We, the current membership of the NTCF hereby accept this constitution as a supreme document upon which the mission, objectives, and activities of the NTCF are to be based It is the final reference for all decisions of the NTCF and we agree to abide by their contents and the guidelines of the constitution at all times of the active membership to the NTCF.
We, the Teachers Christian Fellowship (NTCF) of KwaZulu Natal, acknowledge our historical context within the African continent, KwaZulu Natal our province.
We resolve to unite under the umbrella of our Christian faith, and to build a structure of moral, emotional, cultural, financial and clinical support through various means within the confines of our faith.
We therefore determine this Teachers Christian Fellowship (NTCF) of KwaZulu Natal, as a legitimate structure to appropriately channel this joint vision of its membership.
To realize its objective the NTCF shall form a leadership body to guide its vision and programs of action as the general membership may determine, and as indicated in this constitution.
On behalf of the general membership of the NTCF, the executive body (committee) shall:
The Teachers Christian Fellowship aspires to transform schools and education to environments of love and care for the developing learners
The motto of one school one NTCF Christian teacher will be realized through:
The core values that we as NTCF will strive to maintain represent the character we wish to posses and they stand as the criteria by which we examine ourselves. All our activities shall be consistent with what we preach.
The following definitions are clarified:
This constitution shall bind all registered members of the National Teachers Christian Fellowship (NTCF)
The name of the body shall be the National Teachers Christian Fellowship (NTCF) – hereinafter referred to as the NTCF.
There shall be 3 structures of the NTCF
1.4.4.1.1 Council may decide from time to time how many representatives from each region should be members of Council.
1.4.4.1.2 Council shall at least meet two times per year to develop and approve policies and strategic plans of the Provincial Executive Committee.
1.4.4.2.1 It shall develop the vision and formulate policies of the NTCF
1.4.4.2.5 It shall advise the Provincial Executive Committee on matters pertaining to context of operation and strategy
1.4.4.2.6 It shall monitor the functioning of the National Executive Committee
The Executive committee is the highest in decision making body of the NTCF – representing the general membership of the entire NTCF structure – subject to this constitution.
The Executive committee shall consist of not less than 3 and not more than 7 registered members who either volunteered, are elected (or nominated),or appointed annually and approved by the absolute majority of the general membership of the NTCF.
A member may nominate him/herself to serve as an executive member of the NTCF. Such voluntary self – nomination should however, be approved by the simple majority
The NTCF must at its first meeting elect from among the members in the manner prescribed in the constitution the following officers to comprise the Executive Committee
2.1.1 Chairperson
2.1.2 Deputy Chairperson
2.1.3 Secretary
2.1.4 Deputy Secretary
2.1.5 Treasure
2.1.6 Deputy Treasurer
2.1.7 Public Relations Officer
2.1.6 Events Organizer
Subject to the provision of this constitution, the NTCF Executive committee may:
2.2.1 Convene NTCF meetings
2.2.2 Ensure implementation of the constitution
2.2.3 Administer NTCF in the absence of the office and staff
2.2.4 Execute any mandate transferred to it by the Council
2.2.5 Implement Council policies and strategies
2.3.1 The chairperson shall lead and direct the activities of the Executive committee and ensure the effective functioning of the NTCF executive and the entire NTCF body.
2.3.2 The chairperson shall, as the need may arise, order routine as well as special meetings of the Executive, special committee and the general membership of the NTCF
2.3.3 The chairperson shall chair (or make necessary arrangements to ensure a responsible chairing of) the meeting of the NTCF.
2.3.4 The NTCF Executive committee shall reaffirm additional powers of the chairperson and all its officials – according to different tasks and responsibilities that emerge from time to time
2.3.5 The NTCF is founded on and shall be guided by the principal of transparency and constant accountability of and to its members, throughout its existence.
2.4.1 Meetings of the NTCF Executive Committee must take place from time to time in the manner prescribed in the constitution.
2.4.2 50% +1 of the members of the NTCF Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
3.1.1 Special projects (other types of businesses outside the NTCF traditional scope)
3.1.2 Fund raising projects
3.1.3 Education and Counseling
3.1.4 Biblical contextualisation
3.1.5 Traveling matters
3.1.6 HIV and AIDS Programme
A member of the Executive committee ceases to hold office if and when :
3.2.1 He/she ceases to be Christian
3.2.2 He/she tenders his/her resignation in writing
3.2.3 Has unanimously been deemed unsuitable by the quorum (50% +1) and thereof dismissed by the rest of the Executive members of the NTCF
3.2.4 He/she has had two motions of censure passed on him/her during a single term of office by the Executive committee no one or more of the following grounds
The Executive Committee holds office for 4 years unless deemed unfit due to dysfunctionality
The Executive must constitute the following standing committee, whose composition, functions and duties be prescribed by the Executive.
3.5.1 The NTCF executive committee must meet from time to time to carry-out its mandate. The executive may agree on the routine and the frequency of its meeting as the need may determine
3.5.2 The quorum for a NTCF meeting is 50% + 1 of the members holding office at a time
4.1.1 The NTCF shall open and manage a bank account (or accounts) for various purposes deemed necessary for the running of its financial business
4.1.2 The NTCF may establish a close corporation (cc) in line with the close corporation Act, cc Act 69 of 1984 as amended
4.1.3 Signing arrangements in such a cc shall be in line with guidelines set out under the constitution: the Executive signing arrangements
4.1.4 The Executive shall be responsible for the smooth running of the CC. A specific committee or nominees of the NTCF may be selected, nominated or appointed in the line with the guidelines of this constitution- to serve in and run the close corporation.
4.15 Profits of such a close corporation shall be used to advance the general objectives and the mandate of the NTCF
4.1.6 The NTCF Council shall administer the financial matters of the Fellowship
4.1.7 The Council shall authorize three of its members and entrust them with the power to sign contracts and financial correspondence including bank accounts
4.1.8 The signing officials on the financial matters shall comprise the treasurer plus one (or two other members) as the Council may determine.
4.1.9 The President or chairperson of the Provincial or District Executive Committee shall be entrusted with powers of signing contracts , to conclude deals and business transactions on behalf of the NTCF Executive Committee and the general NTCF membership
4.1.10 Such powers shall be used in a responsible manner and for furthering the interests of the general structure and the membership of the NTCF
Development agencies may be established by the NTCF and when the need arises.
A development agency must:
5.2.1 be inclusive and representative of NTCF members
5.2.2 have a clearly defined service or product objective and must not be merely coordinative in nature
5.2.3 be staffed by NTCF volunteers; provided that the NTCF may appoint and mandate a person to carry out its business operations and may remunerate them
5.2.4 Provide a regular service
5.2.5 be empowered to outsource special expertise not available within its members – provided such expertise will enhance the general objective of the NTCF and enable the realization of the purpose of its existence.
A Development agency has the following functions and duties
6.1 to provide excellent and professional services according to its mandate, regulations and codes of ethics, as well as in accordance with the objectives of the NTCF
6.2 to serve the diverse NTCF membership and the surrounding communities
6.3 to be accountable to the board NTCF body through the Executive Committee
6.4 to design and implement programmer and coordinate their structure in a manner that affirms the principles outlined in the preamble to this Constitution.
6.5 to meet with an Executive or a member thereof with regard to any issue pertaining to the NTCF Development Agency concerned;
6.6 to provide the NTCF Executive Committee with their planned programmes for their term of office.
NTCF may convene general meetings of its members to consolidate its mandate, or to provide a platform for debate and to serve as a tool to translate the principal of democracy, accountability and transparency of its activities, or to promote the translation of governance into action.
7.2.1 The NTCF must convene at least ( but not limited to) two general meeting per year in order to account to its members on the progress made and a report must be given at such a meeting
7.2.2 An emergency meeting may be called by the NTCF, should an urgent matter affecting the members arise
7.2.3 Members may request a general meeting through a petition, signed by at least a quarter of the general membership – handed over to the NTCF Secretary General
7.2.4 The Secretary must after receiving the petition, inform the NTCF Executive Committee and convene such a meeting within two weeks after the petition has been received
7.2.5 A special meeting must be conducted in a manner prescribed in the standing rules.
7.2.6 Notice of the date, time, venue and agenda of a special meeting must be given at seven days before such a meeting, except in the case of Emergency Meetings
7.3.1 The Secretary General and or the President of the NTCF may chair general meetings
7.3.2 Attendance at general meetings is compulsory for all NTCF members
7.3.3 The Secretariat of the NTCF shall be responsible for taking minutes of such a meeting and publicizing such minutes to general membership.
7.3.4 A resolution taken by a simple majority of a special general meeting of at least a quarter of the NTCF general membership binds the NTCF
Any amendments to this constitution or rules shall be by two – thirds Absolute majority of the general membership of the NTCF
The NTCF may by any absolute majority adopt, amend, or repeal standing rules to regulate its activities and must make standing rules to cover
NTCF Elections must take place after every four years as prescribed in this constitution. It is must be conducted by nomination and voting
10.1 The NTCF may be dissolved on a Resolution passed by a majority of provinces present at an annual general meeting of the province, called for that purpose
10.2 Twenty-one (21) days’ notice shall be given on such meeting which will specify the purpose for which the meeting has been called. In the event of NTCF being dissolved, no portion of its assets shall be disposed off to the members thereof, but shall after all liabilities have been met, transferred or made over to some other organization, having aims and objectives of a similar nature to those of the NTCF within the area of operation of the NTCF which areas are determined by this Constitution
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