A recent open sitting with the intention of debating an amendment to the Stellenbosch University (SU) student constitution was cancelled following a lack of attendance by assembly members.
This was according to William Villet, the speaker of the SU Student Assembly.
A collective of 20 assembly members attended the meeting online and in person on 21 August, said Villet.
For the meeting to commence, the quorum requires that a minimum of 25 assembly members be present, explained Villet.
(Pictured above) Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Assembly members, William Villet (right facing camera), speaker of the SU Student Assembly and Cole Baker (left facing camera), deputy speaker of the SU Student Assembly waiting for more people to join a meeting held with the intention to amend the student constitution. PHOTO: Joseph Bracken
Impeachment potential
This is the first time the Student Assembly has missed quorum this year, said Villet.
The agenda of the meeting included a proposed amendment to Section 29(2)(a), said Villet.
This amendment would grant the Student Assembly the power to discharge an SRC member from office following a successful motion of no confidence, said Villet. This would be followed by an impeachment by the Student Imbizo, explained Villet.
A precarious amendment
The amendment should not be passed as is, said Banzi Bottoman, SRC’s policy officer.
The policy forum is chaired by the deputy speaker of the Student Assembly and deliberates on policies to ensure they are in line with the values and the rules of the student constitution, said Villet.
“The Policy Forum suggested that the amendment is precarious and should only be passed on the condition that rules are passed in the assembly,” said Bottoman. “This was our stance as the Policy Forum in our recommendations to the Student Assembly.”
William Villet, speaker of the Stellenbosch University Student Assembly, explains the process of the student constitution amendment debate that was meant to happen on 21 August. Audio: Joseph Bracken
An empty parliament
Elected leaders should have been present at the meeting, said Prince Qengqa, Student Representative Council (SRC) member and head of student wellness and student leadership development.
In general, committees do attend the sittings and the SRC can be commended for their record of attendance, according to Villet.
However, no members of The Societies Council have been present at Student Parliament sittings throughout this year, claimed Qengqa. “I never saw any of them, [other than] maybe once last year,” said Qengqa.
“It’s very disappointing because it is their duty to be here. They are elected student leaders and it is their duty to actually represent their constituents,” said Villet.
A meeting held by the Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Assembly at the Victoria Hub (pictured above) was cancelled after the minimum required number of assembly members was not met, according to William Villet, speaker of the SU Student Assembly. “The practical nuances that you face when you are doing something like this, particularly in the [Student] Parliament, can be quite problematic because you’re trying to navigate academic calendars as well,” said Villet. Photo: Joseph Bracken
The Societies Council’s attendance has not only been a problem this year, but previous years as well, said Villet.
SMF News reached out to Kim Stoffels, chairperson of The Societies Council for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
The next sitting will be held on 24 Aug, 5pm at the Krotoa building room1012, according to the official SU Student Parliament Instagram account.