ActionSA Condemns UCT SRC No-Show at Parliamentary Committee Hearing & Asks for Their Resignations
Matthew George
ActionSA Western Cape Students Forum Chairperson
ActionSA UCT condemns the blatant contempt and disregard demonstrated by the UCT SRC President and Secretary-General. Their failure to appear before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation to represent the student body regarding the myriad challenges impacting students and overall governance at the institution is deeply concerning.
Despite having received the invitation to present before the Committee months ago, the absence of the President and Secretary-General constitutes, not only, a dereliction of duty, but also a disappointing abandonment of the ongoing efforts to address the ineptitude of bodies like NSFAS and the Department of Higher Education, led by Blade Nzimande.
The opportunity for students to engage with the government, particularly within the Parliamentary setting, is rare and valuable. This incident underscores the predictable reality that certain student leaders are more focused on their personal careers than the collective welfare of their peers. It is perplexing that they even neglected to submit written statements, further diminishing the representation of the students’ concerns.
In reference to our previous statements addressing the governance challenges at the University of Cape Town, this Parliamentary briefing aimed to shed light on critical issues that have significantly impacted the institution’s management in recent times.
The absence of important stakeholders, such as the student representatives, leaves us deeply concerned, as it is the students who ultimately bear the brunt of an institution fraught with dysfunction.
In light of these developments, ActionSA unequivocally calls upon both the President and Secretary-General of the UCT SRC to submit their resignations immediately. This regrettable incident has raised legitimate concerns about their competence to effectively serve the student body, which they are elected to represent.
ActionSA Condemns UCT SRC No-Show at Parliamentary Committee Hearing & Asks for Their Resignations
ActionSA UCT condemns the blatant contempt and disregard demonstrated by the UCT SRC President and Secretary-General. Their failure to appear before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation to represent the student body regarding the myriad challenges impacting students and overall governance at the institution is deeply concerning.
Despite having received the invitation to present before the Committee months ago, the absence of the President and Secretary-General constitutes, not only, a dereliction of duty, but also a disappointing abandonment of the ongoing efforts to address the ineptitude of bodies like NSFAS and the Department of Higher Education, led by Blade Nzimande.
The opportunity for students to engage with the government, particularly within the Parliamentary setting, is rare and valuable. This incident underscores the predictable reality that certain student leaders are more focused on their personal careers than the collective welfare of their peers. It is perplexing that they even neglected to submit written statements, further diminishing the representation of the students’ concerns.
In reference to our previous statements addressing the governance challenges at the University of Cape Town, this Parliamentary briefing aimed to shed light on critical issues that have significantly impacted the institution’s management in recent times.
The absence of important stakeholders, such as the student representatives, leaves us deeply concerned, as it is the students who ultimately bear the brunt of an institution fraught with dysfunction.
In light of these developments, ActionSA unequivocally calls upon both the President and Secretary-General of the UCT SRC to submit their resignations immediately. This regrettable incident has raised legitimate concerns about their competence to effectively serve the student body, which they are elected to represent.