BREACHED “RULES OF ENGAGEMENT” POSTPONE ACCOUNTABILITY SESSION

Shanell Binedell

@shanell_lalala

On Tuesday, 16 July, a Student Campus Council (SCC) accountability session was held. This session was attended by various student leaders, with the intention of giving students the opportunity to hold members of the SCC accountable. Attendance of this meeting was restricted, however a Microsoft Teams link was made available to all. The session was adjourned shortly after starting.

The session was well-planned, with a list of attendees’ names, and wristbands needed to be allowed into the hall. Attendance was restricted, and individuals in attendance included the Primarii, Deputy-Primarii, and Secretary of each residence, the SCC, members of the Portfolio Committee (PC) and representatives of various political parties. 

Director of Student Life on the Potchefstroom campus, Dr. Corrie Rheeder, explained, “The reason why invitations were sent was to ensure that all role players have equal representation and that there is no one structure that dominates the session. For students who were not invited, there was a Teams link where they could ask questions, there was no streaming.” 

Once everybody was seated, hands were already raised by members of the South African Communist Party (SACP). 

An argument ensued when members of a political party made it difficult for Theunis ‘Faf’ de Wet, SCC: Fundraising and RAG Officer, to speak. Dr. Rheeder then intervened and adjourned the meeting. 

“Rules of engagement” was stated as the main reason for adjourning, along with the election of the new SCC being a pressing matter, and the intense workload of the students in attendance. 

Representatives and members from various political parties chanted and danced outside the venue as attendees exited. The university, however, had measures in place to maintain these actions. 

The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) in Potchefstroom, stated the following in a communique: “The SCC said that they would account to students, yet at the last moment they want to make a U-turn and not include students but rather to afford this opportunity to student leaders. To hold leaders you appointed accountable is not a privilege and shouldn’t be treated as such.” 

The Umkhonto Wesizwe students’ movement (MKSM) is standing with the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC). They feel that the SCC is ignoring the voice of the students. “We vehemently denounce their cowardly tactics to suppress our numbers and quell our legitimate grievances. These actions epitomise the desperate struggles of an elitist regime clinging to power,” stated MKSM. 

Azola Mtsai, an Honours student majoring in history who attended the session, explained that he expects members of the SCC to help guide students, and believes they should be held accountable.

The accountability session is set to take place at a different time and is still scheduled to happen.