Governance: supporting and preserving value
COUNCIL STATEMENT ON COVERNANCE
The NWU is committed to the principles of discipline, transparency, independence, accountability, responsibility, fairness and social responsibility, as advocated in the King IV Report.
Accordingly, Council endorses the Code of Practices and Conduct and the Code of Ethical Behaviour and Practice as set out in King IV, and has applied these in a rigorous way during the period under review. In supporting these codes, Council recognises the need to conduct the business of the NWU with integrity and in accordance with generally accepted good practices. The monitoring of the NWU's compliance with these codes forms part of the mandate of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee.
A distinct difference exists in the roles and responsibilities of the chairperson of Council and that of the vice-chancellor.
the NWU Council on 13 June 2024.
The role and function of Council and its committees
In providing a sound foundation for the creation of value, long-term growth and sustainability, the Council sets strategy, ensures proper governance, drives compliance and risk management and monitors the material activities of the university.
As the overall custodian of good corporate governance, the Council takes its oversight and guidance role seriously. We act in strict accordance with the stipulations of the Higher Education Act and the NWU Statute, which was reviewed and published on 24 June 2022.
In 2023, under Council’s leadership, the NWU continued to adhere to high governance standards while creating a valuedriven governance landscape.
The Council is constituted in accordance with the guidelines in the Higher Education Act and the university’s Statute.
Of the 30 Council members, 60% are external and 40% internal, ensuring independence in the governance environment.
| Council members externally elected or designated | Council members internally elected or designated | ||
| Ministerial appointees | 5 | Management: vice-chancellor and vice-principal | 2 |
| Donors | 3 | Senate | 3 |
| Convocation | 4 | Academic employees | 2 |
| Community leaders | 3 | Support employees | 2 |
| Specific expertise | 3 | Student Representative Council | 3 |
| 18 | 12 | ||
Council training
In 2023, we continued implementing the revised induction programme for newly appointed Council members. Feedback from Council members was that the programme equipped new members to begin contributing quickly and effectively in governance oversight on Council and in Council committees.
Annual Council workshop
All Council members attended a workshop on 15 March 2023, consisting of three plenary sessions. The topics were the NWU Strategy under construction to take the university forward, an introduction to the importance of IT government in higher education institutions and the digital future of universities.
Click here to read more about the Council workshop.
Code of Conduct and declarations of interest
At the beginning of 2023, the members of Council pledged their commitment to the NWU Council Code of Conduct by taking part in the annual signing process. When new Council members are appointed, they are also required to sign the Code of Conduct.
Annual declarations of directorships and interest by members of Council and Council committees are mandatory. This is of the utmost importance in ensuring integrity in our behaviour at governance level.
The Council Executive Committee (Council Exco) serves as Council’s membership committee. Its role is to receive and discuss the quarterly declaration of interest audit reports for Council and Council committee members.
Sanctions can be imposed on members who do not comply with the legal requirements for declarations of interest. No such sanctions were needed in 2023.
Exco noted and discussed all declarations made by members of the University Management Committee, and referred any enquiries to the vice-chancellor.
Changes in Council membership
The only new member to join the Council was:
Ms EP Ramatswana
an external member elected by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (second term)
The following members re-joined the Council for subsequent terms:
Mr A Sorgdrager
elected by the Convocation (third term) (Council chairperson)
Pastor P Tlhabanyane
elected by the community leaders (second term)
Ms S Britz
elected by the community leaders (second term)
Mr MSJ Thabethe
external member appointed by the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation (third term)
There were two vacancies on the Council, one for an external member elected by the Board of Donors and an external member appointed by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.