The name of the organisation shall be the “SOUTH AFRICAN JU-JITSU COUNCIL”, hereinafter referred to as the “Council” and abbreviated to “SAJJC”.
The purpose of the Council is to promote, foster and co-ordinate Ju-Jitsu and other recognised, related martial arts in South Africa through, inter alia:
2.1 The formulation of rules, regulations, procedures and standards to control and administer the art(s), and to adjudicate on their interpretation.
2.2 The provision of a parent body within the Council to control, regulate and promote the activities of all affiliated Ju-Jitsu and related martial art bodies. This body shall be known as the “Executive Board”.
2.3 Interaction, affiliation and exchange of information with such International bodies as may be deemed necessary for the purposes of international recognition and the elevation and maintenance of standards.
2.4 Membership of the SOUTH AFRICAN SPORT JU-JITSU AUTHORITY, or such other national body which may come into being for this purpose, in order to advance the sporting aspects of Ju-Jitsu.
2.5 Compilation and maintenance of membership, progress and award records.
2.6 Institution of an ongoing promotion and development programme.
2.7 Operation of a Technical Control Board for the control and management of all technical matters in support of the Provincial Technical Panels.
2.8 Compilation and maintenance of an Operating Procedures Manual, in which the operating regulations of the Council are detailed.
Membership of the Council shall be open to all provincial bodies practising Ju-Jitsu and the controlling bodies of recognised related martial arts, subject to the following provisions:
3.1 Initial applications for membership shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by the prescribed indemnity form and fee, which shall be determined annually. Approval of such applications shall rest with the Executive Board.
3.2 Annual membership renewals shall be subject to:
3.2.1 Timeous fulfilment of financial obligations.
3.2.2 Timeous compliance with other registration requirements.
3.2.3 Annual review by the Executive Board.
3.3 The Provincial boundaries shall be as defined by the Council in terms of the current South African Constitution and current practise within National Sporting Bodies. These Provinces may be divided into sub-Provinces at the discretion of the Provincial Executive Board. Each sub-Province will, in that case, be entitled to separate full provincial representation on the Council
3.4 Individuals or clubs requesting membership shall be referred to the relevant existing provincial bodies for affiliation, or assisted in forming additional provincial bodies where necessary.
4.1 The control and management of the Council will be vested in an Executive Board, which will consist of:
4.1.1 A Chairman, who shall have a minimum of Shodan grading in Ju-Jitsu and shall serve a three (3) year term of office.
4.1.2 A Vice-Chairman, who shall have a minimum of Shodan grading in Ju-Jitsu and shall serve a three (3) year term of office.
4.1.3 A Secretariat of up to three (3) members including a Treasurer with no grading requirement and shall serve a three (3) year term of office.
4.1.4 One representative (usually the Chairman) from each registered Provincial or sub-Provincial Ju-Jitsu body and from each registered related martial art, each of whom shall have a minimum of Shodan grading in the relevant art. Such representative may be changed by the province or martial art concerned from time to time provided that the Council is advised of such change in writing, and that the replacement representative is nominated in the written advice.
4.1.5 The Chairman of the Technical Control Board, who shall have a minimum of Godan grading in Ju-Jitsu and shall serve a three (3) year term of office. This Technical Control Board shall operate in accordance with the Technical Procedures Manual. Any alteration or addition to this Manual shall be at the discretion of the Technical Control Board and shall be advised to Provincial Councils and documented by the Executive Board.
4.2 The term of office of any member of the Executive Board elected by vote may be terminated at an Annual or Special General Meeting by a two-thirds majority vote.
4.3 Administration of the Council shall be effected by the Executive Board at meetings, which shall be called from time to time. Such meetings will be closed meetings allowing attendance of invited guests only.
4.4 Members of the Council who belong to registered related martial arts will not be eligible for election to any of the offices stipulated in Articles 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3 and 4.1.5.
5.1 The Chairman shall be responsible for, inter alia:
5.1.1 Presiding over all meetings of the Council.
5.1.2 Ensuring that the rules of the Council and the terms of this constitution are strictly adhered to at all times.
5.1.3 Convening of Council meetings as deemed necessary.
5.1.4 Appointing and subsequent discharging of such sub-Committees or Committee Members as may be deemed necessary by the Executive Board for specific functions.
5.1.5 Being a member of all sub-Committees.
5.2 The Vice-Chairman shall be responsible for, inter alia:
5.2.1 Assisting the Chairman in the performance of his duties.
5.2.2 Performing the duties of the Chairman in his absence.
5.3 The Secretariat shall be responsible for, inter alia:
5.3.1 Preparing the agenda and keeping a true record of the proceedings at all Council meetings.
5.3.2 Giving due notice of all meetings to those entitled to receive them.
5.3.3 The collection, preparation and distribution of the authorised correspondence of the Council.
5.3.4 Causing proper, annually audited books of account to be kept in respect of all of the financial transactions of the council.
5.3.5 Receiving and depositing all moneys received by the Council and issue receipts in respect thereof.
5.3.6 Making payment of all accounts authorised by the Executive Board.
5.3.7 Submit regular financial reports to the Executive Board at each meeting.
5.3.8 Maintaining and controlling access to the administrative and membership records of the Council. At all authorised inspections of the records the Chairman or Vice-Chairman must be present.
5.3.9 Generally attending to such administrative duties as the Executive Board may direct.
5.4 The Secretariat shall not be entitled to a vote at any Council meeting.
6.1 To conduct all meetings of the Council, at which a quorum shall be two thirds of the serving members, with each member as listed in Articles 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.4 and 4.1.5 having one normal vote. Decisions will be taken by a bare majority vote, unless otherwise stated in this Constitution. The Chairman or acting Chairman shall have a casting vote when votes are equally divided. Votes shall be indicated by a show of hands, unless the Chairman rules that a ballot be held.
6.2 To draw up, amend or dispense with any of the standard rules, regulations, conditions of membership, norms or procedures of the Council of a non-technical nature.
6.3 To transact on behalf of the Council any business which does not specifically under this Constitution require the sanction of a General Meeting.
6.4 To adjudicate upon and settle disputes relating to the rights, privileges and duties of any member, the interpretation of this Constitution and the interpretation of the Council’s Operating Procedures Manual.
6.5 To investigate, suspend and impose the prescribed penalty regarding any breach of the Council’s Rules of Conduct as detailed in the Operating Procedures Manual.
The official language of the Council shall, for administrative purposes, be English.
The Annual General Meeting of the Council shall be held not later than three (3) calendar months after the close of the financial year, and shall be open to all members of the Council. However, only those members of the Executive Board empowered with a vote will be eligible to do so.
The Secretariat shall advise Executive Board members of the date, time, venue and agenda of the meeting not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to such meeting. The dissemination of this information shall be the responsibility of the relevant Executive Board members.
Special General Meetings of the Council may be convened subject to the following conditions:
9.1 At least three (3) members of the Executive Board request the meeting.
9.2 Requests are received by the Secretariat in writing at least twenty-one (21) days before the date of the proposed meeting.
9.3 The exact objects of the meeting are stipulated for the agenda.
9.4 A quorum for these meetings shall be two thirds of the voting members.
9.5 The meeting shall be open to all members of the Council, however only those members of the Executive Board empowered with a vote will be eligible to do so.
9.6 The Secretariat shall advise Executive Board members of the date, time, venue and agenda of the meeting not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to such meeting. The dissemination of this information shall be the responsibility of the relevant Executive Board members.
9.7 The meeting shall address only matters appearing on the agenda and amendments thereto.
Amendments to this Constitution may be made only at a General Meeting (Annual or Special) provided that:
10.1 Notice of the proposed amendment has been placed on the agenda by the Secretariat.
10.2 The existing and proposed wordings within the Constitution are quoted on the notice, which must be given in terms of Article 9 of this Constitution.
10.3 A two-thirds majority vote in favour of the acceptance of the amendment is registered.
The Council will be addressed through the Chairman or representative appointed by the Executive Board.
Annually, not later than 28th February, each member Province, sub-Province or related martial art shall pay to the Secretariat such fees as may be determined by the Executive Board. Should such fees remain unpaid at 31st March following, the relevant member shall be in default and shall not be entitled to exercise a vote at any Meeting until such fees have been paid. Continued default shall entitle The Executive Board to suspend or expel such member.
No member province or martial art, or any other person shall be entitled to use the name of the Council or to represent him/herself as being an Officer, Agent or representative of the Council without its written consent. Anyone so doing shall, if a member, be liable to expulsion from the Council in addition to such penalties as may be imposed by the Courts in terms of the Laws of the Republic of South Africa.
Each Member Body shall indemnify the Council and its Officials against loss or damage to any person or property arising out of any negligent, wrongful or unlawful act committed by its constituent members on any premises under control of the Council. The Council shall not be liable to make good any loss or damage suffered by any member or other person during any event held under the jurisdiction of the Council.
In the event of the Council being dissolved, all assets remaining after liabilities have been met shall be divided equally between the registered, affiliated members in good standing at the time of the dissolution.