Unisa online - SRC elections declared free and credible

Implementing the power of technology, Unisa has become one of the first universities in South Africa to offer an electronic voting system for an SRC election. After much planning, votes were cast for the 2011 SRC elections from 17 to 28 October 2011 using a system much easier than previous years. In addition, KPMG provided the audited report declaring the elections were carried out in a free and creditable manner.

The SRC Constitution and the SRC Electoral Policy made provision for the election of a National SRC (NSRC) constituting of student organizations only. Twelve representatives will be elected for the 12 seats in the National and Regional SRCs respectively for the six Unisa Regional Hubs.

Student structures participating in the 2011 SRC elections were: African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL); Azanian Student Convention (AZASCO); Communication Student Association (COMSA); Congress of the People Student Movement (COPESM); Economic And Management Sciences Students Association (EMSSA); Pan Africanist Student Movement (PASMA); Political, Philosophy and Developmental Studies Student Association (PODASA); South African Democratic Student Movement (SADESMO); South African Students Congress (SASCO) and the Science, Engineering and Technology Student Association (SETSA). Total votes cast this year were 19 840.

Making the official announcement of 2011 SRC election results was IEC Chairperson, Professor Zodwa Motsa.

For the National SRC election, 9 807 votes were cast. SASCO lead with 3 732 votes and 5 seats, followed by the ANCYL gaining 2 980 votes and 4 seats. The Cape Coastal Region saw SASCO leading with 1018 votes and 10 seats, with 184 votes and 1 seat for the ANCYL. Gaining momentum in the Johannesburg Region was the ANCYL with 619 votes and 4 seats with SASCO receiving 583 votes and 4 seats as well. The ANCYL once again drew majority in the KZN Region with 940 votes and 4 seats, closely followed by SASCO with 894 votes and an equal number of seats.

Whilst SASCO and the ANCYL took the majority of seats on the National SRC, other student bodies also obtained representation.

Acknowledging that this process is a very important point in the life of the Unisa, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mandla Makhanya said that “The role of student governance is critical in propelling the life of this institution forward and hearing the voice of the students.” He urged all to “Look at student leadership in the context of what it is and not our own proximity. We take student leadership very seriously because of what it promises.”

The establishment and the signing of the Code of Conduct was quite a milestone for the IEC. Contesting student structures are bound by the IEC Code of Conduct, SRC Policies, Code of Ethics and other related policies of Unisa. The signing of the code on the 12 October 2011 purported that all student structures condemn any action that may undermine a free and fair elections.

To follow is the Regional SRC inaugurations to take place in the first week of December 2011. As per the SRC Constitution, the National Congress should take place within 30 days after the official announcement. The office of the Dean of Students and other role-players are currently in the process of finalising these dates, both of which will be communicated to the Unisa student community.