1. Principals and school governing body (SGB) chairpersons were informed in Circular 0010 of 2013, dated 4 February 2013, of the amendments to the National Norms and Standards for School Funding (NNSSF) with regards to funding of membership of recognised SGB associations. These amendments were published in Government Gazette No. 35617 of 27 August 2012 and came into effect on 1 April 2013.
2. In paragraph 3.3 of the above-mentioned circular, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) indicated that it intended creating an online system for member SGBs to capture their membership details. That system has now been installed and schools can access it on the CEMIS.
3. In terms of paragraph 145 B (a) of the NNSSF, an SGB will qualify for a contribution to its subscription fees if the voluntary SGB association to which it belongs is recognized by the Head of Department. Kindly note that four voluntary SGB associations have applied to the WCED for formal recognition, but only the following two associations have received recognition so far:

  1. The Governing Body Foundation
  2. The Federation of School Governing Bodies of South Africa

The applications of the other two associations were incomplete and will be considered on receipt of the awaited information.
4. SGBs affiliated to the abovementioned SGB associations are kindly requested to capture all information about their SGB association membership, or changes of their membership, on the CEMIS within 14 days of receipt of this minute. A user’s manual, giving the steps to be followed when capturing membership details, is attached to this minute. Schools are reminded that they may be affiliated to only one voluntary SGB association.
5. The WCED will pay contributions to SGB association fees either to the schools or the SGB associations. The department will draw a report on Section 20 and 21 schools who have already paid their subscriptions to recognized SGB associations and arrange for their reimbursement in terms of paragraph 145 B(c) of the NNSSF.
6. As stated in the above-mentioned circular, the contribution towards subscription fees to an SGB association will not necessarily cover the full annual subscription fee and will not exceed the full subscription fee.
7. Kindly bring the content of this minute to the attention of all concerned.


SIGNED: J H LYNERS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: INSTITUTION DEVELOPMENT & CO-ORDINATION
DATE: 2013:09:20

Government Gazette 35617  (size: 429 KB)
School Governing Body Association (SGBA) - User Manual  (size: 353 KB)