ABOUT SACAC

What is SACAC? | What does SACAC offer its members? | History of SACAC

 Mission Statement | By-Laws | Constitution

WHAT IS SACAC?

SACAC was formed in 1961 by the joint efforts of the CSIR and the professional Institutes of engineering, computers and control disciplines. The primary mission of SACAC is to promote the multi-disciplinary sciences of computation, automation and control and their application to industry in Southern Africa.

SACAC is the nominated National Member Organization for South Africa to IFAC (International Federation of Automatic Control). IFAC has the equivalent mission to SACAC and promotes and co-ordinates symposia, workshops and conferences on a broad international front.

SACAC has a special role to play as the result of its unique combination of participants. Today SACAC comprises over 50 corporate and institutional members representative of leading corporations, tertiary educational establishments, professional institutions, research organizations and private companies involved in computation, automation and control.

SACAC facilitates the interchange and dissemination of information about leading edge technologies and their application locally and internationally. This is done through organizing symposia, workshops and other regular events.

SACAC also provides a link between its members and various other national organizations, keeping them informed of any relevant developments. These include the SAIMC, the SAIEE, and the Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA).

All these activities are co-ordinated by a small executive committee with the help of the Secretariat housed in JCCI House who also provide valuable links to SACOB, the South African Chamber of Business.

WHAT DOES SACAC OFFER ITS MEMBERS?

As the National Member Organization to the IFAC (International Federation of Automatic Control), SACAC offers its members unique opportunities to organize and host international events sponsored by IFAC, and to participate in one of 46 different technical committees covering all fields in automatic control. More specifically the benefits include:

1. organizing and participation in events (conferences, symposia, workshops)

2. sponsorship of eligible members to attend SACAC or IFAC events

3. maintaining a formal association with IFAC

4. facilitating contact amongst researchers, practitioners, users and suppliers of automation technology

5. establishing and maintaining contact with relevant national and international organizations.

6. a SACAC web site which provides exposure of members with links to their respective URL's and e-mail addresses (if required). This site also provides information relevant to the science and practice of automation and computation, and links relevant sites world-wide.

HISTORY OF SACAC

The organisational meeting of IFAC took place in Paris in September 1957 when its Constitution was accepted. One of IFACs first initiatives was to invite various countries to affiliate with IFAC by nominating a body to represent the county as a National Member Organisation (NMO). The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was subsequently invited to become the NMO for South Africa. The invitation was passed to Dr. Otto Brune, a Principal Research Officer at the CSIR's National Physical Research Laboratory, who was to make a recommendation to the President of CSIR.

Dr. Brune, an expert in network synthesis, decided that neither the CSIR nor any of the learned societies in existence at the time could adequately represent the activities and interest of the automatic control field in South Africa. He then invited a number of bodies, including the SAIEE and NIMech Engs to a meeting to formulate a response to the IFAC invitation. All those present agreed that a separate body consisting of all interested parties should be formed to become the IFAC NMO for South Africa. On the 29th August 1961 the South African Council for Automation and Computation (SACAC) was formed with 5 Foundation members.

O Brune and JDN van Wyk were charged with the drawing up of a Constitution for SACAC. Their guidelines were:

1. To keep the Constitution simple.

2. To ensure that both research and application are catered for.

3. To ensure that no industrial member use SACAC for individual propaganda or for private gain, whilst acknowledging the importance of industry involvement.

4. To ensure that the activities of the Council are driven by currently active participants in the field.

5. To ensure that no conflict develops between bodies representing Automation and those that represent Computer Science, as was the case between IFAC and IFIP during the early days.

How did the scribes succeed in their task?

1. Simplicity - only you can judge!

2. Coverage of research - provision for members and business members.

3. Preventing high-jacking for commercial purposes - Less voting power on Council and smaller representation on Executive Committee for Business Members.

4. Currently active participants represented in management - Past Presidents are invited to serve on the Executive Committee only if they still represent a member on Council.

5. Conflict between Automation and Computer Science - The inclusion of Computation in the name of SACAC makes it clear that it also caters for computer science aspects which forms an integral part of control.

PAST PRESIDENTS OF SACAC

Dr OWHO Brune (Otto) 1961

Dr JDN van Wyk (Naude) 1965-1967

Dr CF Boyce (Charles) 1976

HFB Nel (Herman) 1977

Prof HL Natrass (Lee) 1978

Dr GJ Kühn (Gideon) 1979

Dr LJ Raubenheimer (Louis) 1980

G Brown (George)

G Korvink (Giel) 1985

Prof MD Rodd (Mike) 1986

G Sommer (Gunther) 1987

D Nagle (David) 1988

I Taylor (Ian) 1989

I Grant (Ian) 1990

Dr T Heher (Tony) 1991

D Stepto (Don) 1992

J van der Westhuizen (Johan) 1993

Dr I. Gledhill (Irvy) 1994

P Knothe (Peter) 1995

D. Strydom (Danna) 1996-1997

I.K. Craig (Ian) 1997-1998

I.K. Craig (Ian) 1998-1999

G. Metzner (Gunther) 1999-2000

M. Miller (Mark) 2000-2001

E. Boje (Ed) 2001-2003

L. Lange (Les) 2004-2005

J. Tapson (Jon) 2006

CURRENT PRESIDENT OF SACAC

R. Roberts (Richard) 2007-

BY-LAWS

(revised: 7 March 2008)

  1. The financial year of the Council shall run from January 1st to December 31st.
  2. The Council is authorised to open and operate the following bank accounts:
    1. Current Account First national Bank
    2. One-day Call account – First National Bank
  3. The Executive Committee may commit the Council to expenditure not exceeding R100 000 (one hundred thousand Rand) without ratification by the membership at a General Meeting.
  4. The Honorary Treasurer or the President may commit the Council to expenditure not exceeding R20 000 (twenty thousand Rand) without ratification by the Executive Committee.
  5. All payments from the Council’s bank accounts require authorisation by a minimum of two signatories. 
  6. The authorised signatories on the Council’s accounts shall be:
    1. The President
    2. The Vice President
    3. The Honorary Treasurer
    4. The Honorary Secretary
    5. The Council Secretary, if such a person is employed [i.e Jean]
    6. The Council Bookkeeper, if such a person is employed [i.e. Reina],

provided that signatories e and f may together not approve payments of more than R5 000 (five thousand Rand) per item.

  1. The Council is authorised to employ JCCI of Johannesburg to provide secretarial and accounting services. The Council’s official address shall be JCCI House, Empire Road, Milpark, Johannesburg, or by post to Private Bag 34, Auckland Park 2006.

MISSION STATEMENT

(revised: 7 March 2008)

The main function of SACAC is to promote the science and practice of automation and control for the benefit and economic prosperity of the people of South Africa.

To achieve this broad aim, SACAC is involved in acquiring and disseminating information on automation and control by:

1. Organizing and participating in National and International Conferences, Symposia and Workshops on topics which are relevant to members.

2. Maintaining a formal association with IFAC(International Federation of Automatic Control) and other selected international organisations whose purposes are similar to those of IFAC.

3. Facilitating contact amongst researchers, practitioners, users and suppliers of automation technology.

4. Establishing contact with relevant national and international organisations.

CONSTITUTION

(revised: 7 March 2008)

1. NAME

The South African Council for Automation and Control

2. ADDRESS

JCCI, Empire Road, Milpark, Johannesburg, or such other address to be determined by the Executive Committee and stated in the By-laws.

3. PURPOSE

To promote the science and practice of Automation and Control for the benefit and economic prosperity of the Republic of South Africa.

4. ACTIVITIES

4.1 Acquiring and disseminating information on research, development, applications and related matters in Automation and Control by:

4.1.1 organising national and international conferences, symposia and workshops on key topics;

4.1.2 forming Interest Groups in specialised topics;

4.1.3 forming Regional Groups to facilitate communication with, and within, specified regions in Africa;

4.1.4 developing and maintaining contact with relevant national and international organisations;

4.1.5 participating in national and international conferences in this field;

4.1.6 establishing formal associations with selected international organisations whose purpose is identical to, overlaps or includes, the Purpose of the Council where such an association is beneficial and to do all those things required by the agreed terms of the association;

4.1.7 specifically, the Council shall actively seek to maintain affiliation with the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC).

4. 2 Addressing problems of common concern in matters affecting automation and control which support the Purpose of the Council.

4.3 Conducting investigations, surveys or other specific projects whose results contribute to the purpose of the Council.

4.4 Such other activities as may be found desirable which support the Purpose of the Council.

5. MEMBERSHIP

Will be restricted to associations of persons or corporate bodies approved by the Council and whose subscriptions are in good standing, and shall consist of:

5.1 Members

Universities, engineering societies and other corporate bodies or organisations, approved by the Council, which are active in advancing the Purpose of the Council and are not in the primary business of trading in this technology.

5.2 Business Members

Corporate bodies or companies, approved by the Council, which are in the business of using or trading in this technology for commercial purposes and which are active in advancing the Purpose of the Council.

6. COUNCIL

Shall consist of the following persons:

6.1 The President, the Vice-President and the immediate past President, each of whom shall have two votes and in addition the President shall have a casting vote. The Presidential votes replace their voting rights as nominees of Members or Business Members.

6.2 One nominee (or his/her alternate) of each Member, who shall have two votes.

6.3 One nominee (or his/her alternate) of each Business Member, who shall have one vote.

6.4 The Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer, who shall both be without voting power, unless qualified in terms of 6.2 or 6.3

7. MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL

7.1 An Annual General Meeting of the Council shall be convened within three months of the commencement of each financial year for:

7.1.1 The presentation of an annual report and audited statement of account for the financial year just concluded.

7.1.2 Approval of the budget for the current financial year, that is, the year following that of the Annual Report and Audited Statement of Accounts.

7.1.3 Approval of overall objectives for the next period of one year, or a greater period if longer term objectives are applicable.

7.1.4 The election of:

7.1.4.1 A President, who shall normally have been Vice-President of the preceding year. No person may serve as President for more than two consecutive years and will not then be eligible for re-election as President for a minimum period of two years after the completion of his/her term of office.

7.1.4.2 A Vice-President.

7.1.4.3 The elected members of the Executive Committee.

All the above shall be elected from members of the Council and shall hold office from the time of their election until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, and be eligible for re-election except as noted in 7.1.4.1.

7.1.5 General Business

7.2 Other meetings may be called as required by the Executive Committee.

7.3 The Executive Committee shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting within six weeks of being requested in writing to do so by not less than one quarter of the Council.

7.4 One third of the total number of votes of the Council or twenty votes, whichever is the lesser, shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Council.

8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The business of the Council shall be managed by an Executive Committee consisting of the following persons:

8.1 The President, Vice-President and Immediate Past President of the Council.

8.2 When the Immediate Past President is not available, a member nominated by the retiring Executive Committee.

8.3 Four persons elected from and by the nominees of the Members.

8.4 Four persons elected from and by the nominees of the Business Members.

8.5 The Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer appointed by the elected members of the Executive Committee, and who shall both be without voting power unless qualified under 8.2, 8.3 or 8.4. Both posts may be held by one person, who may not hold any other office of the Council.

8.6 The Executive Committee may, at its discretion, appoint additional members as follows:

8.6.1 Past Presidents of the Council who represent a Member or Business Member on the Council and shall hold office from the time of appointment up to the election of the new Executive Committee.

8.6.2 Not more than four co-opted members drawn from Member or Business Member bodies who have special skills and/or knowledge essential to the execution of the Committee's work. These co-opted members shall both be without voting power and shall hold office from the time of appointment up to the election of a new Executive Committee.

8.7 In the event of an elected member of the Executive Committee resigning or vacating his position on the Committee, the Committee shall be entitled to co-opt a Council member to fill the vacancy so caused.

9. POWERS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

9.1 To manage and control the affairs of the Council with a view to the attainment of its Purpose.

9.2 To frame or amend By-laws, except that By-laws determining SACAC membership fees shall be approved at the Annual General Meeting of the Council.

9.3 To conduct the business of the Council, to collect subscriptions, to administer the funds, open a banking account, and generally to act as the agent of the Council in financial matters.

9.4 To call meetings of the Council when necessary to obtain specific authorisation for unusual undertakings or expenditure, or when required in terms of the Constitution or By-laws.

9.5 To appoint or dismiss staff.

9.6 To draft, or cause the preparation of:

9.6.1 an annual report

9.6.2 an audited statement of income and expenditure

9.6.3 a budget for the next financial year

9.6.4 a statement of objectives for at least the next one year period.

9.7 To accept donations on behalf of the Council for general use or for specified purposes.

9.8 To charge fees for admission to meetings, or otherwise to raise funds for use in the furtherance of the Purpose of the Council.

9.9 One of the President, Vice President or Immediate Past President and three voting members shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee.

10. PERSONAL LIABILITY OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee in dispensing the funds of the Council is presumed to be acting as its agent and the members will not be personally liable for the debts of the Council unless they have acted in bad faith or exceeded the powers conferred on them in this Constitution.

11. FINANCE

11.1 Annual subscriptions will be payable by Members and Business Members in such amounts to be determined by the Council and approved at the Annual General Meeting.

11.2 Monies raised under 9 above.

12. LANGUAGE

12.1 The official language of the Council will be English.

13. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OR DISSOLUTION

13.1 Proposals to amend the Constitution or dissolve the Council may be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary either by the Executive Committee or by at least six Members or Business Members of the Council.

13.2 Proposals shall be put before a General or an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Council of which at least 21 days' notice in writing shall be given, together with full details of the agenda. Such a meeting shall be held within six weeks of the date of receipt of such proposals.

13.3 Amendments of the Constitution shall become valid upon being approved by at least a two-thirds majority vote of those Members and Business Members present at a quorate General Meeting as defined in 7.4.

13.4 Upon a dissolution, unexpended funds will be donated to an organisation having aims similar to those of the Council agreed upon by those present at the closing meeting.

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