William Sezoe, outgoing vice-chairperson of the Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Representative Council (SRC), explained how the interruption in the handover process impacted SU students and the incoming SRC. Audio: Supplied/William Sezoe
A Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Representative Council (SRC) chairperson was elected on 25 September, after a Student Court interdict halted the election processes.
This was confirmed by Phiwokuhle Qabaka, the newly elected SRC chairperson.
The Student Court’s interdict interrupted the SRC handover process, initially set to start on 18 September, said Bridget Massey, chairperson of the Electoral Committee (EC).
The interdict started on 7 September and ended on 23 September, according to Qabaka.
Phiwokuhle Qabaka (pictured above) was elected as the new Stellenbosch University Student Representative Council (SRC) chairperson for 2023/2024 after the SRC electoral process was initially interrupted due to a Student Court interdict, said Qabaka. PHOTO: Joseph Bracken
Effects on SU
During the interdict, some of the previous term’s SRC members continued to fulfil the SRC duties, said Massey. However, they could not make decisions on behalf of the newly elected SRC, she added.
The delay in the handover process posed a challenge for the acting SRC as they were operating without management and direction, according to William Sezoe, outgoing vice-chairperson of the SRC.
“The fact that the election [was] already outside its timeline – and [then a] further delay – [was] definitely of great concern,” he added.
SRC members form part of various student governing bodies on campus and these structures were also impacted by the delay, said Sezoe.
The SRC was not able to sit on necessary committees or task teams, such as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme task team, “so eventually when they come in they will be completely lost”, he claimed.
The incoming Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Representative Council (SRC) were unable to occupy the SRC offices (pictured above) due to an interrupted handover process, said William Sezoe, outgoing vice-chairperson of the SU SRC. Photo: Mia van der Merwe
Moving on
The interdict was implemented because one of the candidates for the new term, Amahle Sityata, approached the Student Court to dispute her disqualification from the elections, said Massey.
Sityata was disqualified due to alleged complaints from two students against her during the time of her campaign, according to official SU Student Court documents.
Meanwhile, Sityata told SMF News via WhatsApp communication that she would not be “continuing with [the] SRC anymore because I’ve lost interest in it”.
The rest of the SRC executive positions were announced at the internal SRC caucus on 26 September.
The SRC executive positions are as follows:
- Vice-chair: Abongile Quthu (they/them)
- Secretary general: Mzwakhe Bolotina (he/him)
- Treasurer: Ongezwa LiqaTshazi (she/her)
- Executive member: Risuna Risimati (she/her)
- Executive member: Reagan Johnson (he/him)