By By Teboho Fumbeza
Today, the 28th of July 2017, UJ SRC made its first move to highlight that they are not friends to the management but a credible students’ representative body.
The acting president of the SRC, Letlhogonolo Maimane, showed discontent of the past SRC leadership. He stressed that the aftermath of the previous leadership has made students to lose faith in the current SRC.
“We had an SRC that had proximity with the management, where they could not draw a line that this is us and them,” Maimane said. “The purpose of this meeting is to take action against problems faced by students.”
The key issues that students complained about are food allowance for all students, concerns for students who fall victim to rape, introducing unisex toilets for LGBTI students.
Another issue that did not go unnoticed is the fact that a considerable number of students are failing to acquire funding. Only 75 post graduates received funding and out of the 1400 appeals launched, only 43 were answered.
The gathering is said to be a “mass meeting” but the turnout number failed miserably. Maimane said their posters to inform students of this meeting were removed by unknown persons.
Another factor that led to failure in turnout was because “the database of SMS communication from the SRC to students was retrieved by UJ management,” said Maimane.
Maimane also reiterated that there is fragmentation within the organization that needed to end and that students should unite.
“We need not to be fragmented, [this fragmentation is noticeable as] other student organizations cannot sit with us around a table to discuss issues that concern students because they want to label SASCO as politically affiliated with the ANC,” said Maimane.
Maimane said that there would be more unity through UJ Parliament and its committees using panel discussions to unite and address issues of students. TOJ
Feature image: The acting president of UJ SRC, Maimane addressing students about the state of the campus on the 28th of July 2017.
Image courtesy to Magnificent Mndebele
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