1. 1. Introduction
1.1 School Governing Bodies (SGBs) play a crucial role in assisting principals and school management teams in providing proper leadership and governance in our schools.
1.2 The national SGB elections are scheduled from 06 March 2015 until the end of the 1st school term of 2015. The compulsory induction training of the newly elected SGBs will take place between 13 April and 26 June 2015.
1.3 The overall objective of the election process is to ensure that duly elected, competent and visionary governors are elected to support quality learning and teaching at schools.
1.4 The implementation of the 2015 election process requires the involvement of officials at all levels of the education system as well as key stakeholders such as SGB Associations.

2. The revised provincial measures

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is in the process of finalising the revised provincial measures relating to governing bodies for public schools and this will be sent to schools in due course.
3. Deviations from the single nomination-and-election day process
3.1 Schools that wish to deviate from the nomination-and-election day process, as stipulated in the provincial measures, must apply to the Head of Department (HOD) for approval.
3.2 Any deviation must, in no way, prejudice the involvement of any parents, and must be explained clearly and justified to the school community so that all understand the process to be followed.
3.3 The reasons for the deviation must be clearly detailed in the application to the HOD.

4. Election of members of the Representative Council of Learners (RCL) to the SGB
4.1 The RCL shall elect from its ranks two learners who shall be members of the SGB. The term of office of a member of the governing body who is a learner may not exceed one academic year.
4.2 It will not be necessary to re-elect the two new RCL members serving on the SGB, as these are already in place. Their term on the SGB does not exceed one year and they are eligible to continue serving on the new SGB until the end of 2015.

5. Support to schools
5.1 It is the role of the District Electoral Team to oversee the election process in the education districts and circuits.
5.2 Should a school need support or have queries, the principal must contact the appropriate district electoral team co-ordinator indicated below:

No. Education district District electoral team co-ordinator Telephone
1 Cape Winelands Mr J Goliath 023 348 4604
2 Eden & Central Karoo Mr E Magodla 044 803 8300
3 Metro Central Mr S Hattingh 021 659 4300
4 Metro East Mr K de Wet 021 900 7000
5 Metro North Mr H Botha 021 938 3000
6 Metro South Mr R Job 021 370 2000
7 Overberg Mr J Bailey 028 212 1730
8 West Coast Mrs A Truter 021 860 1200

6. Co-option of parent members for the period 01 January – 30 March 2015
6.1 Casual vacancies may occur in SGBs during the above period due to the ending of the term of office of some parent members for the reason as contemplated in measure 3(e) of the revised measures (3(d) of current measures). In these cases schools need to co-opt suitably competent members to serve on the SGB during the 1st school term of 2015.
6.2 Co-opted members will have voting rights for a period of 90 days.
6.3 The District Electoral Team will also provide schools and SGBs with information on the handing-over process from the current to the newly elected SGB, as well as information for the newly elected SGBs.

7. Advocacy
7.1 Various advocacy strategies are planned at national, provincial and district levels in order to encourage parents, community members, teachers and non-teaching staff to participate in the SGB election process at the school.
7.2 At community level, SGB associations as members of the Provincial Electoral Team are undertaking the mobilisation of support, using various community structures.
7.3 School electoral teams are also encouraged to develop their own strategies to mobilise support for the coming elections at their schools.


SIGNED: PA VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2014:09:22