Concerns over lack of training and handover processes between student leadership structures had been raised following a recent public meeting held by the Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Representative Council (SRC).
During the meeting on 17 February, held to address issues around access to affordable student accommodation, various SRC members raised their concerns about the handover process from the previous SRC of 2021/2022.
“The handover reports were incomplete and there were a lot of things that this SRC did not understand because the reports we received were not complete,” claimed William Sezoe, current SRC vice-chairperson, during the meeting.
During subsequent interviews, current and former SRC members raised similar concerns to MatieMedia.
Student Representative Council, SRC, Vice-Chairperson, William Sezoe addressing the crowd regarding support provided by the council. VIDEO: Mia van der Merwe
More training suggested
“There was not enough training done specific to the SRC context,” said Masilo Silokazi, the current SRC chairperson, regarding the training the SRC received when beginning their term in 2022.
“Had we had a clearer training or message or emphasis on how the SRC functions as a whole, I think it would be clearer on how to cope as a unit instead of individually or separately,” Silokazi stated during a follow up interview regarding the mass meeting.
A former SRC member, who requested anonymity, told MatieMedia that handover reports and term reports were complete and had been handed over to Student Governance, SU’s student body government. This person felt that a problem, rather, was a lack of “sufficient training for different leaders” from Student Governance.
However, Anele Mdepa, who manages Student Governance, said that there was a smooth transition – from student leaders to training to the leaders coming into their role. In email communication with MatieMedia, Mdepa also highlighted the unit’s support of student leaders.
Students join together as they wait to be addressed by the Student Representative Council regarding the housing issues and the registration issues. VIDEO: Mia van der Merwe
Frustrations evident
Feelings of frustration and uncertainty were evident at the mass meeting, according to Emma Bowers Swart, chairperson of the Academic Affairs Council (AAC) and SRC executive member.
Having an adequate handover with the previous SRC, in terms of having a sit-down and run through of the portfolios and a possible job shadowing, would have eased feelings of frustration and uncertainty, claimed Silokazi.
The offices of Stellenbosch University’s Student Representative Council are located on the third floor of the Neelsie Student Centre. PHOTO: Cheyenne Haas