2012

International visit to Brussels, Belgium and Sofia, Bulgaria respectively.

Strengthening and building strong international relations to ensure benefits in science and technology innovation for South Africa.

Members were keen to develop a programme of engagement, through the DST whereby scientists from both countries could collaborate on certain projects of mutual interests.

Published


8. International Agreements:

The following international agreements were processed and reported on:

Date referred

Name of International Agreement

Objective

Status of Report

11/5/10

the South African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)

Further South Africa’s regional and international STI co-operation.

Published

9/10/12

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Swiss Federal Council (Switzerland) on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Republic of France on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of the United Mexican States on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, tabled in terms of section 231(3) of the Constitution, 1996.

Further South Africa’s regional and international STI co-operation.

No report

9. Obligations conferred on committee by legislation

a) Challenges emerging

The following challenges emerged during the statutory appointments:

With regard to the consultation of the National Assembly when the Minister of Science and Technology appoints the Boards of certain science councils, the Committee noted the inconsistencies in the legislation dealing with the processes of appointing Boards within the science and technology sector.

b) Issues for follow-up

The 5th Parliament should consider following up on the following concerns that arose:

The Science and Technology Laws Amendment Bill (B 36 – 2013) seeks to rectify these inconsistencies and provides new processes that the 5th Parliament will have to be cognisant of.

10. Summary of outstanding issues relating to the department/entities that the committee has been grappling with

The following key issues are outstanding from the committee’s activities during the 4 th Parliament:

Responsibility

Issue(s)

Department and TIA

Report of the forensic investigation into TIA’s financial matters and a briefing in this regard

Department and NRF

(1) A full update report and presentation on the PhD project

(2) A full update report and presentation on the transformation of the STI sector

Department and NACI

Presentation on how NACI’s role is going to be strengthened

Documents

No related documents