7 without the permission of the Council from two consecutive meetings of the Council of which he was given at least seven days’ notice, and that there was no just cause for the member’s absence. (3) The Minister may suspend from office any member against whom— (a) criminal proceedings have been instituted for an offence in respect of which a sentence of imprisonment without the option of a fine may be imposed; or (b) disciplinary proceedings are instituted by the Council; and while that member is so suspended he shall not carry out any functions as a member. 11 Filling of vacancies on Council (1) Every vacancy amongst the appointed or elected members of the Council shall be filled by the appointment or election, as the case may be, of another member in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as the member whose office has become vacant: Provided that, where an elected member dies or vacates his office— (a) less than three months before the expiry of his term of office, it shall not be necessary to elect a person to replace him before the date on which his term of office would have expired; (b) three or more months before the expiry of his term of office, the member elected to replace him shall hold office for the remainder of that term of office. (2) Subsection (2) of section five shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to any appointment or election in terms of this section. 12 Appointment of members in default of election (1) If the registered social workers fail, neglect or refuse for any reason whatsoever to elect all or any of the members referred to in paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section five or to fill a vacancy in terms of subsection (1) of section eleven, the Minister may appoint to the Council the number of members whom the registered social workers have failed, neglected or refused to elect or may appoint a member to fill the vacancy, as the case may be. (2) The Minister shall not appoint a member in terms of subsection (1) unless that member is a registered social worker. (3) A member appointed in terms of subsection (1) shall be deemed to have been duly elected to the Council. 13 Meetings and procedure of Council (1) The Council shall hold its first meeting on such date and at such place as the Minister may fix and thereafter the Council shall meet for the dispatch of business and adjourn, close and otherwise regulate its meetings and procedure as it thinks fit: Provided that the Council shall meet at least three times in each year. (2) The chairman of the Council— (a) may at any time convene a special meeting of the Council; and (b) shall, on the written request of no fewer than four members, convene a special meeting of the Council, which meeting shall be convened for a date no later than thirty days after his receipt of the request.