Stellenbosch University’s (SU) outgoing student representative council (SRC) declared the 2024/25 campus elections open at a first-of-its-kind event aimed at increasing voter turnout.
The event took place at the SU Museum on Monday 22 July, with Professor Thuli Madonsela, director of the SU Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), delivering the keynote address where she spoke about the importance of strong leadership.
Professor Thuli Madonsela, director of the Stellenbosch University Centre for Social Justice, addressing students during her keynote address at the declaration of campus elections. PHOTO: Eugene Marais
Voter turnout issues
The goal of the event was to increase voter turnout for the upcoming elections. Just 8% of registered students voted in last year’s SRC elections according to outgoing SRC chairperson, Phiwokuhle Qabaka.
“I just think it’s wrong that only [about] 10% of our student population votes for people who are going to be representing them on all these bodies,” she said.
Qabaka said that the SRC’s goal for this year is to increase voter turnout from 8% to at least 15% this year. To do this, Qabaka wanted to engage with the student community.
“I wanted to have this celebration on the first day of [our return to] campus, just to set the scene and create this buzz and excitement,” she said.
“It’s just [about] changing the narrative around the SRC and making it a more constructive place to be where we can all collaborate and unify our student body.”
Professor Thuli Madonsela (middle), director of the Stellenbosch University Centre for Social Justice, with some of the outgoing SRC members and other attendees. PHOTO: Eugene Marais
High hopes
Moses Shambare, chief electoral officer of SU’s student electoral commission, agreed that voter turnout will be their biggest challenge and urged students to participate in the elections in their numbers.
Shambare said that he expects at least above 50% of students to vote in the upcoming elections, and that mass participation is needed to ensure a balanced structure and outcome.
“People should know that by not voting, you are voting. […] Whoever is coming into the office is going to determine your life at this institution and the outcome of everything else that you are hoping for,” he said.
Thapelo Selokoma, a final year BSc student in biodiversity and ecology, said that the event was a welcome addition to the SRC calendar.
The event changed her perspective on what students could expect from the elections. She hopes that the event features regularly from now on, said Selokoma.
“If it grows and more people come through then we’ll have more of a turnout for voting,” she said.
SRC nominations are open until 29 July, while elections will take place from 14 to 28 August.
The outgoing Stellenbosch University (SU) student representative council (SRC) hosted a first-of-its-kind event to officially declare the campus elections open for the 2024/25 term on Monday, 22 July. VIDEO: Eugene Marais