Research Ethics

All research at Unisa must obtain ethics clearance. CAES has two Research Ethics Committees:

UNISA-CAES Health Research Ethics Committee:

• Terms of reference
• Standard Operating Procedures

This Committee reviews applications for research that involves human participants (such as collection of data through questionnaires or interviews), plants, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biomedical research, as well as environmental research.

The Committee is registered with the National Health Research Ethics Council (Registration # REC-170616-051)

Chairperson
Dr MD Matlala
Email: matlamd1@unisa.ac.za

Deputy Chairperson
Dr HA Melville
Email: melviha@unisa.ac.za

Administrator
Ms MJ Van Wyk
Email: vwykmj@unisa.ac.za

Meeting schedule for 2026

UNISA-CAES Animal Research Ethics Committee:

• Terms of Reference
• Standard Operating Procedures

This Committee reviews applications for research that involves animals.

Chairperson
Dr A Wilson
Email: cheata@unisa.ac.za 

Deputy Chairperson
Prof A Tsotetsi-Khambule
Email: tkhamam@unisa.ac.za 

Administrator
Ms MJ Van Wyk
Email: vwykmj@unisa.ac.za

Meeting schedule for 2026:

Section 20 permit requirements:

All research projects that involves the use of animals must submit a Section 20 application to the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD):

• DALRRD cover letter
• Guidelines for Section 20 application
• Section 20 application form
• Section 20 Amendment request form

Research on controlled diseases

If you are doing research on a controlled disease, take note of the following communication from DALRRD on the use of unvalidated tests:

• Letter on use of unvalidated tests for controlled disease research

South African National Standard on the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (SANS 10386)

Researchers that will make use of animals in their research is required to familiarise themselves with the SANS 10386 stipulations and to ensure they adhere to these. The SANS 10386 can be accessed through the Unisa library by staff and registered students.

• Guide to access SANS 10386

Ethics application procedure:

Unisa has moved to an online application system. All CAES ethics applications should be done on the online platform:

• Applicant manual

Progress reports for online applications are done on the online application system.

Progress reports for pre-2023 applications must still be submitted manually to the ethics administrator.

• Form 4: Progress report / Amendment of research protocol for research that does not involve animals
• Form 6: Animal-specific Progress report / Amendment of research protocol
• Participant consent form
• Participant consent form for online surveys
• Adverse event report form
• Non-compliance report
• Whistleblower form
• Appeal form

Ethics training:

The Unisa Research Integrity Office offers a number of ethics training sessions / workshops throughout the year.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Unisa Research Ethics Review Committee (URERC)

• SOP: Authority lines
• SOP: Appeal
• SOP: Risk assessment
• SOP: Institutional ethics register
• SOP: Ethics certificates
• SOP: Complaint procedure
• SOP: Informed consent
• SOP: Management of allegations of research integrity transgressions