Friday 21 April 2017 – The South African Legislative Sector congratulates the 162 Members of Parliament (MPs) and Provincial Legislatures (MPLs) graduating at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) today after completing the Graduate Certificate in Governance and Leadership.
The 162 Members, participants in the South African Legislative Sector’s Capacity Building Programme for MPs and MPLs, will graduate at the Linder Auditorium at Wits’ University’s main campus in Johannesburg. The Programme was initiated by the Speakers Forum, in partnership with the National School of Government and selected institutions of higher learning, in 2009.
In the 4th term of the democratic dispensation, Legislatures under the Speakers’ Forum leadership partnered with PALAMA, now the National School of Government, and conducted a training needs analysis of all MPs and MPLs. The results of this exercise informed the development of a curriculum framework for an integrated capacity building programme for Members.
The capacity building programme courses are offered in four phases:
Phase 1: Certificate Course in Governance and Leadership (NQF L5)
Phase 2: Graduate Certificate in Governance and Public Leadership (NQF L7)
Phase 3: Postgraduate Diploma in Management and Public Leadership (NQF L8) and Short Learning Programmes (NQF L8)
Phase 4: Master’s Programme (NQF L9)
The courses seek to enhance the performance of Members in executing their law making and oversight responsibilities. Altogther, 1 015 Members have participated in the Programme since it started, with over 644 increasing their knowledge and competencies to perform their functions whilst attaining qualifications that will enable them to serve the country in other capacities beyond their parliamentary term. Currently, 29 Legislative Sector Members are currently enrolled for a Masters in Governance and Public Leadership (NQF L9) with Wits University.
The courses have increased the pool of Members with higher education qualifications, which has contributed in greater specialisation and professionalisation of the Sector. The Legislative Sector has also secured intellectual property rights of the Certificate Course in Governance and Leadership and the Graduate Certificate in Governance and Public Leadership. This should lower the cost of these courses in future.
A review of the capacity-building programme, based on interviews with Members, showed increased awareness and knowledge in core competencies and significant improvements in Members’ performance in committee and house sittings.
The Speakers’ Forum’s Reference Group on Capacity Building conceptualised the training and development interventions required to capacitate Members.
The Wits graduation ceremony will be attended by the leadership of the Speakers Forum, including National Assembly Speaker, Ms Baleka Mbete, and National Council of Provinces Chairperson, Ms Thandi Modise. Former National Assembly Speaker Mr Max Sisulu will deliver a keynote address at the graduation. Also expected are all Speakers from the nine provinces and strategic delivery partners which include the representatives from the National School of Government, the European Union and the Universities of Johannesburg and Witwatersrand.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ON BEHALF OF THE SPEAKERS’ FORUM OF THE LEGISLATIVE SECTOR OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo 082 370 6930
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