WITSIES HEAD TO THE POLLS

Written By: Sphumelele Ntlahla

The SRC elections at Wits University have been declared and are scheduled to take place on the 17^th and 18^th of September. Last year the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command claimed victory as they took the rein from the Wits Progressive Youth Alliance. The May 29 elections came with a lot of changes in the political arena, which might have an impact in the Wits 2024/5 polls

In an exclusive interview with VOW 88.1, Wits SRC committee members Ziyanda Nzimande and Simphiwe Mntungwa emphasized that the role of the student elections are important as they present an opportunity for students to know their SRC committees and what roles and responsibilities of this student body.

“Different substructures assist the SRC, which may hinder the students from knowing their representatives because the first structure they are introduced to is house comm. The SRC has different structures such as the all-res sub-council, postgrad association, and the international sub-council. Right now we are going to the SRC elections which is the highest decision-making in the student body” Said Mntungwa

The SRC is a  statutory body under the higher education Act, student representative council (SRC) wields political, economic and transformative power to shape student life, offering a wide range of services to both individual students and a variety of student groups. Ziyanda and Simphiwe aim to help students that do not have funding or student accommodation.

The discussion on the show detailed  the functions of student bodies. The SRC’s influence reaches beyond campus, playing a key role in national student movements like #FeesMustFall, which highlighted the financial challenges of South African students on a global scale. The responsibility of electing student organizations or individual candidates to the SRC, who represent student interests, falls to students currently registered at the university.

Additionally, it conducts meetings, initiates debate on student concerns and ensures proper administration of its functions. Essentially, they are responsible for ensuring the structures such as service department, Disability Rights Unit (DRU) and Counselling Careers and Development Unit (CCDU) are in place and that they are effective for students to be able to voice their needs and concerns. This was explained by Mntungwa.

All of your interests which include social, intellectual, financial and transforming ones will be represented by the student body council which includes 22 student leaders,13 of whom were directly elected,make up this inclusive SRC. After these votes have been counted the SRC is dedicated to keeping their word and fulfilling their commitments to you .