The Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Representative Council (SRC) elections continued as normal, despite the disqualification of a candidate shortly before voting closed.
This was according to Francesca Visagé, the 2021 SRC election convener.
Zizo Vokwana, the candidate who was disqualified, told MatieMedia that she was informed of the disqualification on 2 September, while voting closed at midnight on 3 September. Vokwana was disqualified after she was found guilty of contravening the Disciplinary Code for Students on 31 August. It is understood that she had three cases against her, and that the process had been ongoing at the Central Disciplinary Committee (CDC) since April.
Zizo Vokwana was disqualified from the 2021 Stellenbosch University Student Representative Council (SRC) elections on 2 September, after she was found guilty of contravening the Disciplinary Code for Students, in a case that was ongoing at the Central Disciplinary Committee (CDC). This was according to Vokwana. PHOTO: Supplied/Zizo Vokwana
Despite the disqualification, the decision was made to keep Vokwana on the voting portal and continue the election as planned, according to Visagé.
“It is to ensure, as far as possible, the fairness and the legitimacy of the votes that have been cast and will be cast. That is why we will not be announcing anything at this stage,” said Visagé, with reference to Vokwana’s disqualification. Visagé spoke to MatieMedia on the day that voting closed.
There is no obligation for prospective SRC candidates to make the electoral committee aware of ongoing investigations at the CDC, said Visagé.
“The CDC should have placed a greater emphasis on reaching a conclusion in [Vokwana’s] cases, prior to allowing her to run [for the SRC]. This process should have been expedited and should have reached resolution by then,” said Lukhanyo Ngamlana, the chairperson of the SU Student Parliament.
Lukhanyo Ngamlana, the chairperson of the Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Parliament, speaks about the disqualification of SU Student Representative Council (SRC) candidate, Zizo Vokwana, from the election process.
Basis for disqualification
Vokwana told MatieMedia that the CDC investigation was initiated after she posted on social media criticising SU’s handling of a case of sexual assault that took place at Lobelia, a senior residence at SU.
“Ms Vokwana is a senior student who is well aware of support services on campus, and she failed to verify to what extent these options were pursued or exhausted before the messages were posted on Facebook,” according to the CDC’s condensed report, which was sent to Vokwana, and provided reasons for the sanctions against her. MatieMedia has seen a copy of this report.
Based on the document seen by MatieMedia, two of the cases against Vokwana were linked to posts made on social media, while a third was linked to a social gathering where she allegedly “failed to adhere to the No Alcohol Policy in [r]esidences”.
Meanwhile, the SU Anti-Gender-Based Violence Movement released a statement on Facebook on 3 September, detailing its stance against what it claimed was “Stellenbosch University’s consistent, unfair treatment of student activist and leader, Zizo Vokwana”.
A media statement released by the Stellenbosch University Anti-Gender-Based Violence Movement, following the disqualification of Zizo Vokwana as a candidate from the SU Student Representative Council (SRC) elections, detailed the organisation’s stance against Vokwana’s disqualification. POST: Facebook/Anti-GBV Movement SU
“Stellenbosch University respects the independence of the students’ election process and should not interfere with it, as it is guided by the Student Constitution,” stated Martin Viljoen, spokesperson for SU.
Viljoen explained that the election process was independent of SU, and said that the election conveners would communicate on the matters at hand on 6 September.