After boycotting last year’s elections, Sasco and the ANCYL were both present to support their candidates who are running in this year’s elections. Sasco boycotted the SRC elections last year after they rejected the new constitution for student governance. Sylvia Graham, Sasco’s candidate for SRC secretary, said that she wants effective and real transformation at the university. She emphasised the work that Sasco has done for the Right to Learn campaign and that she aims to ensure that the campaign is implemented correctly by the SRC.
2015 presidential candidate Amy Ashworth from Daso, who is currently the SRC member for the study finance portfolio, said that her experience in and knowledge of the SRC makes her an ideal candidate for the position. She mentioned that one of the projects that she would create as president is a registration fund for NSFAS and international students who battle to pay registration fees in the beginning of the year.
Independent candidate and Madelief HK Mignon Paulsen said that as president of the SRC she would ensure that there are buses to the Prinshof campus, that there is more accommodation for students, and that day houses are representative of the diversity on campus. She added that inclusivity is an issue on campus and that the cultural gap must be overcome.
Students asked candidates about long NSFAS queues which interrupted class time, the bus service to Sunnyside, Arcadia and external campuses, the issue of a racial divide on campus, exclusive res traditions and the lack of NSFAS funds. The SRC’s inability to help students with historical debt emerged as the most pressing matter among students.
The election campaign will run until 27 August. Voting will take place on 3 September on all UP campuses.
