Prof Bozzoli passes on
required level. The department must urgently work to find a balance in this regard,” said Ms Machwene Semenya, the Chairperson of the committee.
The Joint Constitutional Review Committee received briefings for the amendment of Section 100 of the Constitution that deals with provincial departments being placed under administration by national government.
The committee was briefed by the education lobby group Equal Education and the Equal Education Law Centre. They cited examples of national government intervening in 2011 to place the Eastern Cape Education Department under administration, along with several provincial departments in North West, which were placed under administration in 2018.
The committee heard that currently no clarity exists on the roles and responsibilities once such an intervention is made by national government. Some of the concerns raised by presenters included the lack of clear rules and poor reporting to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on such matters; the lack of oversight by the NCOP and the lack of clarity on when the intervention will end or whether it was effective.
Parliament has lost one of its Members, Prof Belinda Bozzoli, who passed on recently after a long battle with cancer. Prof Bozzoli joined Parliament in 2014 as a Member of the National Assembly. She served on the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology, writes Mava Lukani.
Parliament’s Presiding Officers, led by the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Ms Thandi Modise and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mr Amos Masondo, extended their heartfelt condolences to the Bozzoli family, friends and close relatives of Prof Bozzoli.
“Parliament is left poorer with the passing on of a formidable scholar and a renowned writer who used her knowledge and expertise in the service of the people and advancement of the oversight work of Parliament. She was passionate about the education sector, and despite her ailing health, she continued to serve and contributed immensely to the oversight programme of the committee,” said the Presiding Officers.
They said she leaves behind an indelible mark, which will always be cherished, as it represents the dedication, selflessness and patriotism that South Africa needs to advance development.
The Chairperson of the higher education portfolio committee, Mr Philly Mapulane, said as a member of the committee with extensive and thorough knowledge of the higher education sector, Prof Bozzoli used her knowledge and expertise to conduct thorough and effective oversight over the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
Mr Mapulane added: “Her passion and commitment to her work made her a valuable asset to the committee. The committee will miss her and the frank and straightforward manner in which she conducted her work.”
“HER PASSION AND COMMITMENT TO HER WORK MADE HER A VALUABLE ASSET TO THE COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE WILL MISS HER AND THE FRANK AND STRAIGHTFORWARD MANNER IN WHICH SHE CONDUCTED HER WORK.”