Act No. 17, 2008
(f)
(g)
HUMAN SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL ACT. 2008
respond to the needs of vulnerable and marginalised groups in society by
researching and analysing developmental problems, thereby contributing to
the improvement of the quality of their lives; and
develop and make publicly available new data sets to underpin research,
policy development and public discussion of the key issues of development,
and to develop new and improved methodologies for use in their develop
ment.
Functions of Council
4. (1) The Council must—
(a) undertake or procure the undertaking of such investigation and research
relating to its objects as the Minister may assign to it; and
(b) advise the Minister in respect of—
(i) research relating to its objects which should be undertaken;
(ii) the utilisation of the results of such research;
(iii) the manner in which such research may be promoted; or
(iv) development and utilisation of human resources in research; and
(v) the promotion of any other matter incidental to human sciences.
(2) In order to achieve its objects, the Council may—
(a) purchase or otherwise acquire, hold, hire, lease, sell, exchange or otherwise
alienate movable or immovable property, with the approval of the Minister
granted with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance;
(b) at the request of any person or organisation and subject to such conditions and
the payment of such fees as may be agreed upon, conduct or cause to be
conducted any research relating to any matter in the field of the human
sciences;
(c) in respect of any other service rendered by it in terms of this Act—
(i) charge such fees; or
(ii) make such other financial arrangements with the concurrence of the
Minister of Finance,
as the Council considers necessary: and
(d) take such other measures as may be necessary for the effective achievement of
its objects.
(3) The Council may, in order to achieve its objects and with the approval of the
Minister granted with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance—
(a) for the purposes of developing, utilising, marketing or selling any invention,
technological expertise, service or product, establish a company under the
Companies Act, 1973 (Act No. 61 of 1973), or in association with any person
establish such a company or acquire an interest in or control over such a
company; and
(b) act as trustee of any trust if the purpose of that trust is the promotion and
development of the human sciences.
Board of Council
5. (1) The Council is governed and controlled by a Board in accordance with this Act.
(2) The Board consists of—
(a) a chairperson designated by the Minister;
(b) not less than six and not more than nine other members; and
(c) the chief executive officer, who is a member of the Board by virtue of his or
her office.
(3) The Minister appoints members of the Board after—
(a) publishing a notice in the Government Gazette and two national newspapers
circulating in the Republic calling upon members of the public to nominate
persons contemplated in subsection (2) (a) and (b):
(b) appointing a panel of experts to compile a short-list of not more than twenty
(20) persons from the nominees referred to in paragraph (a):