Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Parliament (SP) has announced its reopening for the 2021 academic year, which will take place virtually over Microsoft Teams on 8 April at 18:00.
According to Lukhanyo Ngamlana, SP chairperson, the agenda for the first SP sitting was finalised after receiving input from the community. It was then released to SU students via mass mailer on 30 March.
SU Student Parliament released its agenda for its first sitting, which will take place on 8 April. PHOTO: Supplied/Student Parliament Mass Mailer
“SP as an independent forum, exists as a mechanism to ensure and realise transparent and accountable administration, especially to the SU Student Representative Council (SRC),” said Ngamlana.
SP is a space in which students can voice their dissatisfaction with the SRC and ask SRC members to account for their actions and activities, or lack thereof, according to Ngamlana.
In addition to this, it is SP’s mandate “to institute a motion of no confidence in one or more SRC members, should there be sufficient grounds to do so”, added Ngamlana.
Checks and balances for SRC
It appears that some students have started to lose trust in the SRC, according to Zizo Vokwana, deputy chairperson of South African Students Congress (SASCO) Western Cape, on why the SP has a very relevant role to play. This was especially evident during the SRC public discussion around historic debt and student registration blocks which occurred on 17 March, added Vokwana.
“I think their [SRC] communication was really bad. We had to put them in a corner for them to actually inform us of what was happening,” said Vokwana.
SU Student Parliament chairperson, Lukhanyo Ngamlana. PHOTO: Alexander Brand
The SU SRC functions as a body that actively represents and promotes the interests and rights of students, according to Kira Alberts, vice-chairperson of the SRC. It serves as a bridge between the students and the institution, she added.
“Student Parliament stands as the housing of student issues and a platform for student engagement. It also acts as the body of accountability for all student leadership structures on campus,” commented Alberts.
An art installation in celebration of the Constitution of South Africa erected at SU’s Ou Hoofgebou (Old Main Building) in Ryneveld Street. PHOTO: Alexander Brand
Professor Wim de Villiers, vice-chancellor of SU, encouraged students to participate in SP to ensure good governance, as well as checks and balances.
“This speaks to the principles of holding our elected student leaders, such as the SRC and Tygerberg SRC, accountable to their student constituencies,” said De Villiers in emailed communication with MatieMedia.
The keynote speaker of the first sitting will be Edwin Cameron, chancellor of SU. Cameron’s “undying commitment to human rights and social justice, his incredible legacy as a Constitutional Court judge, and his activism” make him perfect for the role of keynote speaker, according to Ngamlana.