1. Section 19(2) of the South African Schools Act (SASA), 1996 (Act 84 of 1996), as amended, requires of a principal, and other officers, to assist governing bodies in the performance of their functions in terms of the Act.
2. The principal of a school is the official representative of the Head of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) while serving on the governing body. He or she is therefore obliged to ensure that there are adequate administrative measures in place aimed at sustaining the administrative and records management processes.
3. The revised Procedures for the Establishment and Election of Governing Bodies at Public Schools Regulations, 2017, published in Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No. 7810 of 17 August 2017, requires that the principal convenes the first meeting of the newly elected governing body within seven days after the parent election.
4. The principal must facilitate the handover process which must take place within 14 days of the first meeting of the new governing body.
5. The principal must conduct the handover process by officially providing all relevant governance files, including the governing body constitution, policies and procedures, to the new governing body.
6. The principal must, in the same meeting, conduct an induction session for the new members and answer any questions that the new governing body may have.
7. A handover certificate (Annexure A), signed by both the incoming and outgoing chairperson, must be completed and kept safely at the school.
8. Principals are reminded that the WCED is audited annually and evidence of the actual handover process must be properly minuted and recorded.
9. Please bring this to the attention of the outgoing governors.


SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2018:01:18

South African Schools Act (SASA), 1996 (Act 84 of 1996)  (size: 255 KB)
Provincial Gazette Extraordinary No. 7810  (size: 374 KB)
Annexure A  (size: 74 KB)