Wits students dominated an annual competency test for accountants by obtaining 5 of the 10 highest results nationally.
The students participated in the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) ‘Initial Test of Competence” (ITC) on Wednesday.
The test is written yearly as a prerequisite for all prospective Chartered Accountants. SAICA is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading accounting institutes and provides support services to more that 34 000 members who are Chartered Accountants and hold positions as CEOs, MDs, board directors, business owners, chief financial officers, auditors and leaders in their spheres of business operation.
Mandi Olivier, SAICA’s Senior Executive: Professional Development said in a media release: “Most of these members operate in commerce and industry, and play a significant role in the nation’s highly dynamic business sector and economic development.”
This year the results show that 73% of the 3117 candidates who wrote the test passe, a score that has increased by 14% from last year.
Olivier said: “There continues to be a good growth in the number of African candidates writing the ITC with their proportion of the exam population increasing from 27% to 30% (933 candidates), the majority being first timers.
The Wits SRC caused some controversy on Thursday when they congratulated the top Wits students by tweeting: “#SAICABoardExams The top five are Wits students. Well done Witsies!!”
This tweet caused outrage amongst students as it was in fact incorrect. Although five students made it into the top ten, they were not all part of the top five.
The SRC later apologized for the error.
The top ten results are as follows:
1. Shaun Brett Croock; University of Johannesburg
2. Gordon Bradley; University of Witwatersrand
3. Jithen Vadival Pillay; University of Cape Town
4. Muhammed Munshi; University of Witwatersrand
5. Steven Marc Hurwitz; University of Witwatersrand
6. Gene Amor Samuels; University of Cape Town
7. Johann Steyn; university of Johannesburg
8. Christopher Eric Guattari- Stafford; University of Cape Town
9. Martin Lawrence Richman; University of Witwatersrand
FREE BOOKS: Charmaine Pule, Media and Marketing Officer for the SRC shows Wits Vuvuzela some of the books they have collected for their book drive. Photo: Pheladi Sethusa
WITS students now have the opportunity to loan textbooks for free. Paul Maluleka is the brains behind the SRCs latest campaign that collects textbooks and books for students who cannot afford to buy books.
Earlier this year the SRC was involved in helping excluded students with their problems. They frequently complained that buying books and textbooks was a problem. They cannot all afford to buy new textbooks each semester.
The book drive is one way of fixing that problem said Pule, 4th year Education and Media and Marketing Officer for the SRC. She is running the book drive in conjunction with Maluleka in a bid to help alleviate some of the stress that students face when it comes to lack of access to resources.
They are looking for students to donate their old books to the campaign. Donated books will be given out on loan to students in need. It’s a fairly simple process whereby students need to fill in a form from the SRC office. The students loan the books for however long they are needed..
So far, the SRC have received engineering and law textbooks. While this is appreciated, they need more textbooks and books from across all faculties and disciplines to broaden the campaign’s reach.
In line with the book drive, the SRC will be launching a campaign called ‘Each One, Teach One.’ This campaign will look at donating a variety of things to matric students. Things like stationary, school uniforms and matric dance dresses. The objective of this campaign will be to support matric students who are in need. When dropping off the donated items, SRC members will also hand out food parcels and interact with the students.
Two SRC members in the past weeks have resorted to sleeping in the council offices because of outstanding study fees and lack of accommodation.
President of the SRC Sibulele Mgudlwa confirmed that two members had been living in the offices since the end of O-week until last week.
Five SRC members, himself included, had trouble with accommodation and registering for study courses.
Mgudlwa said that varying reasons, such as personal and financial troubles, have led to the SRC members’ predicament.
The SRC president himself faced problems with registering for courses and finding accommodation. Mgudlwa confirmed that the Dean of Students Prem Coopoo and a registrar partially assisted him with his study fees and registration.
Mgudlwa said the lack of a place to stay, proper sleep and the right kind of food affect the SRC’s work and studies. “You are not on your optimum levels of efficiency,” he said.
Dean of Students Prem Coopoo confirmed that certain students approach her office for financial support. Coopoo explained that they have sourced funds for students who are “needy and academically sound”. She confirmed that she assisted the SRC president, “in his capacity as a student and not because he is a student leader- as I do for any other student.”
Mgudlwa said that the university does not provide funds to assist students with their finances and accommodation. Students are dependent on study loans from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme of South Africa (NSFAS) and bank loans.
“You really are alone,” he said.
According to Mgudlwa, the problems experienced by the SRC concerned a greater issue.
“This is indicative of a larger problem in that the university does not have a fund to assist students,” he said.
SRC international student affairs officer Pearl Pillay said she had only received confirmation of her financial aid last week and could only register then. She was able to find accommodation, but still has to source funds for it.
Mgudlwa said that SRC members must be afforded the opportunity to be assisted when need be.
“We are not asking for special treatment but because of the service given to university students it [the help] will be appreciated,” Mgudlwa said.
The SRC has a humanitarian fund, which assists students with financial and other needs, but the SRC members exclude themselves from this fund.
The SRC’s decision to boycott Israel, academically and culturally, has made international news as the official voice of Wits students – even though the outgoing SRC was elected by less than 20% of the student body.
In response, Wits released a statement signalling concern that the SRC did not represent all students or the views of the University.
“The views and opinions expressed by the Students’ Representative Council and other student groups do not represent the official views of the University, nor are they an accurate reflection of the views of the majority of students, staff and alumni.”
The SRC’s stance was reported locally and internationally by papers like the Washington Post, with some online news agencies falsely reporting that the entire university had joined in the boycott.
The South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) has a strong presence at the university with almost 1000 Jewish students.
There are no SAUJS members in the SRC currently, although Wits Chairman Harry Hoshovsky said that the 20% voter turnout is a “clear sign of student apathy”.
“It is somewhat pretentious for the SRC to claim that it represents all Wits students, as barely one out of five actually voted in the elections and thus the SRC cannot be said to officially represent more than that number.”
SAUJS claims that the SRC is in contravention of its own Constitution, specifically section 8(1)(r). This section states that the SRC is duty bound to “initiate, undertake or stimulate discussion or debate or action, or to make its views known on matters of general concern that are likely to be of interest to or to affect students.”
The SRC made the decision to boycott after it was proposed by the Palestinian Solidarity Committee (PSC). Fatima Mukaddam, SRC Fundraising and Entreprenuership officer, said the boycott action is in line with Wits’ ethics.
“Israel is a violator of human rights, and the occupation of the West bank is illegal under international law. If Wits and the SRC hold the values of respecting human rights then it is completely under the mandate of the SRC of boycott Israel.”
Just over 20% of the student body voted in the 2012 SRC elections. The IEC requires 25% of students to vote for a legitimate SRC, but when this quota is not met, the votes are then taken to the Vice Chancellor who then declares the elections valid.
Jabu Mashinini, the member of staff elected by the IEC to oversee the elections, said these percentages are acceptable given that “11,028 of the voters are post graduate students who are off campus most of the time”.
Tatenda Dune, a 1st year BA student said, “I think it’s unethical and incorrect for the SRC to represent us on such big issues, considering only 20% of the students voted. Ultimately they are representing a very small part of Wits.”
Nazeer-Ahmed Ballim, a prominent ex-Witsie, died on August 25 after a motorcycle accident.
Ballim matriculated from St John’s in 2004, served on the SRC in 2006 and was a member of the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA).
Nazeer left Wits to study Information Technology and worked for Oracle, an online financing system that Wits uses.
Fatima Mukkadam, head of the MSA and SRC member, said, “The legacy he leaves behind is one of love, happiness and kindness. A gentleman, loved by his family, peers and colleagues.
Mukkadam said the SRC, MSA and the Wits community would like to offer their condolences to the Ballim family. “It’s always difficult for the people left behind. We pray that Allah Ta’ala (God) helps his family and loved ones through this difficult time and that Nazeer reaches the highest stage in Jannah (Paradise), Aameen.”
His uncle, Deputy Vice Chancellor Yunus Ballim said that, in Nazeer’s short time at Wits, he had touched many lives through his passion for the community. “His death has been a blow to young and old in our family and he is sorely missed.”
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.
A Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) candidate was apparently removed from the ballot list days before the SRC elections.
Dominic Khumalo, 4th year LLB, claims the Legal Office recommended his removal and the decision was made at a meeting between senior Wits management and the Dean of students on Friday August 17.
A notice outside polling stations warned students that voting for ‘candidate 5’ would spoil their ballot.
Earlier this year, Khumalo and fellow members of the Men’s Res house committee were suspended and temporarily evicted for misconduct, after they allegedly disrupted an inter-residence talent show during orientation week.
But Jabu Mashinini, chief electoral officer, said Khumalo withdrew his nomination, and has confirmed that she is in possession of a withdrawal letter from him.
“It was a personal choice. He decided to withdraw for personal reasons and we had to get permission from the VC because withdrawal for nomination had closed already,” she said.
Khumalo said he was not officially informed of the decision and went to confirm with deputy vice chancellor Yunus Ballim if the “rumour” was true. According to Khumalo, Ballim confirmed that he had been excluded.
Khumalo said he consulted with an advocate who advised him that a High Court interdict for the elections was his only form of redress. However, he did not get the interdict because it was expensive, and he did not want to seem power-hungry.
Khumalo said he had written a “very long letter” to the president and the Minister of Higher Education, and was waiting for a response.
Last year, Feziwe Ndwanyana , a PYA candidate, was excluded the day before the elections. She had been found guilty of misconduct during the student protest against fee increments in 2009.
Ballim and Prem Coopoo, dean of students, were approached for comment but had not yet responded at the time of going to print.
Published in Wits Vuvuzela 21st edition, 24th August 2012
SRC election candidates squared off on campus radio debating one party rule, amongst other issues, just a week before students cast their votes.
Representatives from the incumbent Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (DASO) and two independent candidates participated in a live election debate on Voice of Wits’ current affairs show Breaking Ground on Wednesday night.
DASO said open debate is restricted if there are not multiple parties in the SRC.
SRC elections will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday (August 21 and 22), with the PYA’s 15 candidates hoping to create a single party council for the third year in a row.
In minutes pinned on its notice board, the SRC lists as a concern “not being able to hold each other accountable on a proper platform”.
Erin Mc Luckie, DASO candidate, said the SRC would be more effective with management in solving students’ issues if it was more diverse.
“Currently, they are speaking about ‘PYA-led SRC’… it is easy to brush off one organisation,” she said.
Candidates in the debate pointed out the PYA is made up of diverse organisations, including the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) at Wits.
Earlier this month, the SRC negotiated for students who are neither able to afford the upfront registration fee nor qualify for financial aid, to be able to register for free for the first two weeks of term.
Despite this, Mc Luckie said there was “no doubt” the current SRC had done “good things” and independent candidate Welcome Lishivha said he gave credit where it was due.
The candidates also debated the SRC’s accessibility. Tiisetso Murray, an independent candidate, said the SRC’s “poor communication” prevented him from starting a club.
“It seems like the SRC forgot,” said Murray.
Pearl Pillay, PYA candidate, said the outgoing SRC, which had nearly 2000 followers on Twitter at the time of going to print, had been described as one of the best communicating councils students have had in years.
“If you tweet the SRC and you do not get a response in 10 minutes maximum, then either Vodacom or your network is down, or the SRC has crawled into some cave and I don’t see any caves at Wits,” she said.
Published in Wits Vuvuzela 20th edition, 17 August 2012
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 SRC held a public meeting at the Matrix to give quarterly feedback on its achievements so far and to hear student grievances on Tuesday.
A number of issues including exclusions, residences, the humanitarian fund and school councils were addressed. SRC president Tebogo Thothela said they had worked hard to ensure that not too many students were excluded for financial reasons and that 152 students had already been helped by the humanitarian fund.
Thothela said this year’s Freshers’ Ball had been a huge success despite the security flaws because about R200 000 had been raised and this would be channelled to the humanitarian fund. He said R15 500 was raised through flea market stalls and, for the first time ever, education campus also had these stalls.
Feziwe Ndwayana, former SRC President, spoke emotionally against the use of the tag “humanitarian” in the fund that assists students in need as she felt it was demeaning. She suggested that it be changed to at least “development” fund.
She also asked what the SRC had planned to celebrate Wits’ 90th birthday. Thothela responded that lectures and a golf day were on the cards and musician Sibongile Khumalo was scheduled to perform. Proceeds from the golf day and concert would go to the humanitarian fund.
Students said the absence of an ATM on West Campus means they have to walk all the way to East Campus in order to get cash.
Yusuf Peer, SRC Constitutional and Legal Affairs officer, promised disgruntled students from West campus that the student body would fight “tooth and nail” to ensure that an ATM machine was installed there as well.
“We have slept in the dean of students’ and the chancellor’s offices to see a problem is addressed and we will sleep there again until our grievances are heard.”
There were also concerns from students concerning recent muggings on campus. SRC vice president said: “We are paying a lot of money here, Campus Control is being paid and we are told we are not safe here?” Vuvuzela published a story on one of the muggings on March 16.
Time for change: SRC president, Tebogo Thothela, addresses students in the Matrix on Tuesday regarding varsity issues.
The newly elected Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) has begun its time in office squabbling over the allocation of portfolios.
Two weeks have passed since the elections and the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), to which all 15 members in the incoming SRC are affiliated, could not reach consensus on who would lead the SRC.
A political deployment committee (PDC) was elected to allocate portfolios but this committee was disbanded last week for “manipulating the process”, according to a source close to the party.
Gender surfaced as an issue that was rigorously debated in deciding which candidate should be elected president of the 2011/2012 SRC.
A male candidate was initially elected but the final draft has a female dubbed the most competent candidate for the seat.
Feziwe Ndwayana confirmed her election as president of the new SRC, with Tebogo Thothela set to be her internal deputy and Tshepo Lethea as external deputy in a portfolio allocation list approved by the PYA on Monday.
The portfolio allocations and presidential posts would be officiated in a meeting with chief electoral officer, Jabu Mashinini, yesterday.
However, a document from the meeting, found by a reporter, stated that the disbanded committee chose Tebogo Thothela as the new president.
Nwayana said there was much debate around her appointment as SRC president.
“It all boiled down to the fact that society to some extent still lacks trust and confidence in female leadership.
In the initial portfolio allocation meeting people were confused about why certain portfolios were allocated as they were and we had to extend the process for more rigorous debate regarding leadership,” Ndwayana said.
In a document handed out at the meeting, the PYA justified its allocation of portfolios saying: “…the Political Deployment Committee, after extensive deliberations and debate resolved on the following shape of the SRC and portfolio allocation.”
The document, further states that the PDC recommended its portfolios remain as listed and that, given the quality of leadership in the incoming SRC, believed past failures in the running of portfolios will be rectified.
PYA spokesperson Godfrey Maja said: “There were no disagreements as such, we just had various debates.
“There is no crisis whatsoever and there was never any disunity. We persuaded each other and reached agreement on the portfolio allocation.”
According to Maja, Ndwayana was chosen in part for her experience in the PYA but also because she is viewed as the best candidate who can provide the right political direction in the incoming SRC.
“Her involvement in tackling issues the PYA is passionate about such as the worker’s struggle was also considered during selection,” said Maja.
Candidate’s credibility, leadership history, leadership style, competence as well as a good understanding of the SRC and the processes within it were the main factors considered in allocations and choosing the president and her deputies, according to Ndwayana.
“All candidates in the incoming SRC are capable of leading as president, but how long will it take for us to be led by another competent female?
“As a progressive alliance, even though patriarchy has oppressed women in the past.
“We could not let it take us another four years or so before we could be led by a female, not just because she is female but most importantly because she is duly competent.”
MANY areas on campus, especially residences, are filthy as Wits cleaners continue striking for an increase in wages.
Third year law student, Kagiso Manamela, believes that “in difficult times [such as the current workers’ strike] it is the duty of the SRC and campus societies to push everyone to clean after themselves and ensure that our campus is well maintained”.
Wits has more than 70 registered clubs and societies and Manamela says that if they work together then “a clean campus conducive for studying can be achieved”.
SRC president Morris Masutha said the SRC supports the cleaners’ strike and therefore making efforts with clubs and societies to keep Wits clean will “sabotage” the cleaners’ cause.
“We will remain anti-hygiene until the cleaners’ demands are met. The biggest demand we have is that Wits must own its own cleaning staff instead of it being outsourced,” Masutha said.
Clubs and societies at Wits engage in different activities such as sports, religion, entertainment and politics. This then raises the concern of whether it is in the interest of these clubs and societies to diverge from their daily scope and deal with alternative issues such as efforts to clean Wits campus.
Demography and population studies honours student, Richard Machava, says that “societies should work together to eliminate the problem instead of only focusing on their own issues because the current strike affects us all as Wits students regardless of which society we belong to”.
Matome Rampedi, chairperson of Campus Outreach, an organisation dealing with biblical ministry, says the difficulty that plagues students is the “naivety that if campus is dirty, it is somebody else’s duty to deal with it” which leaves people reluctant to make efforts to maintain cleanliness.
Regarding clubs and societies working together to initiate efforts to clean Wits campus, Rampedi said: “There is a role to be played by each of us, but as a society getting involved in something which is not directly linked with the work you do, can be time consuming and a huge challenge.”
In episode six of We Should Be Writing season 7, the team unpacked the evolution of music as a form of expression and protest, through four decades in the South African context. The episode explores the journey of South African music and its consumers from the 80s, 90s, early 2000s and contemporary listeners. From the […]
