On 26 September, the Department of Education Innovations sent an email stating that the Independent Monitoring Body (IMB) attended to all complaints and objections related to the 2023 SRC elections and that the elections were “free and fair”. Less than 24 hours later, another email followed, announcing the suspension of these results pending the outcome of disciplinary hearings.
On 18 August 2023, in honour of women’s month the Socialist Youth Movement (SYM) of the University of Pretoria hosted a discussion on feminist socialism. This included an opening speech from their guest speaker, Phemelo
Motseokae.
In honour of women’s month, PDBY interviewed the current chairperson of House Humanities, Okuhle Mpepo, on the many accomplishments of House Humanities in various cultural areas and innovative long-term policy positions.
On 4 August 2023, the Extinction Rebellion held a protest during the Minister of Electricity’s public lecture at a Future Africa event on Hillcrest campus. This public lecture was on ‘Energy Sovereignty in the Context of the Sustainable and Just Energy Transition’ delivered by the Minister of Electricity, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC),UP as well as the University of Johannesburg, called the Just Energy Transition Platform (JET Platform).
On 16 May 2023, PDBY, in collaboration with Shaina Moses, approached student leaders, Cameron Rodrigues, Liam Jacobs and Sicelo Ngwenya to weigh in on their thoughts as to whether students should care about the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.
On 18 August, Students for Law and Social Justice (SLSJ), led by transformation officer Chulumanco Herimbi, hosted a panel discussion called ‘Panelist On-trial’.The panel featured student leaders: chairperson of Socialist Youth Movement UP, Cameron Rodrigues; chairperson of House Humanities, Okuhle Mpepo; deputy secretary of the National Black Lawyers Association, Dineo Kwetepane and Academics and Mentorship officer of Commercii Favourite Ntisane. The panel was created to speak on issues relating to NSFAS from a student perspective.
On 15 May 2023, the Moot society voted on the capacity of Simon Augustyn to continue coaching moot teams following a series of allegations concerning the abuse Augustyn subjected his team to.. The panel of 12 executive members, voted in favour of Augustyn, meaning he may continue to coach teams, without any disciplinary sanctions. The abuse participants experience in the society is not exclusive to Augustyn’s actions. The abuse participants were subjected to, has caused many to experience suicidal ideations, mental breakdowns that cause them to drop out of university due to the traumatic experiences and an excess of associated mental health issues. PDBY interviewed a series of individuals, masters law student Leah Rees and some who wish to remain anonymous: “Eliza”, “Ezmerelda” and “Abraham.” The Chairperson, Heinrich Nienaber, and Vice-Chairperson, Jade Werner have taken no decisive actions and offered little to no remedies for the problems plaguing ‘Africa’s top mooting society.’
Although the first Student Representative Council of 1909 boasted three female members, the first female chairperson, Irma du Plessis, was only elected in 1995. Before the election of new members in 1970 a call was made for more women to be elected to the SRC, as “ladies are a great asset at receptions and other meetings, because we know that a lady can often achieve certain things that a man just cannot”, such as “arranging flowers and making tea”!
