Meetings with Members of Parliament: Minister Blade Nzimande held on 7 September 2015

The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, met with a SACBC delegation led by Archbishop Stephen Brislin (SACBC President). The delegation also included Archbishop Jabulani Nxumalo (Bloemfontein), Sr Hermenegild Makoro (SACBC, Secretary General), Bishop Guiseppe Sandri (Witbank), Bishop Kevin Dowling (Rustenburg), Fr Peter-John (CPLO), Fr Patrick Rakeketsi (SACBC, Associate Secretary General), Janice Seland (CIE), Garth Abraham (St. Augustine’s), Russell Davies (REAP), Nathan Johnstone (CIE) and Kenny Pasensie (CPLO). The purpose of the meeting was two-fold: to give the Minister an opportunity to acquaint himself with the extent of the Church’s engagement within the higher education sector, and to begin to firm up a conversation with the Minister and his department on issues of mutual interest. It also provided an opportunity for us, as part of civil society, to hear from the Minister as to how our various efforts could come into synergy with his vision and plans for post-school education and training in South Africa. The outcome of the meeting was very positive, with the Minister and his department further cementing their relationship with the CIE regarding the conversion of our skills centres into community colleges.