COLOURED SLOGANS: PYA candidate spray paints the tunnel. Photo: Caro Malherbe
THE PROGRESSIVE Youth Alliance (PYA) may have acted improperly when they painted the tunnel connecting East and West Campus as part of their SRC electoral campaign.
The PYA painted the tunnel on Monday with slogans urging students to vote for them. Lemese Abrahams, head of SRC Administration, told Wits Vuvuzela: “I would have to check if they asked for permission, but I was not aware the tunnel was painted. [pullquote]The tunnel should not be touched.[/pullquote]”
Abrahams said that the SRC and PYA have are only allowed to paint on the graffiti wall outside the Matrix “for freedom of expression purposes.” When told the tunnel had been painted with PYA slogans Abrahams said: “I will send someone immediately down to assess the situation. If that is the case, they will have to paint it over.” A representative from the PYA could not be reached for comment.
PYA member Nompendulo Mkatshcwa told Wits Vuvuzela on Monday during the event that the tunnel painting was done “to let students know that the PYA are still here.”
The PYA is made up of youth organisations such as, the South African Students Congress, Young Communist League, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and Muslim Student Association.
The tunnel was a canvas of vibrant, luminescent colours as members stood singing and spray painting the walls. “We are moving”, “Do Right!” and “Our Wits, Our PYA, Vote PYA”, were some of the things written in spray paint on the tunnel walls.
The candidates, some wearing various ANCYL and PYA T-shirts busted into song and dance while students walked through the tunnel, viewing the spectacle.
Political posturing, promises and long analogies about “political boyfriends” have so far defined the 2013 SRC election campaign.
The SRC elections, to be held from August 27 to 29, are being fought by three political organisations as well as a slew of independent candidates.The Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), Democratic Alliance Students Organisation (Daso) and political newcomer Project W, have been visiting student residences this past week in a series of circuses to make their pitches to the electorate.
I’m gonna do everything it takes to win your love again
The student political organisations all had their chance to give sweet promises to students.At Tuesday’s circus in Braamfontein Centre, Project W member Jamie Mighti gave a lengthy analogy where he compared campaigning by the PYA, who have dominated past SRCs, to him begging an old girlfriend to take him back.
“‘Give me more time, I’m gonna change, I’m gonna get my behaviour right and I’m gonna do everything it takes to win your love again’,” he recounted pleading. “She was wiser than most and she broke up with me. Because talk is cheap, this is not about talking. We are at the point of re-negotiating the relationship,” Mighti said.
[pullquote]She was wiser than most and she broke up with me. Because talk is cheap[/pullquote]
The audience, filled mostly with PYA sympathisers, laughed—though whether the laughter was with Mighti or directed at him was not clear. Mighti continued his attack and said it was under the PYA that Wits students had become second place to those at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
But the PYA was ready for Mighti as they began to list their organisation’s past accomplishments in the SRC. “We’ve managed to get students buses to Bree and Noord. We’ve managed to get international students to pay their fees in instalments,” said PYA candidate Yanga Nokwe. She told students that it was a PYA-led SRC that got working lifts and wifi in Braamfontein Centre.
We are not political opportunists
SRC internal vice-president and PYA member, Joy Phiri, challenged Project W on their credentials and asked what experience they had leading students. At this point Daso, which had struggled for footing in the debate, quickly interjected and said that all of their candidates had already served in student leadership positions such as house comms and school councils.
“We are not political opportunists,” said Daso candidate Dikeledi Selowa. The circuses are designed to allow candidates to engage students and convince them to cast their votes. But they had the opposite effect on at least one student who thought the behaviour of the arguing candidates was “unruly”.
“Is this the type of people they are schooling us to be? I wasn’t impressed,” she said.
PYA candidate spray painting the West Campus tunnel. Photo: Caro Malherbe
The Progressive Youth Alliance spray painted the West Campus tunnel today. With the SRC 2013/2014 elections which took place this month, the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) “wants to let students know that the PYA are still here,” said candidate Nompendulo Mkatshcwa.
The PYA is a party made up of youth organisations such as, the South African Students Congress (SASCO), Young Communist Party (YCL), the ANCYL and Muslim Student Association (MSA).
The tunnel was a canvas of vibrant, luminescent colours as members stood singing and spray painting the walls.
“We are moving”, “Do Right!” and “Our Wits, Our PYA, Vote PYA”, were some of the things written in spray paint on the tunnel walls. Mkatschwa said each year PYA wins 98/99% from the students who vote. Painting the tunnel is “to remind students that we are still the best youth organisation on campus.”
The candidates, some wearing various ANCYL and PYA T-shirts busted into song and dance while students walked through the tunnel, viewing the spectacle.
JULIUS Malema’s new political party is targeting Wits to gain more supporters.
Witsie and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) executive member, Innocent Thombothi, Political Science and International Relations Honours, said that Witsies were showing interest in the EFF.
“We do have supporters on campus. Most [of them] are people in the SRC, ANCYL and the YCL [Young Communist League], and members of the PYA [Progressive Youth Alliance],” Thombothi said.
He said it was difficult for “comrades” to come out and admit they were members or supporters of the EFF because they still had to serve their elected official terms in their respective organisations.
“They are still deployed in the PYA. There’s a conflict of interest. Maybe after the PYA elections [in August]. Most can’t disclose now. EFF is here, it is in Wits,” Thombothi said.
The EFF is a “radical and militant” political movement founded by former ANC Youth League President Malema.
It is a leftist movement whose policies include land expropriation without compensation, nationalisation of the banks and national resources, free education and health and opening South African borders to Africans.
[pullquote]”We do have supporters on campus. Most [of them] are people in the SRC, ANCYL and the YCL [Young Communist League], and members of the PYA [Progressive Youth Alliance]” [/pullquote] SRC treasurer, Justice Nkomo, however, said the EFF had no support at Wits. He said the EFF was holding an event at Wits but had to cancel it because most Witsies attended a talk by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.
“They wanted to infiltrate. If EFF was strong, they would be able to influence our own people,” Nkomo said.
“Those people who have crossed have always been politically irrelevant.”
Trevor Mkhawana, 2nd year Mining Engineering, said he knew a lot of people who support the EFF. “They believe in Malema. They got disillusioned by Zuma.”
Witsie Mabhoko Mojela said if the EFF won the 2014 elections, SA would turn into a banana republic.
“[But], the presence of Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, [EFF spokesperson] allows me to give EFF the benefit of the doubt. I trust his intellectual opinions and the good work he has done in the student organisations on campus.”
Puleng Tsehla, 2nd year Media Studies, from Lesotho, said she supports the EFF because the new party promotes open boundaries in Africa.
She said South Africans are always welcome in other African countries.
Other Witsies in the EFF include Floyd Shivambu who is studying his MA in political studies, Andile Mngxitama who has completed an MA in sociology and Ndlozi, a PhD politics candidate.
DEFACED: A student looks at the Israel Apartheid Week wall that was defaced. The words “Propaganda” and Brain-washed” were scrawled on the wall. Event co-ordinator Tasneem Essop said she was disappointed about the vandalism. Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi
A STUDENT wall announcing Israel Apartheid Week events was discovered to have been vandalised on Thursday morning.
The words “Propaganda” and “Brain Washing” were spray-painted across the wall in large, black letters. The phrase “Realise, Real Eyes, Real Lies” was also written into a corner of the wall.
The wall is used by different student groups to announce events and messages. Vandalism against the wall when its subject is the Israel-Palestine conflict is a regular occurrence.
Last week, the same wall, this time painted by the SA Union of Jewish Students, was also vandalised. A depiction of Israel on a map of the Middle East was blackened out and part of a written message was also blackened out.
On Tuesday, students sympathetic to Palestine protested against a performance by Israel-born pianist Yossi Reshef in the SW Engineering block.
Members of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Muslim Students Association (MSA), Wits Palestinian Solidarity Committee (PSC) and the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) gathered outside the Atrium ready to bring the concert to a stop.
SRC secretary Tasneem Essop said: “We heard of plans to host an Israeli pianist brought to South Africa by the Israeli embassy. We then immediately wrote to the relevant university staff calling for them to cancel the event as it is a direct violation of the cultural boycott of Israel as adopted by the SRC last year.”
“Protest was our last resort.”
Israel Apartheid Week is hosted annually across the world by pro-Palestinian activists. As part of their involvement, Wits PSC hosted a series of events throughout the week, which were open to students on campus such as an exhibition at the library lawns.
“We have some photos up as well as a mock prison which represents Palestinians who have been detained illegally,” Essop said.
There was also a discussion on Tuesday evening and a film screening on Wednesday.
A balloon release, silent protest and panel discussion were planned for Thursday. An open mic session is planned for Friday.
Essop said that they had faced some challenges with regards to planning their events. They wanted to have a photo exhibition and film screening in a residence but university officials said no political events were allowed in there.
Essop said usually society events were organised through the Dean of Students Prem Coopoo and Student Development and Leadership Unit (SDLU) however this year they were requested to submit their information and list of events they planned to both Coopoo and university Registrar Kirti Menon.
Coopoo denied that Israel Apartheid Week had been treated unfairly as this was not the first time that a club or society event was reviewed by the vice chancellor’s office.
“Events hosted by SAUJS and Wits PSC have to be approved by my office. This has been the practice for the past eight years. Tasneem and Tokelo Nhlapo objected to this six weeks ago in a discussion with me. I explained that all policies and practices are subject to evaluation and review,” said Coopoo.
She suggested they submit a proposal to review the policies but they had not taken this up.
Coopoo said that when she had doubts about an event she seeks advice of other members of management.
Incumbent SRC president Tebogo Thothela. Photo: Jay Caboz
The Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) fell one candidate short of a third consecutive clean sweep in this year’s SRC elections.
Wits Registrar Kirti Menon announced the results to over 100 students outside the Great Hall steps on Friday August 24.
Members and supporters of the PYA formed a circle and had been singing for at least an hour before the announcement. Of the 30 403 students on the voter’s roll there was only a 20% voter turnout, a 4% increase from last year.
The 2012/2013 SRC election results
The top 15 candidates will form next year’s SRC.
PYA candidates and members marched to the Matrix after the announcement to celebrate their victory. Torn campaign posters belonging to the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) were seen along the route they took although it is not clear who was responsible for this.
In a related issue, Dominic Khumalo, a PYA candidate, was apparently excluded from the elections, although the chief electoral officer confirmed that he submitted a letter withdrawing his nomination.
Candidates outside the Wits Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) are hoping to avoid a third consecutive clean sweep for the party in this year’s Student Representative Council (SRC) elections.
Election campaigning was officially launched on Tuesday 7 August at a circus outside the Matrix. Less than 40 students braved the snow to listen to candidates from the PYA, the Democratic Alliance Student Organization (DASO) and independent candidates.
The Wits Congress of the People Student Movement (COPESM) did not nominate any candidates. Mukondeleli Mphigalale, chairperson of the Wits COPESM, said the party was dealing with internal structural issues, and would be back in SRC elections next year.
Voter turnout in last year’s elections was just over 16%.
THE Progressive Youth Alliance walked away with all 15 seats on the Student Representative Council after last week’s elections.
The successful candidates celebrated their second consecutive victory to represent students on what should be the most powerful student council on campus at the Matrix on Friday.
PYA electoral spokesperson, Shimi Matlala, said the key strategy to their success was to be on the ground with the students, going door-to-door encouraging students to vote for the PYA.
“PYA candidates sacrificed a lot of their academic time and focused on elections during the election week and despite the problems we faced with Fezile’s exclusions and readmission, we were still on the ground with the students,” Matlala said.
Chief electoral officer, Jabu Mashinini, confirmed that the election outcome is final and was not contested during the course of this week.
“The new SRC will commence office on November 1 2011. For now they are working behind the scenes,” said Mashinini.
Independent candidate Tiisetso Murray didn’t make it onto the SRC this year, despite a rigorous election campaign around campus and at the election circuses.
Murray said his main focus was to change the brush strokes that the PYA has painted Wits management with and to aim for discussion rather than outright strikes and calling people racists.
“No one likes being called a racist, so I think discussing issues with management would yield far better results than what has been done in the past,” Murray said.
The independent candidate encountered some problems during election week. “I put posters up around campus but many of them were taken down and I don’t know why or who did that. I went from having 30 posters to only 3 on East Campus alone.
“I placed some of my posters around where my oppositions had placed theirs, but only mine were taken down.
“I also think the circuses were not well located although they were very well run. Why was the West Campus circus placed outside the library as opposed to outside the FNB building, where there is a lot of student traffic, or the Amphitheatre, a place where students traditionally hang out?”
Murray also said Vuvuzela was not doing enough to raise awareness during elections as a campus newspaper.
“The Vuvuzela should have helped in getting candidates out there to tackle voter apathy,” added Murray.
The last PYA-lead SRC has been accused of not being fully representative of Wits students and focusing more on the needs of students who are either on financial aid, living at residences, or those who suffered the chop by Wits’ edge through exclusion .
Securing ATMs on campuses that have none, looking into internet access in lecture rooms and finding ways to assist students who travel far each day, are some of the issues the new SRC plans to make a priority, according to Matlala.
The final voter count for this year’s SRC elections totalled a mere 4871, meaning just over 16% of Witsies took to the poll.
“A lot of the students complained this past SRC was not visible to students and that is an issue we plan to tackle by including more students in the processes within the SRC, so that we can be more relevant and encourage more voter participation next year,” said Matlala.
Mashinini will meet the 2011/2012 SRC to discuss portfolio allocations today.
The SRC has failed to remove its president Morris Masutha after three attempts to do so.
Citing lack of sufficient governance and leadership, the SRC passed a motion at the end of May to replace Masutha with his vice chair, Itumeleng Mafatshe. At a special meeting held on June 10, SRC members elected Mafatshe as president and Masutha as gender and transformation officer.
These elections were later deemed unconstitutional by the Wits legal office on the grounds that the SRC had failed to secure a two-thirds majority. This decision has been appealed by the SRC.
Meanwhile Masutha, who remains president, is adamant that the motion to have him removed was politically motivated by his refusal to support Julius Malema in the ANCYL elections.
“This has nothing to do with the competency of the SRC and everything to do with personal agendas against me by a few leaders within the ANCYL,” said Masutha.
“I made it clear that I did not support the re-election of President Malema, and I remain convinced that at no point do I view him as the champion of the poor. This was merely an attempt by the ANCYL to humiliate me, because whoever disagrees with Julius will be humiliated,” said Masutha.
Godfrey Maja, chairperson of the Wits ANCYL lashed out about Masutha’s relationship with Wits management. He also says Masutha insulted the branch by going against their organisational stance when he did not back Malema.
“He chose to disregard it, I allowed him the space to say whatever he wanted, but we knew the organization would have to take appropriate steps”.
The PYA sent out a letter announcing the removal of Masutha from their structures. The letter was signed by the heads of ANCYL, SASCO and Young Communist League. It read:
PYA DISOWNS this former comrade and distances itself from any conduct, speech or activity of whatever nature he engages in. He must never in any platform speak or act on behalf of PYA or any of its Constituents and we NO longer regard him as president of the SRC as per the uncontested resolution of general members.
Bongani Jacob, media and publicity officer for the SRC has refuted that the motion was politically motivated. “We are dealing with student issues not politics, this decision was based on his failures and inability to govern the SRC properly,” he said.
Jacob said the SRC was unhappy that Masutha had not delivered on his promises and hardly spent any time in his office.
“We respect his programmes and his efforts to raise funds for students, he is a very active member of the SRC, but as the head of governance he has failed,” said Jacob.
Masutha argues that the he has fulfilled his role as president and the reason for slow implementation of SRC objectives had to do with delayed budget approval by management.
Not all SRC members supported the motion. “The SRC constitution does not accommodate for reshuffling,” said SRC member Brendan von Essen.
“I think Morris has done a pretty good job so far and I didn’t think the reasons given by the SRC constituted such drastic action,” he added.
In the meantime the SRC continues to function. “We are being professional about this and doing our work. We are here to serve the students,” said Jacob.
Masutha said he put up a fight because he is concerned about the precedent this would set. “I didn’t want to give into this kind of bullying because it would mean that any SRC president after me would be passive, spineless, and would have to be very careful as to who he/she offends or differs with. I did it for the future presidents who don’t need to be yes men/women because they’re afraid to be recalled.”
Since her announcement as the Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille has dominated national headlines. In this bonus episode of We Should Be Writing podcast, hosts Lulah Mapiye and Bonolo Mokonoto dissect a media meet-and-greet with the mayoral hopeful. From her extensive political résumé to her controversial public utterance, we examine why the Democratic Alliance has chosen Hellen Zille as their candidate for the 2027 local mayoral elections. Additionally, […]
