Dare we get excited about our new SRC?

SRC President Hlomela Bucwa and Deputy President Thanduxolo Bhengu

Year in and year out, we go through the motions of electing a new Student Representative Council (SRC), and year in and year out, we hear exciting manifestos and promises of progress, most of which amount to naught.

This year, dare we hope that the young men and women tasked with representing the students of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) will live up to their promises?

I’m hopeful.

In fact, I’m excited about the SRC of 2014/15 after attending their investiture today.

Not only do we have our first female president since NMMU began ten years ago, but we also have a team which, at face value, recognises its role as servant leaders.

What a pleasant change from the usual demands of the Me-Myself-I generation.

This team of 21, along with seven faculty representatives, is committing itself to honesty, humility and to seeking solutions if the inaugural speech by its president Hlomela Bucwa is to be believed (see full transcript of speech at end).

I believe it. I believe it because the final-year Law student spoke with sincerity and passion. She spoke of the vision of the SRC, its simple mission of representing all students and its many strategic priorities – not least of which is ensuring that those who are academically deserving of studying further be given that opportunity.

“We practice a humanizing approach within the classroom. But there is nothing humane about a student who is forced to sleep in the bathroom; there is nothing humane about turning away a student with 41 points just because there is no funding; how can we send students out to sleep on the streets?

“We need to have a humanizing approach outside of the classroom too,” an eloquent Hlomela implored her high-profile audience of NMMU executive management.

And that is why the new SRC has committed to prioritise and attend to what is really important – starting with access the education for deserving students.

For Hlomela this also means “the parties, Mr and Miss NMMU, and the like” will have to wait too. “It’s simple. It’s about going back to basics and recognising our priorities”.

With only 381 first-year students successful in attaining NSFAS funding (they heard on Friday last week), Hlomela and her team know that much work lies ahead. After all, NMMU welcomed 5 850 students to its ranks on Saturday. Considering that the bulk of NMMU’s students come from the country’s poorest province, the Eastern Cape, financial assistance for just 380 first-year students is miniscule. Guestimates are that close to 90% of those who study at NMMU need financial assistance of some sort.

So the SRC of 2015 has a big ask ahead. But I’m confident they’ll break ground. After all, the Sakh’ingomoso campaign to assist disadvantaged students is already underway and reaping rewards for students who might have otherwise lost out on a university education.

We wish the SRC well in implementing its plans and promises – initiatives that can only make NMMU a better place for its students.

SRC inaugural speech by Hlomela Bucwa

“But I being poor have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”

The SRC is a statutory body created by the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997. Chapter 4 of the Act provides that “The establishment and composition, manner of election, term of office, functions and privileges of the students' representative council of a public higher education institution must be determined by the institutional statute and the institutional rules.”

With profound gratitude and humility I stand to present the vision of the SRC.

Vision

Our vision as an SRC, taking into consideration the vision of the institution, is to a dynamic, transformational SRC recognised for its leadership, policy reform, innovation and vibrant student life. To be an SRC that considers the best interest of students at all times through maintaining integrity, accountability and respect. This will reflect in both the strategic and operational goals of the SRC.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to represent all students to the best of our ability, to re-establish an SRC that is accessible, transparent and accountable to its students. To ensure integrated leadership amongst SRC, its sub-councils, societies and house committees.

SRC Strategic Objectives

Access & Success

Academic Excellence 

Student Housing

Campus Cohesion

Student Development & Sport Transformation

Policy Reform

Communication

Social Cohesion

29 RSA Constitution states

            Education

            (1) Everyone has the right-

                        (a)        to a basic education, including adult basic education; and

                        (b)        to further education, which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.

NMMU is situated in the Eastern Cape, one of the poorest provinces in the country. There is unequal access to resources and infrastructure, which has a direct impact on the level of access to education, lack of success in institutions of higher learning and minimal transformation.

It has become culture in our country that every year after the release of the matric results our students fill our admission offices seeking access into the university. One might argue that these students should not be given the opportunity to apply. However, the circumstances that prevail in our province do not allow us to adopt this view. Our students study in poor conditions with a lack of resources and qualified teachers. They lack the inspiration to want to further their education and this is mostly caused by the lack of funding for higher education and training. Our education system must improve; free education is good however quality education is even better thus we must strike a balance between cost and quality.

Initiatives such as Sakhi’ngomso and Operation Sangena by the SRC are to be used as tools in achieving this goal and not merely to fill the calendar. They must be well structured so as to fulfil their set objective, primarily that of access to university. A strategy needs to be formulated on how the SRC and University Management can improve the application process and admission form to have an effective and inter-related relationship between the various university departments, furthermore must invest in community development to ensure that prospective students are groomed as early as Grade 9 through information sharing and mentorship.

It must be noted that we cannot speak about access without entertaining the issue of funding.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” - Martin Luther King Jnr

I must express my disappointment in how we have dealt with Financial Aid thus far as an institution and I speak upon the pilot project of NSFAS that we became a part of in 2014. I was in the forefront of our SRC marches with colleagues of the SRC and the DASO march late last year.

I must commend the work Financial Aid has done thus far under the leadership of Mr Wayne Muller who has worked closely with us as an SRC in this crucial time. However, it cannot be Mr VC that every year the incoming SRC raises the same issue.

NMMU has accepted 5000+- first years YET NSFAS has only accepted 381 students with what money are these students to study. What becomes of their dreams, what becomes of their future?! We have heard of the advantages of the new systems but we see the disadvantages on a daily basis.

The disappointment in a parent’s eye who has been waiting for the list with the hope that her son’s student number will appear. When we walk back with them to a residence not knowing where they will sleep or what they will eat.

Sometimes the SRC is forced to break rules and policies and it would seem like we are ill disciplined. For the first time in a leadership journey I saw my Deputy President in distress … it dawned on us that we are dealing with people’s lives the great responsibility we have.

A strategy needs to be formulated on how the SRC can better assist students with their academics. It is then imperative that we continue to advocate for initiatives such as the 24-hour library service, more tutoring and mentoring sessions in residences and the introduction of a weeklong study break. Furthermore, install study and computer labs in all residences, video recorded lectures and moving of supplementary exams to December. However, we cannot be limited to these as the SRC and its sub-structures such as the Faculty Council together with academic societies must work hand in hand with the SRC to achieve this objective to enhance academic excellence.

Integrated Leadership

The SRC 2015 has a vision to create and promote a culture of an integrated student leadership, to work in close-knit with various student governance structures. The SRC is the highest student decision making body entrusted with the responsibility to represent students in upper management. Sub-structures such as societies and the residence council are under the care of the SRC and are to work with the structure to serving students.

In the past it was been evident that these structures have worked in isolation and have merely seen the SRC as a sponsor and not as a partner or guide. It is this disturbing trend that is developing which we seek to do away with. The SRC must be able to consult with these sub-structures; it must be able to task a residence/society.

Policy Reform

Institutional policy is at the core of work as student leaders. Thus policy knowledge and training is essential in ensuring that our strategic objectives are achieved and we are able to champion student issues successfully.

Relationship with the institution

I am delighted to see you here this morning in spite of your busy schedules … you reveal that you are determined to work with us.

The logo

The circular nature of the outer element suggests cyclical and continuous change - a key element of a university, fostering fresh thinking and innovation. It is also suggestive of a rising sun, a new dawn - the birth of a new university. The circle is a symbol of unity, with the triangular elements representing diversity, as well as engagement and interaction, both amongst ourselves and our stakeholders in the broader external community. The inner element emphasises that we are a people-centred organisation, striving to optimise the potential of all our people. It is also suggestive of a learning and supportive environment. The globe represents our international sphere of influence, as well as our connection to our natural resources.

Building an effective SRC

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

My first encounter with the SRC was in my first year at the first year’s picnic. I met the SRC President. I remember coming home and informing my parents that I wanted to be in the SRC and their response was NO.

Four years later I now stand before you as a President and this journey would not be complete without acknowledging my former colleagues who we struggled together, brutalised, went hungry, uniform less with and we formed a brotherhood. And yes, I become one of the boys as I was the only female in the caucus. I must thank Thanduxolo Bhengu, Baxolile Nodada, Duncan Monks, Luthando Mtyobile; Kwezi Mandabane.

What drove us was not because we had nothing better to do but the passion we had to serve others. Bax will always say we don’t have to do what we do. Some of us have funding, accommodation, come from decent homes and lack nothing yet you sacrifice your time, academics, family, friends for the service of others.

In order to achieve our set objectives and vision the SRC as a structure must be effective and functional. SRC members must view themselves in the same equal footing as student leaders elected to serve and represent students.

The SRC has 21 central portfolios and all ought to be functional furthermore must be an action plan and a vision for each portfolio in line with the vision of the SRC as a whole and the institution. SRC members must respect and uphold the Constitution as should the student body as a whole. It guides us as a structure and informs our decision making even though it may be amended.

The executive committee merely exists to ensure the day-to-day running of the SRC and all portfolios report to the executive as provided above. Understanding that all members are equally there still remains the principle of order and stability that must be maintained. As such, the organogram, reporting procedures and communications channels adopted by the SRC must be followed by all members.

We have been entrusted with a huge responsibility and the privilege of serving in the highest student decision making body. Students must always remain central.

It is the mandate of the SRC to ensure that it devises ways to eradicate student challenges and serve the interest of the student body as a whole to ensure that the SRC fulfils its mandate. It is important for the structure to understand its background and provide strategies that will seek to remove the vast margins of inequality. Members of the SRC must also go back to basics by focusing on crucial issues that affect our students and the community at large.

Honesty

Humility

Solution driven

Always remember the mandate … students remain central.