The process of the election of Stellenbosch University’s new Student Representative Council (SRC) is underway, despite an initial delay in the selection of the Student Electoral Commission (SEC) which oversees the election process.
This is according to Mzwakhe Bolotina, the communications officer and acting secretary general of the SRC, who said that the appointment of the SEC was delayed by a week during the June semester break.
The Ou Hoofgebou, Stellenbosch University’s faculty of law, holds the student parliament and student court, which serve as oversight bodies for the electoral commission’s processes. This is according to Sibabalwe Manyifolo, the chief electoral officer and chairperson of the Student Electoral Commission. PHOTO: Enzokuhle Sabela
The delay was due to an ongoing investigation into an alleged incident of gender-based violence (GBV) earlier this year, where the SRC sports manager was suspended and later removed from his position, according to Bolotina.
However, the SEC was appointed on 28 July, according to an Instagram post on the committee’s page.
SRC nominations were open between 22 July and 1 August, according to the SRC’s Instagram page.
Impact of the delay
“The delay won’t impact the [SRC] elections, because the timeline has already been set,” said Bolotina.
Nominations for Stellenbosch University’s Student Representative Council (SRC) closed on 1 August. This is according to Mzwakhe Bolotine, communications officer and acting secretary general of the SRC. PHOTO: Enzokuhle Sabela
It was the SEC’s duty to ensure that there were enough nomination forms outside the SRC office and to update students on appeals, according to Sibabalwe Manyifolo, the chief electoral officer and chairperson of the SEC.
Executive members of the SRC appoint members of the electoral commission based on experience, according to Bolotina.
“As the secretary general, I was heading the appointment of the commission,” said Bolotina. “I received the go-ahead from SRC executives.”
Transparency
Meanwhile, Liyema Langa, convenor of the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command, said that both the SRC and the SEC could be more transparent in their processes.
“[The SRC and SEC] don’t necessarily tell the students who is part of the electoral commission,” said Langa. “They send out emails for applications and then the commission does not tell us who is part of the electoral commission.”
Members of the Stellenbosch University Student Representative Council (SRC) elect the Student Electoral Commission, a body that presides over the SRC nominations and elections. This is according to Mzwakhe Bolotina, the communications officer and acting secretary general of the SRC. PHOTO: Enzokuhle Sabela
Candidates were announced on 15 August, according to an Instagram post on the SEC’s page.
Voting and campaigning are scheduled to begin on 19 August, as per the SEC’s timeline, according to Manyifolo.
“If there are any changes to the timeline, we will communicate them to the student body as soon as possible,” she said.