Our Constitution

1. Name

The Society is an official group of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), an Association incorporated under Section 21, Reg. No. 05/00136/08 and its name shall be ‘The Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons of South Africa’ (hereinafter called ‘The Society’)

2. Objectives of the Society

The objectives of the Society are:

  1. To promote the practice of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery.
  2. To define and establish good relationships among Cardiothoracic Surgeons.
  3. To encourage good relationship between Cardiothoracic Surgeons and public and private healthcare institutions, authorities and service providers.
  4. To define and establish relationships between Cardiothoracic Surgeons and the public.
  5. To promote the professional and legitimate interests Cardiothoracic Surgeons.
  6. To promote continuing medical education and the training of undergraduates and future surgeons in cardiac and thoracic surgery.
  7. To promote all matters relating to the carrying out of the foregoing objectives or any one of them.

3. Membership of the Society

Any person who is a registered medical practitioner or a para-medical practitioner is eligible for membership provided that:

  1. His / Her professional practice is confined to the practice of the speciality of Cardiac and or Thoracic Surgery
  2. The nature of his / her practice is such as to give him / her a special interest in the subject of Cardio-Thoracic surgery.

3.1. Full Membership

Any medical practitioner who is registered as such with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and who is a member of the South African Medical Association (MASA), shall be entitled to apply for full membership of the Society

3.2. Affiliated Members

Medical practitioners registered as such with the HPCSA, including registrars in training in the Speciality of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and who are non-SAMA members shall be entitled to apply for affiliated membership. These members will enjoy all the benefits of the Society but shall not be allowed to vote on matters concerning SAMA nor have the right to be elected too any office of SAMA. Members of the Society shall at all times consist of at least 85% of full members

3.3. Associated Members

Persons Registered in SA as para-medical practitioners, including professional nurses with a special interest in the field of Cardio-Thoracic surgery shall be entitled to apply for associated membership provide that their professional body (if any) of which they are members, does not object. Associated members shall have no voting rights in matters affecting the Society or SAMA as a whole, and their participation in the activities of the Society shall be limited to professional and technical matters.

3.4. Honorary Members

Honorary membership, as defined in the Articles of SAMA, may be granted by the Executive Committee of the Society to persons who qualify for such membership in terms of the Articles of SAMA.

3.5. Overseas Members

Members of the Society who have left South Africa shall be entitled to apply for overseas membership. This membership carries no voting rights in in matters affecting the Society or SAMA. Any legally qualified medical practitioner who has been a member of the Society residing beyond the borders of the Republic of South Africa may qualify for overseas membership of the Society (including practitioners who are neither SAMA members nor registered with the HPCSA). Overseas members shall be entitled to such privileges as may from time to time be determined by the Executive Committee of the Society.

3.6. Election

Candidates for membership shall be elected by a majority of the Executive Committee of the Society after being duly proposed and seconded in writing by any two full members.

3.7. Termination of Membership

Every member shall remain a member until his membership is terminated either by his resignation in writing addressed to the Honorary Secretary, by a decision of the Executive Committee of the Society or by failing to pay the annual subscription. A member may be suspended if after twenty-four (24) months he/she has not paid his/her due subscriptions, but he/she may be reinstated by the Executive Council on payment of subscriptions in arrears. During the period of suspension, he/she shall not retain his/her vote.

3.8. Suspension

The activities of the society shall be suspended if at any time there are less than eleven (11) full members

4. Control of the Society

  1. The general control and direction of the policy and affairs of the Society shall be vested in the Executive Committee of the Society.
  2. In exercising control over the Society, the Executive Committee shall at all times abide by the Articles and By-Laws of SAMA
  3. The Executive Committee shall hold office for two years and shall consist of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, an Honorary Secretary, an Honorary Treasurer, and three members. The election of members to the Executive Committee shall be by popular vote at the Annual General Meeting of the Society.
  4. The Honorary Secretary may call for postal nominations for the new Executive Committee. Notice of the election and a request for nominations will be sent at least ninety (90) days before the Annual General Meeting.
  5. A list of office bearers, together with a complete list of members of the Society, shall be furnished annually to the Secretary-General of SAMA within 30 days of the election of such office bearers.
  6. The Honorary Secretary shall keep records of all meetings of the Society and of its Executive Committee, shall conduct all correspondence in connection with the affairs of the Society, and shall maintain records of all correspondence with SAMA on issues relating to Cardio-Thoracic surgery.
  7. The Honorary Treasurer shall receive all moneys due to the Society and shall make all disbursements authorised by the Executive Committee.

5. Meetings of the society

5.1. The annual general meeting

The annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held as far as is practicable during the Biennial Congress of the South African Heart Association alternating with the Biennial Cardio-Thoracic Forum.

5.2. Extraordinary general meeting

Extraordinary General Meetings of the Society may be held from time to time and shall be called by the Executive Committee on the written request of eleven (11) full members of the society.

5.3. Voting by proxy

Voting by proxy according to the Articles of SAMA shall be allowed at all General Meetings.

6. Action of the society

  1. The Society may take such actions as may be deemed necessary in all matters affecting the legitimate interests of its members, provided that SAMA as a whole be not involved or pledged to any action and that any action contemplated by the Society be in conformity with the policies of SAMA.
  2. Should the Society refer a matter affecting the interest of its members to the Federal Council or the Board of Trustees of SAMA for action, it shall take no further independent action unless requested to do so by the Federal Council or the Board of trustees.

7. organisation of the society

  1. It shall be competent for the Society to allow the formation of sub-groups of the Society within the framework of one or more branches or divisions of SAMA or in such other manner as may be desirable. Such sub-groups may be allowed powers of independent action in local matters provided that such action is not in conflict with the general policy and rules of the Society and of SAMA in general.
  2. Such subgroups shall elect a chairman and a committee consisting of whatever other members are considered appropriate. The Annual General Meeting of the sub-groups shall be held at least one month prior to the Annual General Meeting of the Society.
  3. Reports of the local action taken shall be submitted by the Honorary Secretary of the sub-group to the Honorary Secretary of the Society.
  4. Each sub-group shall have a minimum of three full members.
  5. One such subgroup shall be elected and appointed for ongoing representation of the society in negotiations with SAMA regarding fees and the tariff structure.

8. Subscriptions of the society

An annual subscription shall be payable by members of the Society to provide funds for the carrying out of the work of the Society. The amount of the subscription shall be determined by the Executive Committee from time to time depending on the needs of the Society.

9. annual Reports of the society

The chairman shall submit an Annual Report and the Honorary Treasurer a Financial Statement at the Annual General Meeting of the Society. A copy of each shall thereafter be transmitted to the Secretary-General of SAMA within thirty (30) days of the meeting.

10. Amendments to the constitution

Amendments to this constitution shall be effected only if passed by a two-thirds majority of those voting at a General Meeting of the Society. Any amendments to the constitution of the Society shall be approved by the Federal Council or Board of Trustees of SAMA before becoming operative.

11. Dissolution

In the event of the dissolution of the Society any remaining assets of the Society, after all debts have been settled and all obligations met, shall not be paid or given to, or divided among, the members of the Society, but shall be transferred to another Specialist or Special Interest group of SAMA engaged in activities similar to those for which this Society was established. Members attending the final Annual General Meeting of the Society or the Executive Committee of the Society will designate such Group. The assets may also be transferred or given to SAMA.