Draft 

Minutes of the Ninth Annual General Meeting of the University of KwaZulu-Natal Convocation held on Thursday, 9 May 2013 at 18h00 in the Graduate School of Business Auditorium, Graduate School of Business Building, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus.

1. ATTENDANCE
Present:

68 graduates as per the Attendance Register
20 non-graduates as per the Attendance Register

In Attendance:
Mr F Christensen (Alumni Relations Manager)
Ms F Mabaso (Alumni Relations)
Mr K Rampartab (Committee Officer)

Apologies: 29 Apologies were recorded

2. WELCOME

The Vice- President of Convocation, Ms J Ndlovu welcomed members and those in attendance and declared the meeting open. She extended a special welcome to Ms B McBean, Executive Director: UKZN Foundation and
Ms ST Ndabeni-Abrahams, Deputy Minister of Communication.

ADDRESS BY: MS B McBEAN
Ms B McBean address highlighted “Inspiring philanthropic investment and giving”.

ADDRESS BY GUEST SPEAKER: MS ST NDABENI-ABRAHAMS
Ms ST Ndabeni-Abrahams address highlighted “The importance of Education”.

3. NOTICE OF MEETING
Mr S Mashita (Chair) confirmed the notice convening the meeting and declared it properly constituted.

4. CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, 10 MAY 2012
On a proposal by Dr S Chalufu and seconded by Mr S Ngcobo, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 May 2012 were confirmed as circulated.

5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
None

6. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF CONVOCATION
Mr VW Sibisi presented his report, a copy of which was included in the agenda papers.

Members were given the opportunity to raise questions seeking clarity on the report or make contributions to the report. The following were recorded:

Unemployment Rate

Members inquired whether Convocation could come up with programmes to assist unemployed UKZN graduates to find employment.

Mr Mashita informed members that Convex’s focus was on fund-raising, mainly for student bursaries, as UKZN was an educational institutional. Government and the private sector should be responsible for employing UKZN graduates.
Ms B Hlongwa added that UKZN has produced high profile graduates and requested members to inform the Alumni Relations Office should they be aware of employment opportunities for graduates.

Resolution 3

Members reaffirmed that the Constitution should enable the combining of the alumni budget so that this budget could be reported upon at the Convocation Annual General Meetings.

Mr Mashita reported that Convex had made an assessment of fund-raising and how the Alumni bursary funds were doing. There are two similar bursary funds, namely, the John Adari UKZN Convocation Bursary Fund and the Convocation Bursary Fund, neither of which were active. Convex had decided that the John Adari UKZN Convocation Bursary Fund should be disestablished and that Convex should focus on the Convocation Bursary Fund.
He advised that all Convex members have pledged contributions towards the Convocation Bursary Fund and they have also undertaken to contribute annually to the Fund.
Convex was satisfied with the funding it received from the University. He requested Alumni Relations to submit a report on this funding to future Convocation Annual General Meetings. Action: Mr Christensen

A suggestion was made that debit order forms should be sent to members for completion so that the issue of fund-raising could be fast tracked.

A request was made that the Convocation Annual General Meetings should be provided with statistics on fund-raising. Action: Mr Christensen

The report was adopted.

7. ADOPTION OF THE 2012 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Financial Statements for 2012 were presented by the treasurer of Convocation, Ms T Dlungwane.

The 2012 Financial Statements were adopted.
  
8. MOTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

Mr Mashita informed members that no motions had been lodged with the Registrar.

9. GENERAL

9.1 Employment for University Graduates

Professor MW Makgoba, Vice-Chancellor, informed Convocation that the University did not necessarily train graduates specifically for employment but it trained graduates to have the attitude to change the world and create employment.

9.2 Acknowledgement

Mrs P Mnganga, Chair of Council, acknowledged the current leadership of Convocation and their contributions to the University, and in particular for their vibrant and visible commitment to the future of the University.

She challenged Convocation going forward to articulate with the vision and mission of the University and to ensure their programmes are aligned with the goals of the University. She urged Convocation to intensify and increase the momentum of their fund-raising campaign.

10. VOTE OF THANKS

Mr Mashita expressed appreciation and special thanks to Ms ST Ndabeni-Abrahams and Ms B McBean for availing themselves to attend the Convocation Annual General Meeting. He expressed thanks to those who assisted in making the Convocation Annual General Meeting and Awards a success.


11. CLOSURE

The meeting was closed at 19h50.


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