sustainable electoral democracy development in Higher Education (HE)
27 March 2007
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa and the
Department of Education (DOE) will be hosting the SRCs Colloquium on enhancing
sustainable electoral democracy development in HE, from 1 to 4 April 2007 at
the Kopanong Conference Centre near Benoni in Gauteng.
The SRC Colloquium is seen as the start of a process to establish, nurture
and sustain electoral democracy development in HE, democracy development for
active citizenship.
In this regard the IEC considers the continuous management and engagement of
stakeholders as a fundamental aspect of its outreach to voters and communities.
The participation of students is critical to enhancing the principles of
democracy and promoting the values of the Constitution through education. In
addition the participation of students in constitutional democracy means that
students as future leaders will take active responsibility in building
responsible citizens for the betterment of South Africa.
Please find below the colloquium arrangements and the draft programme for
your information.
Media arrangements and draft programme for the on the SRCs Colloquium on
enhancing sustainable electoral democracy development in HE
You are invited to the SRC Colloquium on enhancing sustainable electoral
democracy development in HE to be hosted by the IEC and DOE.
The colloquium will take place at the Kopanong Conference Centre near Benoni
in Gauteng from Sunday to Wednesday, 1 to 4 April 2007.
Delegates from all over the country have been invited and participants
include representatives from university and university of technology SRCs, SRCs
of colleges for further education and training (FET), youth organisations and
national student organisations. The colloquium is the start of a process to
establish partnerships with representatives in HE to develop and nurture
electoral democracy amongst the youth of South Africa.
General notes:
All sessions of the colloquium will be open to the media.
All participants for the colloquium must be registered. Registration will
take place at the Kopanong Conference Centre on Sunday, 1 April 2007 from 14h00
to 16h30 and Monday, 2 April 2007, from 07h00 to 08h30. Members of the media
who are interested in attending any part of the colloquium and are not able to
register at the mentioned times or need a map to Kopanong Conference Centre,
should please contact Lydia Young on 082 650 8652 or youngl@elections.org.za.
A media centre with workspace and limited facilities will be provided.
Journalists who wish to mail copy via their own laptops on connection cables
available.
Programme
(Please note that the programme is still subject to change)
Sunday, 1 April 2007
Time: 14:00 - 16:00: Registration for delegates at Kopanong Conference
Centre
17:00 - 19:00: Session 1: opening plenary
Ms Thoko Mpumlwana (Vic-Chairperson of IEC
Welcome by Mr Terry Tselane, Commissioner of IEC
Introductory remarks
Adv Pansy Tlakula, Chief Electoral Officer of IEC
Dr Molapo Qhobela, Deputy Director-General: HE of the DOE
Keynote Address by Ms Baleka Mbete, Speaker of Parliament
Response by Prof Shadrack Gutto, Director: Centre for African Renaissance
Studies
Closing Remarks by Ms Thoko Mpumlwana
19:00 - 21:00: Formal dinner at Kopanong Conference Centre
Monday 2 April 2007
07:00 - 08:30: Registration for delegates arriving late due to flight
arrangements
08:30 - 10:30: Session 2: plenary
Enhancing sustainable electoral democracy development in HE, Mr Mawethu Mosery
(IEC Provincial Electoral Officer: KwaZulu-Natal)
Speakers: 1. Dr Mcebisi Ndletyana, Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
2. Ms Bertha Chiroro, Researcher at the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa
(EISA)
10:30 - 11:00: Coffee/tea break
11:00 - 12:30: Session 2: plenary (continued)
Enhancing sustainable electoral democracy development in HE
Mr Mawethu Mosery (IEC Provincial Electoral Officer: KwaZulu-Natal)
Prof Rachel Vuyiswa Gumbi
Executive Committee Member: Higher Education South Africa (HESA)
Questions and answers
12:30 - 13:30: Lunch
13:30 - 15:00: Session 3: parallel sessions
What is the responsibility of HE in accelerating electoral democracy
development
Commission 1
Commission 2
Commission 3
Commission 4
15:00 - 15:30: Coffee/tea break
15:30 - 17:00: Session 4: plenary
Mr Albert Kekesi (IEC Provincial Electoral Officer: North West)
Report back from Session 3 parallel sessions
17:00 â 18:30: Session 5: networking session
Democracy and Human Rights Education, Mr Steven Ngwenya (IEC Provincial
Electoral Officer: Mpumalanga)
Speakers: Mr Duncan Hindle, Director-General: Education, Dr Matthews Phosa,
Chairperson: UNISA Council, Ms Joyce Piliso Seroke, Chairperson of the
Commission for Gender Equality
Questions and answers
18:30 - 20:30: Dinner at Kopanong Conference Centre
Tuesday, 6 March 2007
08:30 â 10:30: Session 6: plenary
The role and nature of partnerships to promote electoral democracy, Mr Chris
Mepha (IEC Provincial Electoral Officer: Free State)
Speakers: Mr Enver Surty, Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Salim Vally, Senior
Researcher at the Wits Education Policy Unit
Respondent: Dr Somadoda Fikeni, Chief Operations Officer at the National
Heritage Council
Questions and answers
10:30 - 11:00: Coffee/tea break
11:00 - 12:30: Session 7: parallel sessions
The role and nature of partnerships to promote electoral democracy
Commission 1
Commission 2
Commission 3
Commission 4
12:30 - 13:30: Lunch
13:30 - 15:00: Session 8: plenary
Creating active good citizenship, Mr Mosotho Moepya (Deputy Chief Electoral
Officer of the IEC)
Speakers: Prof Kader Asmal, Member of Parliament, Dr Brigalia Bam, Chairperson
of the IEC, Ms Nobulumko Nkondlo, Chairperson of the National Youth
Commission
Questions and answers
15:00 - 15:30: Coffee/tea break
15:30 - 17:00: Session 9: parallel session
Creating active good citizenship
Commission 1
Commission 2
Commission 3
Commission 4
18:00 - 20:00: Dinner â braai at Kopanong Conference Centre
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
08:30 - 10:00: Session 10:
Summary and Recommendations for electoral democracy in HE, Mr Sy Mamabolo (IEC
Provincial Electoral Officer: Gauteng)
Report back from Session 9 parallel sessions
10:00 - 10:30: Coffee/tea break
10:30 - 11:00: Session 11: plenary
Mr Sy Mamabolo (IEC Provincial Electoral Officer: Gauteng)
Colloquium Evaluation Session
Closing remarks by Adv Pansy Tlakula, Chief Electoral Officer of the
IEC
Departures of delegates
For more information please contact:
Lydia Young
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)
Tel: (012) 428 5425
Fax: (012) 428 5429
Cell: 082 650 8652
E-mail: youngl@elections.org.za
Siphiwe Mabasa
Department of Education
Tel: (012) 312 5395
Fax: (012) 328 3602
Cell: 083 379 3495
E-mail: mabasas@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
27 March 2007
