Mahlatsi Tshabalala Hope
With election season almost over, students are gearing up in anticipation to see how the tables shake in light of the recent turn of events following the elections. However, it seems that the low voter turnout is not only due to a lack of persuasion but also a lack of knowledge about the Student Representative Council, its functions, and how to contact representatives. Thus, the following will break down what the SRC is and how it functions, as well as review some of its notable works within the university.
Currently, there are 12 elective portfolios: president; deputy president; secretary general; deputy secretary general; treasurer; facilities, safety and security; marketing, media and communications; student finances; postgraduate and international students affairs; day student and external campus affairs; and transformation and student success. Furthermore, there are seven ex-officio portfolios, consisting of two academic affairs sub-council representatives, two residence sub-council representatives, one RAG committee representative, one student sport committee representative, and a student culture committee representative. For an expansion of each portfolio’s duties, consult the University of Pretoria Constitution for Student Governance (UP CSG) online.
Though the SRC has not effected significant change within the institution, it has accomplished some notable tasks. It helped students who were financially excluded to re-register by assisting with some funds to pay the students’ historical debt and registration fees. The SRC has also fought for reduced registration fees to help struggling students. And with the NSFAS accommodation cap, the SRC liaised with accommodation and arranged price drops so that students could be housed.
PBDY interviewed a couple of students to determine their understanding of and opinions about their student body leaders.
What do you think is the function of the SRC?
Zesuliwe Sinyamba: I think the SRC is supposed to be the bridge between the student and the university, helping them with their grievances.
Anonymous: Assisting students, since the university is so big that other students don’t know where exactly to go. So, they are the middlemen.
Lindelani Nyandeni: I think the function of the SRC is to help students with whatever that they need, things like food parcels or academic exclusions and financial issues.
Anonymous: Their function is to bridge the gap between students and management, […] giving students information about the institution that students don’t know.
What change has the previous SRC brought about, and what have you liked about them?
Do you think they delivered accordingly?
Anonymous: I don’t think they changed much or even brought about much change. But they have, however, helped many students register amidst financial exclusions and helped them with accommodation, so they have been useful in that regard.
Anonymous: Apart from seeing them on campus with their suits, I don’t even know what they have done or where to even find them.
Theo: The previous SRC helped NSFAS students with their appeals and helped some pay for registrations and gave out bursaries.
Anonymous: According to me, the last SRC was not productive in ensuring the needs of the students are catered for, proof being the student accommodation crisis at the beginning of the year. A lot of students found accommodations late, and some were forced to top up their rental amounts.
How do you think the new SRC members can improve their leadership compared to their predecessors?
Anonymous: First of all, what must be kept in mind as new leaders is the basic standards that leaders must follow and possess in our country as proposed by the legislation: openness, impartiality, accountability and ethics. To improve leadership, our new leaders should change their leadership style. I believe engaging with the students more – meaning less office time and more groundwork – could help shift the students’ mindset of a failing representative council. Each student’s needs should be prioritized regardless of the majority/minority. Also, they must avoid giving students false hope; if there is an issue and they cannot alleviate its impact, they must be honest.
Anonymous: The current SRC must ensure to regularly engage with students so that they know their problems and not wait for students to send them emails. This will ensure that students and the SRC have a good relationship and encourage engagement.
Brandon: I actually don’t know much about the SRC, so I guess a way in which they can improve is awareness.
Anonymous: Visibility: we don’t even know where their offices are within the school. And communication, or rather, transparency.
It remains to be seen whether a new dawn is among us. To get in touch with the SRC, their offices are located in the Student Affairs building opposite the Hatfield campus Student Health Clinic, and their office hours can be found on
their respective office doors.