Page 62 - DUT Annual Report 2024

COUNCIL STATEMENT
ON GOVERNANCE
Council
Chief Executive, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal in line
In accordance with the Regulations for Annual Reporting by Public Higher Education Institutions published in Government Notice No. R. 464 in Government Gazette No. 37726 of 09 June 2014, the DUT Council is required to present this Statement on Governance. In this regard, we provide a brief overview of the University’s governance structures, legal status and corporate governance practice.
The composition, powers and responsibilities of the DUT Council are in accordance with the legal framework provided by the Higher Education Act No. 101 of 1997 (as amended in 2016), and DUT’s Statute. In addition, relevant legislation and approved internal policies and procedures governing the use of public finances are adhered to. The Code of Conduct for Council members serves to regulate the conduct of members of Council, particularly in relation to conflicts of interest. The Code is applied should there be lapses or perceived lapses of good conduct on the part of members of Council.
Complying with this framework ensures that through our Stewardship Perspective of ENVISION2030, and values and principles contained therein, we conduct University business in accordance with the law and professional standards, and finances are safeguarded, properly accounted for, and used prudently. The Chair of Council’s Report explains how the University has complied with the stipulated governance framework for the year 2024.
Council’s responsibilities include ongoing strategic direction for the University, approval of the budget, major developments and policies and the receipt of regular reports from Executive Management on major operations of the University. Council comprises 27 members, 19 (63%) of whom are external members who are neither employees nor students of DUT. The role of the Chairperson of the Council is clearly separated from that of the University’s
with best practice in corporate governance.
Unlike in previous years, Council and its Committees only managed to hold three quarterly meetings instead of four. This was because of emerging governance and management challenges that sought to derail University operations. This led to the suspension of all meetings scheduled for the third quarter, which coincided with litigation arising from governance and management challenges alluded to above. Despite these unfortunate setbacks, Council managed to reconvene for the conclusion of 2024 governance business in November 2024.
Council Committees
In performing its overall oversight over the governance of the University, the DUT Council delegated or assigned its powers and functions – except those specified in applicable legislation and DUT’s Statute – to its committees, as follows:
- Executive Committee, which also serves as the Remuneration Committee
- Financial Committee
- Risk Committee
- Audit Committee
- Joint Audit Committee and Finance Committee, which
meets to consider the Annual Financial Statements - Human Resources Committee [the designation
Human Capital Committee is for internal purposes
only]
- Infrastructure and ICT Committee
- Code of Conduct Committee
- Selection Committee for executive/senior
management appointments
All Council Committees are formally constituted with terms of reference, and each comprises external members of Council in the majority. There are six external members
60
DUT ANNUAL REPORT 2024