Page 8 - DUT Annual Report 2024

REPORT OF
THE CHAIRPERSON OF COUNCIL
MR N.Z.W. MADINANE
Chairperson of Council
The Council of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) derives its authority from the Higher Education Act of 1997 (No. 101 of 1997), as amended. This Act provides the governance and oversight framework for Council. The Council is required to submit this report by provisions in the Act and the Regulations published in terms of the Act on 9 June 2014, Government Gazette No. 37726. This Chairperson’s report, read collectively with the various sub-sections of this report, complies with the requirements stipulated in the above Regulations.
Introduction
During 2024 Council continued to meet the desired expectations with commitment and executed its fiduciary duties. It should be noted that due to the emergence of governance and management challenges that almost derailed the prescribed fiduciary duties of Council, EXCO of Council suspended meetings scheduled for the third quarter to ensure calm and stability at the University.
Academic activities started smoothly and were commended by the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) delegation during their oversight visit to monitor the University’s state of readiness for the 2024 registration season.
I extend my deepest sympathies to all DUT colleagues, students and stakeholders who lost loved ones during the year 2024.
I am happy to report that the University demonstrated resilience and agility in ensuring business continuity against all odds. I must also emphasise that statements on Sustainability and Transformation are embedded in this report and the Vice-Chancellor’s Statement on Management and Administration.
The following sections of this report focus on selected matters dealt with by Council and its Committees.
Activities of Council and its
Committees
Council finished 2024 without a full complement of membership, dropping from 30 to 27 members solely because the terms of office of the three members representing Convocation had expired, as Convocation could not timeously convene an AGM for the election of new representatives to Council. Filling of the vacancies would be effected once an AGM of Convocation is convened, among others to elect three representatives to Council.
The commitment and resilience shown by all members of Council and its Committees continued to inspire me as Chairperson of the Council, as happened in 2023, and I thank them once again.
The following are some of the issues over which Council had oversight and/or approved:
• University performance: Extended Annual
Performance Plan (EAPP): 2023
• Revised Budget: 2024
• Criteria for reappointment of members to Council
• ENVISION2030 Intermediary Targets: 2024
• Annual Report: 2023
• Self-Assessment Scorecard
• Delegation of Authority for Fleet Card Management
• Draft Annual Financial Statements: 31 December 2023
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DUT ANNUAL REPORT 2024