​​Committee for Spatial Information​

The Spatial Data Infrastructure Act (Act No. 54 of 2003) mandates the Committee for Spatial Information (CSI) to amongst others advise the Minister, the Director General and other Organs of State on matters regarding the capture, management, integration, distribution and utilisation of geo-spatial information. The CSI through its six subcommittees developed a Programme of Work (Annexure A) to guide the work to be done by the CSI in achieving the objectives of SASDI.

The different Sub-committees were tasked with different projects and activities. The highlights include but not limited to:

  • The Data Sub-committee conducted a study to identify base datasets and their corresponding custodians and submitted a final report to CSI as part of finalising the policies;

  • The Policy subcommittee managed to finalise the two important policies for Minister's approval;

  • The systems subcommittee was able to implement an interim solution for capturing and publishing of metadata;

  • The Education and Training subcommittee launched a very important project that will investigate the supply and demand of GISc skills nationally to address socio economic ills of the country;

  • The Standards subcommittee was able to finalise negotiations about a site license between the Department of Rural Development and Land reform and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS); and

  • The Marketing and Communications subcommittee was able to finalise the design of the CSI logo for branding purposes.

1. Establishment of Committee for Spatial Information           

(1) The Committee for Spatial Information is hereby established.

(2) The Committee consists of the following members appointed by the Minister:

(a) One person to represent the Minister;

(b) two persons in the full-time employ of the Department;

(c) one person in the full-time employment of each of-

(i)      Statistics South Africa, as defined in section 1 of the Statistics Act, 1999 (Act No. 6 of 1999);

(ii)     the national department of Provincial and Local Government; and

(iii)    such other national departments of state identified by the Minister;

(d) one person from each provincial government, in the full-time employ of such government;

(e) two persons in the full-time employ of local municipalities, one of whom shall be from a municipality which is mainly rural in character and the other from a municipality which is mainly urban in character;

(f) one person to represent the Council of Government Information Technology Officers;

(g) one person to represent a professional association of persons involved in Geographic Information Science;

(h) one person involved in the teaching or research of Geographic Information Science;

(i) at least one person to represent the interests of public entities contemplated in Schedules 2 and 3 to the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999), that perform functions which support the objects of this Act; and

(j) one person from each data custodian as identified by the Minister.

(3) The Minister must, after calling for nominations from the public in the prescribed manner, and-

(a) in respect of paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2), after consultation with the Ministers responsible for those departments;

(b) in respect of paragraph (d) of subsection (2), after consultation with the Premiers of the respective provinces; and

(c) in respect of paragraph (e) of subsection (2), after consultation with the Chairperson of the South African Local Government Association, appoint the members of the Committee and an alternate member for each such member.

(4) The Minister must appoint from among the members of the Committee a chairperson and a deputy chairperson.

(5) When the chairperson is unable to perform the functions of that office, the deputy chairperson must perform those functions.

(6) The Minister must, within 30 days from the date of appointment of the members of the Committee, publish the names of the appointees, the position held by each appointee to the Committee and the date of each appointment, by notice in the Gazette.

(7) If a member dies or vacates his or her office before the expiry of his or her term of office, the Minister may, subject to subsection (2), appoint any person to fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the period for which such member was appointed.

2. Powers and functions of Committee           

(1) The Committee must advise the Minister, the Director-General or an organ of state dealing with spatial information on-

(a) matters referred to the Committee by the Minister, the Director-General or an organ of state;

(b) any matter regarding the capture, management, maintenance, integration, distribution and use of spatial information; and

(c) any matter the Committee considers necessary or expedient for achieving the objectives of the SASDI.

(2) The Committee-

(a) must facilitate, promote and safeguard an environment for the efficient collection, management, distribution and utilisation of spatial information;

(b) must monitor and acquire information relating to the functioning of the SASDI;

(c) must support the functioning of any structure or measure established under this Act;

(d) may print, circulate, sell, finance and administer the publication of any material relating to spatial information;

(e) must promote awareness of its activities, including dissemination of information on the importance of spatial information for effective governance, planning and decision making;

(f) must, within three months after the end of each financial year, submit a report to the Minister, stating the activities of the Committee and its subcommittees and any recommendations from the Committee aimed at improving its functioning or the functioning of the SASDI; and

(g) may do anything necessary for the proper performance of its functions or to achieve the objectives of the SASDI.