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Daily Maverick
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Home Affairs sent back to drawing board on Refugees Act after legal setback
The Department of Home Affairs has been forced to reconsider its approach to amending the Refugees Act after legal advisers rejected its proposed changes to controversial sections that had been ruled unconstitutional. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) must go back to the drawing board to align the Refugees Act with the Constitution, following advice against its proposed approach to sections 22(12) and 22(13) of the legislation. This emerged during a meeting in Parliament of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on Tuesday, at which Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber and other DHA officials updated the committee on progress in amending sections of the legislation that courts had ruled were constitutionally deficient. In 2023, the Scalabrini Centre took the DHA to court over amendments made to the Refugees Act in 2020, specifically the introduction of sections 22(12) and 22(13). These sections provided for the 'automatic abandonment' of asylum applications if an asylum seeker or refugee failed to renew their permit within one month of its expiry. In practice, this meant that if an asylum seeker did not renew their visa, the DHA could presume they no longer wished to seek refugee status or apply for asylum, and could be subject to deportation or required to leave South Africa. Scalabrini brought the case before the Western Cape High Court, arguing that the provisions infringed constitutional rights, including the rights to life, dignity, and freedom and security of the person. The organisation cited the practical and systemic challenges that applicants face at the DHA when attempting to renew their permits. Earlier this month, the court declared the provisions invalid and unconstitutional. Following the judgment, the DHA consulted the Refugee Appeals Authority and the Standing Committee for Refugee Affairs. Both bodies supported the subsections declared constitutionally invalid, recommending their retention but proposing that the period for renewing an expired visa be extended from one month to 180 days, in line with the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act. However, the Office of the Chief State Law Adviser (OCSLA), which provides legal counsel to the executive and all government departments, declined to issue a preliminary certificate for the draft Bill. It said the DHA's approach to the judgment and its attempt to amend the legislation failed to address the fundamental reasons that sections 22(12) and 22(13) were declared invalid, which were: The provisions were arbitrary, as their introduction meant asylum seekers could be deported not solely on the merits of their claims but due to external circumstances. The provisions did not account for external factors that might prevent the renewal of asylum visas, such as the location of the nearest Refugee Reception Office (RRO), the length of queues at RROs, or the workload within these offices. The DHA has concluded that any amendments to the Act will need to be addressed through a supplementary white paper at a later stage. DHA pivots on legal challenge approach The DHA's next attempt at amending the Act is likely to comply with constitutional requirements, if Schreiber's address to the portfolio committee is any indication. Schreiber noted that Home Affairs was among the most litigated departments in government, if not the most, and that this was something the DHA aimed to change. He stated that the department no longer viewed litigation as something that must always be opposed at any cost, adding: 'We are looking at cases in a much more merit-based way, considering whether there are prospects of success and certainly not making decisions to oppose matters for the sake of it.' Discussing the department's approach to legal challenges, Schreiber said the DHA's decisions were always anchored in legal advice, constitutionality and the requirements of the law. 'We have a high mountain to climb in terms of re-establishing the rule of law in this space of Home Affairs — whether it is civics, immigration or the asylum management system — and we cannot do that unless we ourselves are leading by example,' said Schreiber. He emphasised that ensuring the DHA's operations and functions aligned with the Constitution was not merely about improving the department's image, but also about reducing costs. 'The contingent liability that comes from legal exposure, as well as the day-to-day cost of spending so much money on legal cases, is in and of itself, in the current budget environment, a very clear reason for us to focus on this area and make sure we reduce the burden of legal cases on this department,' he said. DM
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Pinning Ceremony for alumni a first in Prince Albert
Education alumni in Prince Albert had the opportunity to take part in a College of Education Alumni Reception and Pinning Ceremony on Thursday at the University of Saskatchewan Prince Albert Campus. The Pinning Ceremony is an opportunity to acknowledge a teacher's commitment to the profession. University Chancellor Grit McCreath and USask Education Dean Julie Paulson conferred the pins. 'We always have a pending ceremony for our third year students coming towards the end of their Bachelor of Education degree to mark their transition into the teaching profession,' Paulson explained. 'They have finished, at this point their education, their academic courses and they're moving into the schools.' Students are beginning placements and extended practicums and spending more time outside the university. 'They do shorter practicum experiences throughout their third year, so (the ceremony) marks that you've done your academic study and now you're starting to apply your learning in schools,' Paulson said. The pinning ceremony has been around for over a decade. Other colleges such as medicine and dentistry have White Coat Ceremonies that are similar. Thursday's ceremony was the first ever held in Prince Albert. It also focused on alumni instead of current students. Paulson said some alumni graduated before the pinning ceremony became a regular event, while others couldn't attend when they were in university. Students who were part of Saskatchewan Urban Native Teachers Education Program (SUNTEP) were one of the examples Paulson gave. 'This is an alumni reception and a chance to give the pins to folks who've graduated anytime and have been working as educators or in other spaces,' she explained. Roughlya half a dozen alumni came to Thursday's event. The campus issued invitations through the school divisions, SUNTEP, and the PAGC to invite alumni to the first event. 'It was the SUNTEP Prince Albert graduation ceremony today, too, so the 20 students graduated from SUNTEP Prince Albert earlier today,' Paulson said. The ceremony included a chance to eat and socialize along with speeches from Paulson, McCreath, Elder Kathleen McMullin and Principal Jay Wilson. Paulson read the Educator's Profession before the ceremony began and alumni signed a large version of it after they were pinned. Dean, who has been in her position since 2023, said that the College of Education is doing great. 'We've got hundreds of students graduating as teachers every year,' Paulson said. 'Really proud of the contributions that they go on to make across the province.' Students are graduating from Saskatoon campus, SUNTEP in Saskatoon and Prince Albert, Indigenous Teachers Education Program (ITEP) in Saskatoon and other locations. 'We have a group studying in Pelican Narrows, and in Beauval as well, that's in partnership with Northern Lights School Division, and then we have ITEP cohorts in Beardies and Okemasis First Nation in White Bear First Nation and three others that are starting in the fall,' Paulson said. As well, teachers are continuing their education through graduate programs and moving into education leadership roles such as principals and directors of education. There is also a program for people working full time to earn doctorates. Paulson sees great things ahead for the education field. 'The future of education is bright challenging and open,' she said. 'It's such an exciting field to work in because there is so much change all the time, but so much opportunity and our students are just amazing and really stepping in as leaders.' Paulson said education is evolving at a rapid rate. Outdoor education, artificial intelligence, the challenges of truth and reconciliation, and mental health and well-being are constant subjects in education. 'People who enter education are brave and smart and committed, and it's just such an honour to work with them,' Paulson said. Paulson added that she hopes education students embrace the challenges of truth and reconciliation. 'I think this province has been a leader in that space and that's led to so much exciting growth,' Paulson said. 'The outdoor education movement has learned so much from Indigenous ways of knowing and land-based knowing. It's wonderful to see children across the province having those opportunities.' She said there is still work to be done around supporting mental health ensure that teachers are ready to deal with complex classrooms in the province. 'We know that has been such an issue,' Paulson said. 'It's our job to make sure that teachers are up for that challenge and have strategies to support the diversity of learners that they're going to encounter. My hope is that they're able to do that and that they'll innovate and develop and continue leading and take education in directions that we can imagine now. We need to give them those tools to understand where we're at and also be able to push us towards where we need to go.' Paulson said that the college is excited about the work that is being done in Prince Albert. That includes 45 years of SUNTEP in partnership with the Gabriel Dumont Institute, with more than 1,500 students graduating over that time. 'We're so proud of that and then we are really excited that we're able to offer programming here on this campus. We offer first year programming for the BeD here at the USask Prince Albert campus and as of next fall, we'll be offering year two.' She said that Prince Albert Campus Principal Jay Wilson is great to work with. 'We're really excited to give students that opportunity to study closer to home right to not have to come to Saskatoon to do their studies,' Paulson said.
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Tap into the power of positive change at All-Energy event in Glasgow
Many years ago, a speaker at All-Energy declared 'this is the AGM of renewables, everyone is here!'. In only a matter of weeks renewable and low carbon energy developers, investors, buyers, sellers, engineers, academics and industry experts from home and overseas will be arriving in Glasgow, in their thousands for the annual All-Energy exhibition and conference. 'The UK's largest event of its kind is the magnet drawing Scotland's First Minister, the UK Energy Minister, Scotland's Acting Climate Action Minister and experts from across the renewables and decarbonisation sectors as speakers and delegates; as well as exhibitors from 17 countries to the SEC Glasgow on 14 and 15 May,' explained Anam Khan, All-Energy's Event Manager from RX who own and organise the event 'This year's All-Energy is bigger than last year and brimming with more free networking, knowledge and technology to help us hit those Clean Power 2030 targets and engineer a net zero future together. 'Visitors will be able to find the latest technologies, services and advice from the 270+ exhibiting organisations; attend the world-class conference with its stellar line-up looking at the latest challenges, opportunities and innovative solutions across renewable power, low carbon heat, energy efficiency and low carbon transport.' She added: 'This is my first time attending All-Energy, and I am eager to experience it firsthand. I have heard a great deal about the dynamic atmosphere and the high level of business activity taking place. 'The exhibition really is an A-Z of the industry for we start with ABB and end the list with ZX Lidars our 270+ exhibitors include many of the big names such as ScottishPower, SSEN Transmission, Hitachi Energy UK, Vattenfall, Statkraft, RWE Generation, Innovate UK and Jera Nex. 'We also pride ourselves on the number of smaller organisations that return year after year, and this year also have over 60 exhibitors who are new to the show. 'The Team Scotland stand is where you can find the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International; Highlands and Islands Enterprise; South of Scotland Enterprise; Crown Estate Scotland; Zero Waste Scotland and Skills Development Scotland. "Our exhibitors come from Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and of course from all over the UK and Northern Ireland. 'The full exhibitor directory is online; our App will be launched pre-show.' Registration is open at All-Energy is free to attend for all with relevant business, governmental and academic interests and includes admission to the exhibition, the world class conference and show floor theatres; and the Civic Reception, held courtesy of the Rt Hon Lord Provost of Glasgow, which is an integral part of the Giant Networking Evening on 14 May at the Glasgow Science Centre. STELLAR LINE-UPS THE two day conference has three strands – the main conference that opens each day with a strong plenary session and then divides into 11 parallel sessions with stellar lineups; the seven show floor theatres, where the spotlight turns on cutting-edge technology, innovative solutions, software, AI, 'lessons learned' and case histories. The final component part is the academic poster display area where innovations can be shared with All-Energy's audience. Both the First Minister of Scotland, The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP, and UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP will deliver keynote addresses in the plenary session on the first morning of All-Energy; and Acting Climate Action Minister, Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP will deliver a keynote address in the opening heat session on 'Scotland's Heat Transition'. Following the First Minister's address a panel comprising the UK Energy Minister; Juergen Maier CBE, Chair of Great British Energy; Andrew Lever, Director – Energy Transition at the Carbon Trust; Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council; and a representative of the Climate Change Committee will discuss their work in line with Britain's Clean Power Mission. On day 2 (the plenary session chaired by Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde – 'Delivering the Clean Power 2030 Mission' starts with a keynote address by Chris Stark CBE, who heads Mission Control tasked with turbocharging UK to clean power. Then comes discussion by an expert panel comprising Professor Keith Bell, ScottishPower Chair in Smart Grids, University of Strathclyde, Co-Director UK Energy Research Centre, and member of the Climate Change Committee; Tom Glover, UK Country Chair, RWE; Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive, Energy UK; Darren Davidson, Vice President, Siemens Energy UK&I and Siemens Gamesa UK; and Rachel Fletcher, Director of Regulation and Economics, Octopus Energy. Anam Khan continued: 'After those compelling plenary sessions on both days, the conference splits into 11 parallel sessions featuring a true 'Who's Who' of the sectors we serve and devoted to all forms of renewable energy – onshore and offshore wind (both exceptionally strong programmes); solar; marine renewables (tidal stream and wave power); hydropower and tidal range; and bioenergy (biomass, energy from waste and biogas). 'The grid figure prominently on the programme with six dedicated sessions; and hydrogen with three. Other topics include energy storage; planning; skills and recruitment; investment; energy trading and much more. 'There are also streams and sessions on the decarbonisation of heat, the built environment, transport – this year looking at public EV charging, cities and industry. 'This year's programme, available online, also includes sessions on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) and mental health. The full programme is online enabling delegates to start planning how to fill their two days.' ---------------------------------------------- Sessions and 'fireside chats' focus on offshore revolution ALL-ENERGY 2025 delegates are in for an offshore wind treat. The UK's largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference features five 90-minute offshore wind sessions in the main conference plus a lunchtime 'fireside chat' involving Tim Pick MBE, Commissioner, Clean Power 2030 Advisory Commission; and Chair, Offshore Wind Growth Partnership; and a compelling show floor theatre programme. All-Energy's Headline Sponsor, Shepherd and Wedderburn creates two sessions for the offshore wind conference stream. The first looks at 'Offshore Wind 2024: A Year in Turmoil – How do we get back on track?' discussing the challenges the industry has faced in the last 12 months and at some of the global issues including politics and confidence in the supply chain. Chaired by Shepherd and Wedderburn's Colin Innes, the panellists – Charlie Jordan, CEO, ScottishPower Renewables; Claire Mack co-Chair of the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) and Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables; Jonathan Cole, Chair of GWEC; Isla Robb, Director of Offshore Renewables at the Energy Transition Zone, and a senior representative from Jera Nex – will consider how the industry can get back on track and deliver for the UK. Attention in Shepherd and Wedderburn's second session moves to ports in 'Are we there yet? The long port infrastructure journey' with National Wealth Fund's Colin Hudson; Global Energy Group's Iain Sinclair; Gillian Morrison from Crown Estate Scotland; Lewis Gillies of Haventus; and Susie Lind of BlueFloat Energy | Nadara Partnership and Shepherd and Wedderburn's Clare Foster in the Chair. Other main conference sessions in the offshore wind stream look at 'Floating wind – a strategic opportunity for the UK's clean power future' devised by Flotation Energy and chaired by its Chief Executive, Lord Nicol Stephen with speakers including Anil Sayhan, of the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership; Jimmy Williamson, of the Scottish National Investment Bank; Joanne Allday, from the Port of Cromarty Firth; and Geoff Aberdein, of True North Advisors. That is followed by 'Powering Safety: Energise your Workforce with the next Evolution in Safety' held in association with IMCA with Lisbeth Norup Frømling, Senior Vice President QHSE Ørsted and Chair of G+, amongst the speakers. The final offshore wind session is 'Harnessing Ocean Renewable Energy: Technology solutions for a resilient green hydrogen local supply chain' with Myrtle Dawes, CEO, Net Zero Technology Centre chairing. It is a session in two parts. First an overview by senior academics from Strathclyde, Newcastle and Cardiff universities of the major UKRI/EPSRC funded Ocean REFuel Research & Development programme that is establishing a fundamental understanding of hydrogen production from offshore wind, its transportation/storage and use. Then an expert panel comprising Carlo Procaccini, of NSTA; Hayleigh Barnett, of NZTC; Graeme Rogerson, Flotation Energy; and Charles Howorth, of TotalEnergies will discuss opportunities and challenges informed by technology and against the regional and national socio-macro/micro economic landscape. The show floor theatre programme spotlights case histories, technology and innovations. On 15 May a whole morning sees The Society for Underwater Technology (All-Energy's Learned Society Patron) and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult stage an introduction to key topics in offshore systems, focusing on the requirements, analysis methods and dependencies of moorings and cables. In a dozen bite sized 'chunks' it delves into the critical considerations for designing and implementing these systems, followed by discussions on the latest technologies and emerging solutions that are shaping the future of mooring systems and their components. Who is exhibiting? Use the online exhibitor directory and its filters to find out which stands you should visit This article was brought to you in association with All-Energy
