To amend the Higher Education Act, 1997, so as to provide that the Higher Education Quality Committee is deemed to be accredited as an Education and Training Quality Assurance Body; to provide for the establishment of interim councils for new, declared or merged public higher education institutions; to provide for the dissolution of the council of a public higher education institution if 75 per cent or more of the members resign, and for the constitution of a new council; to provide for a seat for a public higher education institution; to provide  for the conferring of degrees and honorary degrees by a public higher education institution; to provide for the repeal of the Certification Council for Technikon Education Act 1986, the universities’ Private Acts and certain obsolete Acts; to make certain textual alterations; and to provide for matters connected therewith.