Tuesday, 19 March 2019 – The National Council of Provinces agreed to the National Qualifications Amendment Bill and the Defence Amendment Bill today.

The Bills came to the National Council of Provinces after the National Assembly passed them – the National Qualifications Amendment Bill on 27 November 2018 and the Defence Amendment Bill on 11 September 2018.

The National Qualifications Amendment Bill amends the National Qualifications Framework Act. It does this by amending and insert certain definitions. These include providing for the verification of all qualifications or part-qualifications by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA); providing for formulating criteria to evaluate foreign qualifications; providing for the establishment and maintenance of separate registers of misrepresented or fraudulent qualifications; providing for a separate register for professional designations; providing for the referral of qualifications or part-qualifications to SAQA for verification and evaluation; and providing for offences and penalties which have a bearing on fraudulent qualifications.

The Bill will be sent to the President for assent after the official second language text has been updated to form part of the Act form.

The Defence Amendment Bill aims to amend the Defence Act of 2002 by, among other things, including the Chief of Staff in the Military Command of the Defence Force; clarifying the process regarding the implementation by the Chief of the Defence Force of the delegation of powers and assignment of duties to members by the Secretary for Defence as head and accounting officer of the Department; providing for the employment of the Defence Force outside the Republic; simplifying matters regarding identification cards issued to military police officials; making a technical correction to the reference to the Armaments Corporation of South Africa, Limited in section 18; providing for security vetting of contractors and service providers of the Department; regulating the minutes of meetings of the Council of Defence; clarifying that a person does not need the consent of an employer to enroll as, or to remain, a member of the Reserve Force; regulating anew the termination of service of members of the Regular Force; amending requirements for legal representation of members; regulating display of military decorations, medals and insignia; regulating the use of military uniforms, distinctive marks and crests; amending certain powers of the Minister to make regulations; and providing for the prohibition of access to military property or areas.

The National Council of Provinces agreed to the Defence Amendment Bill subject to a proposed amendment and the Bill will now go back to the National Assembly for reconsideration.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

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