Parties are at each other’s throats about processes unfolding in the elections of a new Student Representative Council (SRC) at the University of Limpopo (UL), which saw a minority presence tipping the scales in favour of the South African Students Congress (Sasco) early this week.
UL Spokesperson Kgalema Mohuba confirmed that in terms of Monday’s results Sasco, which is affiliated to the ruling party, had secured eight seats. Having joined forces with the Students Christian Organisation (SCO), which took one seat, they jointly enforced majority rule. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Limpopo claimed eight seats. Mohuba indicated a date had not been fixed as yet for the constitution of the SRC structure upon conclusion of exams and added that it would be done closer to December.
EFF Provincial Leader Michael Mathebe said Sasco had disrupted proceedings on Monday after the EFF had already reached a formal agreement with the SCO on the weekend. He expressed concern about the results spelling out the fact that if the ruling party could disrupt constitutional structures when losing they could cause violence in the country. Also the fact that the African National Congress (ANC) tried to buy the SCO over in the process showed the levels corruption had reached in the country, he alleged.
Having taken the recent SRC elections at the University of Venda (Univen) with seven seats as opposed to six seats for Sasco and votes in favour of the EFF at UL were a barometer indicating that they would win over Polokwane Municipality in the 2016 local government elections, predicted Mathebe.
The African National Congress Youth League (Ancyl) in Limpopo congratulated Sasco for emerging victorious in the UL SRC elections. In a media statement Provincial Task Team Coordinator Che Selane said it transpired after what he referred to as “a blatant and stupid attempt by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with the intent to collapse the elections in Turfloop”.
Selane further said “despite all allegations, insults and purges levelled against the management of UL, the Ancyl in Limpopo takes this moment to call (on) the university management to constitute SRC elections and to ensure that students have (a) representative council on campus”. He stated that it was against that background that hegemony of the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), led by Sasco, could never be compromised by those defeated in the elections.
Sasco Limpopo Chairperson Thembani Msisinyane could not be reached for comment.
Story: YOLANDE NEL
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