1. NAME 1. The name of the Institute shall be "SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH". 2. The shortened form of the name of the Institute shall be "SAIEH".
2. AREA OF OPERATION 1. The Institute shall confine its operation in any area within the boundaries of the Republic of South Africa.
3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To: 1. Advance and promote the science and practice of Environmental Health. 2. Affiliate and liase with Local, National and International Bodies aimed at promoting the science and practice of Environmental as well as public/community health. 3. Protect and promote the interests and status of all members registered with the Institute. 4. Promote strong unity amongst members irrespective of race, colour, sex, religion, creed, political aspiration and/or affiliation. 5. Promote the professionalism of its members. 6. Create structures that would promote and enable involvement and participation in the affairs of the Institute by members at all levels. 7. Promote the basic training as well as comprehensive specialised advanced education of environmental health professionals as well as environmental research.
4. MEMBERSHIP Membership of the Institute shall be available in the following options: 1. FULL MEMBER National Council had approved any interested person holding qualification(s), which entitles such a person to practise as an Environmental Health Officer which qualifications. 2. ASSOCIATE MEMBER Any person holding a qualification in the field of Environmental or community/public health but not qualifying for any other category of membership and which qualifications had been approved by National Council and such member shall not have full voting rights. (Amended 19/2/1999) 3. STUDENT MEMBER Any person who is studying for a recognised qualification in Environmental Health. Such member will have no voting powers and will not be eligible for election to National Council. 4. AFFILIATE MEMBER Any person, Authority, Company or Organisation with a direct or indirect interest in environmental- or community/public health. They will not be eligible for election to National Council and shall not have any voting powers. (Amended 19/2/1999) 5. HONORARY MEMBER Persons, who in the opinion of National Council, shall have rendered distinguished service to the Institute, or persons who shall have attained eminence in the cause of environmental health, and have been duly approved by National Council. 6. RETIRED MEMBER Persons who have been members prior to retirement and whose subscriptions were fully paid up at the date of retirement and have been duly approved by National Council. Such a person shall retain his registration category (associate or full membership) after retirement. 7. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP All applications for membership as contemplated under 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 shall be submitted on prescribed application forms. 8. MEMBERSHIP FEES 1. All registered members except Honorary and Retired members shall renew membership annually by paying the prescribed membership fee as agreed by the annual general meeting (AGM). The said subscription fee shall be paid before the end of September each year and be paid over by the provincial branch to National Council by November the same year. (Amended 19/2/1999) 2. Any member that is not paid up in full every year must only be given three months to honour his contract failing which written confirmation must indicate termination of membership. 3. Upon termination of membership for any cause whatsoever a member shall have no claim on funds and assets of the Institute. 9. GOOD STANDING 1. No member shall exercise any rights or privileges of membership unless he shall have paid his membership fee. 2. A member may resign at any time from the Institute provided he is not under censure or his conduct is not under investigation for irregularity, by submitting his resignation in writing via the respective provincial branch, to National Council. 3. Any member, who wishes to terminate membership, shall give one month written notice to this effect and return any assets or the Institute in his possession and thereafter membership shall cease. 4. Membership of any member who fails to pay his membership fee shall be terminated as per clause 4.8.2
5. FINANCES 1. The financial year-end of the Institute shall be 30 June. 2. The accounts of the Institute shall be audited annually and all records shall be made available for any investigation conducted by National Council. Audited financial statements shall also be made available to the annual general meeting (AGM). 3. The annual general meeting shall determine the membership fees and division of other funds as generated by provincial branches/regions. 4. All membership fees must be paid over to national council by November of every year. Financial statements of Provincial branches shall also be made available to the National Treasurer of the end of the financial year. (Amended 19/2/1999)
6. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF INSTITUTE 1. HEAD OFFICER The Head Office of the Institute and the place of meeting will be determined by National Council from time to time. 2. NATIONAL COUNCIL (NC) The affairs of the Institute shall be managed by a National council 1. COMPOSITION 1. Each province must elect two (2) members (together with their second) within the membership of that province to serve on National Council. 2. PORTFOLIOS 1. Chairperson who is also the President of the Institute, elected by means of block vote allocated to each province, at the Annual General Meeting after submission of at least two alternatives by National Council, to the annual general meeting. 2. Deputy-chairperson who is also the Deputy-President of the Institute, elected by means of a block vote allocated to each province, at the Annual General Meeting after submission of at least two alternatives by National Council. 3. General Secretary, elected by means of a block vote allocated to each province, at the Annual General Meeting after submission of at least two alternatives by National Council, to the Annual General Meeting. 4. Deleted (19/2/1999) 5. General Treasurer, elected by means of block vote allocated to each province, at the Annual General Meeting after submission of at least two alternatives by National Council, to the Annual General Meeting. 6. The other elected members will chair sub-committees as determined by National Council. 3. POWERS AND DUTIES OF NATIONAL COUNCIL National Council (NC): 1. Is the policy making body and shall also foster and ensure the proper implementation of rules and policies of the Institute and all such amendments thereto. 2. Is responsible for receiving and attending to proposals brought to it from the Provincial Branches. 3. Is responsible for reporting back to the different provincial branches through their respective provincial delegates serving on National Council. 4. Is responsible for monitoring all income and expenditure of the Institute, and to appoint the auditors. It shall also invest the funds of the Institute and employ the funds of the Institute and employ activities, which shall promote the financial status of the Institute. 5. Shall act as an appeal body for all disputes. 6. Shall consider all matters referred to it by the National Executive Committee. 7. Shall co-opt a member to replace an elected member including office bearers appointed by the Annual General Meeting, who has resigned or died to serve for the unexpired period. 8. Encourage the formation and establishment of provincial branches and regions. 9. Shall have the power to appoint special committees for specific assignments. 10. Shall install methods to market the Institute. 11. Shall install methods to generate its own funds. 12. May when necessary appoint a person as Executive Director and other personnel responsible to the General Secretary to execute the day-to-day duties and manage the administration of the Institute. 13. Shall have powers to investigate any charges of alleged misconduct by all office bearers. 14. May opt to replace any National Council Member expelled under clause 6.2.3.13
4. NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) 1. COMPOSITION 1. President of the Institute 2. Deputy-President of the Institute 3. General Secretary of the Institute 4. Deputy Secretary of the Institute 5. General Treasurer of the Institute 6. Three additional National Council members elected by National Council (Amended 19/2/1999) 2. POWERS AND DUTIES Shall perform the day-to-day tasks as delegated to them by National Council 3. TERM OF OFFICER 1. Fifty percent (50%) of the members should be replaced every third year (replaced 19/2/1999)
4. SPECIFIC DUTIES AND POWERS OF OFFICE-BEARERS 1. PRESIDENT Be the chief executive officer and spokesperson of the Institute. Preside at all General Meetings, special meetings, executive meetings and National council meetings. Be an ex-officio member of all meetings of the Institute including committee- and sub-committee meetings. Ensure proper administration of the Institute. Have a casting vote but not a deliberative vote. Counter signs all payments and withdrawals of moneys of the Institute together with the general Secretary or Treasurer General. Have access to all books, documents and records of the Institute. 2. DEPUTY PRESIDENT Shall be devolved upon with the duties and powers of the chairperson at the request of or in the absence of the President. 3. GENERAL SECRETARY Keep all records of the Institute. Take minutes at all meetings of the Institute and ensure accurate recordings of the proceedings of all meetings. Attend to correspondence and keep copies thereof. Circulate notices to convene meetings. Prepares annual reports. Counter signs withdrawals of moneys from the accounts together with the Chairperson or Treasurer General. Fulfil any tasks delegated by National Council or President of the Institute. 4. DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY Deleted 19/2/1999 5. GENERAL TREASURER Administer the funds of the Institute in accordance with general accounting protocol to the satisfaction of National Council. Present or submit financial statements when requested by the National Council at any meeting. Prepare and present an audited financial statement at the annual general meeting or when requested by the National Council Counter sign withdrawal with the Chairperson or General Secretary.
1. PROVINCIAL BRANCHES The members in each province will form a Provincial branch within the official political borders of the Province. A provincial branch can form regions within such Province and advise National council likewise. All minutes of the Provincial branches will be forwarded to the General Secretary for information of National Council. 1. COMPOSITION OF PROVINCIAL BRANCH COMMITTEE Chairperson elected by the members of the Provincial branch. Deputy Chairperson elected by the members of the Provincial branch. Secretary elected by the members of the Provincial branch. Deputy Secretary elected by the members of the Provincial branch. Treasurer elected by the members of the Provincial branch. Elected member [minimum of three (3) and maximum of twelve (12)] elected by the members of the Provincial branch. 2. If the Provincial branch is subdivided into regions, at least four elected members of every region must serve on the Provincial branch. 3. The same procedures to be followed as with the election of National Council office bearers. 4. The powers and duties of the Provincial bearers will be the same as contemplated under clause 6.2.4.2 provided that it shall be confined to the area of the provincial jurisdiction. 5. Term of office Elected office bearers shall hold office for three years but can be re-elected (Amended 19/2/1999) 6. Provincial branches can make provision for Provincial rules but such rules shall not be ultra vires to this constitution and policies of the Institute.
6. MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES 1. GENERAL MEETINGS The Annual General Meeting shall be held at between September and November each year on a rotational basis to coincide with the election of office bearers. A special general meeting shall be convened at the request of 2/3 of al provincial branches in writing. All resolutions taken at these meetings shall be binding. 2. NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETINGS (NC) Shall be held quarterly or when the need arise or when requested by at least 2/3 of the provincial branches or by resolution of National Council, and such meeting shall be held within thirty (30) days of date of such request as received by National Council. 3. NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) Shall be held at least before every National Council meeting. A special meeting shall be convened whenever the NEC deems it necessary. Recommendations made shall be approved by National Council. 4. PROVINCIAL BRANCH / REGIONAL MEETINGS Shall be held at least twice a year. A special provincial meeting shall be convened at the request of at least 2/3 of the regions in the specific province. A meeting shall then be convened within twenty-eight days of the said request. Any resolution shall receive the consideration of National Council at the next ensuing meeting. The provincial branch committee shall meet when the need arise. 5. NOTICE OF MEETINGS Notice of all meetings should be dispatched at least 21 days before such a meeting. 6. QUORUM 1. The quorum for National Council and provincial meetings of the Institute will be fifty percent (50%) plus one member. 2. Should the quorum not be formed, the meeting shall be postponed for one (1) hour where after the meeting will continue with the members present and decisions taken at such a meeting will be binding unless the General Secretary has been informed at least fourteen days before such meeting by a majority of representatives that they will not attend the meeting. 3. In the case of a General Meeting the quorum shall be: 8.3.1 Fifty percent (50%) of all National Council members. 8.3.2 As least fifty (50) members.
9. INTERPRETATION In these clauses words imputing the masculine include the feminine unless otherwise required by the context. 10. DISSOLUTION If upon the dissolution of the Institute there remain any assets after settlement of its liabilities a general meeting will be constituted. If at least 2/3 of the members are present at such a general meeting, the meeting will then decide what will happen to the assets of the Institute. 11. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION All proposals to alter or amend the constitution must be made in writing and forwarded to the General Secretary at least sixty (60) days before a National Council meeting. The General Secretary must circulate the proposed amendments to all branches. The proposed amendment(s) musts be tabled at a general meeting and adoption will be by a 2/3 majority of members present at such general meeting.