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Electoral officer Jabu Mashinini tells Wits Vuvuzela that Thusi and Sisulu's presence at Wits for campaigning was illegal. Photo: Nolwazi Mjwara
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Local celebrity Pearl Thusi encourages Witsies to vote in the SRC elections along with former radio personality Shaka Sisulu and PYA candidate Sandile Ngwenya. Photo: Nolwazi Mjwara
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Electoral officer Jabu Mashinini tell Thusi and Sisulu that they were not allwed to campaign at Wits as it was illegal. Photo: Nolwazi Mjwara
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Conflict emerges between DASO, Project W and PYA candidates over Thusi and Sisulu's presence on campus. Photo: Nolwazi Mjwara
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Former radio personality Shaka Sisulu tells the Wits crowd to make sure that they vote. Photo: Nolwazi Mjwara
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Pearl Thusi and Shaka Sisulu tell Witsies to make sure they vote. Photo: Nolwazi Mjwara
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PYA candidates tell Wits Vuvuzela that the evacuation of Sisulu and Thusi was part of Wits' sabotage against the PYA. Photo: Nolwazi Mjwara
TELEVISION personality Pearl Thusi (@PearlThusi) and youth activist Shaka Sisulu (@shakasisulu) were prevented from distributing Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) election material on campus today.
The celebrity duo was invited by the PYA to encourage Wits students to participate in this year’s elections. “We encourage Wits students to vote. Once they vote, they will make the wise choice,” Sisulu said.
Threats of disqualification
Chief electoral officer Jabu Mashinini stopped the duo and threatened that if they continued to campaign, the PYA would be disqualified from the elections.
“The rule says only students can campaign. This is Wits University, don’t campaign for them. They cannot approach students. I don’t want this debate,” Mashinini shouted at the two visitors. Mashinini also said Thusi and Sisulu’s presence is seen as campaigning for the PYA, which would give the organisation an advantage in the elections.
Mashinini added: “You can’t bring people to campaign, as they will get an advantage. Only Wits students can campaign, it’s part of an election rule. I will disqualify them and this is a last warning.”
[pullquote]“The rule says only students can campaign. This is Wits University, don’t campaign for them. They cannot approach students. I don’t want this debate”[/pullquote]
Roping in Thusi and Sisulu did not bode well for the opposition organisations, who accused the PYA of using under-handed tactics by bringing influential people to campus.
Opposition organisations react
A group of PYA candidates argued that anyone in a democratic country can bring anyone to campaign, as “all of the organisations have been doing dirty things”.
They also accused Project W of buying votes by allegedly awarding students couches worth “R25 000” in a bid to win the elections. They also raised concerns over Project W’s intentions to participate in the elections. Candidate for Project W, Gautam Rao, slammed the PYA’s allegations of buying votes and said “the couches were donated by corporates”.
Rao added: “We were not doing this [buying couches] for votes. We don’t need anarchy at Wits. Anarchy will not help this university. We were told to abide by [election] rules when we joined the campaign. We need to bring integrity back to Wits.”
Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (Daso) candidate, Rebone Segopolo, also weighed in by criticising the PYA’s election move. “How do you bring Pearl Thusi? They should have brought a Wits alumnus, someone more relevant,” Segopolo said.
Last day of the elections
Today marks the last day of this year’s SRC elections. According to presiding election officer, Nosi Sosibo, the votes will be counted overnight. She also said an indication cannot be given as to which organisation is leading in the election race. “Last year was busier than this year. Last year was worse,” Sosibo gave an indication on voter turnout. The election results will be announced tomorrow.
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