University of Cape Town - Students' representative council · The Key Focus Areas of the SRC 2010:...

First Organisational Report

Compiled for the First Ordinary Sitting of the University of Cape Town Student

Assembly on the 17th March 2010

University of Cape Town

Students’ Representative Council 2010

“ We c o m m i t t o b e i n g a v i s i o n a r y a n d a c c o u n t a b l e S R C t h a t e m p o w e r s s t u d e n t s t h r o u g h t h e s p i r i t o f U b u n t u ”

Programme of Action:

The SRC recognises the unique position it holds within the University. We as the elected repre-

sentatives of the students have the ability to help shape this university through our work. We re-

alise that we have three primary functions: To be the representatives of the Students at the Uni-

versity Fora we have access to, to be the custodian of student governance at UCT and the care-

taker of the Constitution and to be run programmes that become will assist in the improvement

of the University.

The Vision of the SRC 2010:

“We commit to being a visionary and accountable SRC that empowers students through the

spirit of Ubuntu”

The Mission of the SRC 2010:

Mission Statement:

We endeavour to serve the student body with excellence and commitment whilst upholding the

values of integrity, transparency and democracy. Through professionalism, open mindedness and

humility, we are committed to promoting freedom, equality and justice.

Core Purpose:

1. To lead by example

2. To be recognisable and visible through effective and interactive communication

3. To address the challenges facing our constituency, community, country and continent by

being socially responsive and transformative

4. To be the link between students and management by providing a well informed student

voice in decision making bodies

5. To promote academic excellence by ensuring a safe and nurturing environment conducive

to learning and personal growth

To take responsibility for issues and bring innovative solutions to student problems

Core Business:

1. To uphold the principles of co-operative governance through collective leadership in the

realization of an efficient student governance model and the meaningful incorporation of

the student voice in university governance

2. To represent the students through servant leadership

3. To enhance the student experience

4. To champion student leadership development and encourage active student participa-

tion in all sectors at UCT.

S R C 2 0 1 0! F i r s t O r g a n i s a t i o n a l R e p o r t

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The Key Focus Areas of the SRC 2010:

The SRC recognises that its programmes must be aimed at facing the challenges the University

of Cape Town and its students face. We also recognise that while there are many challenges that

face us we have only one year in which to make a difference and for this reason we must choose

our battles carefully in order to succeed, lest we spread ourselves too thinly and achieve little

that is meaningful.

It is for this reason that the SRC has identified 7 Key Areas of Focus that we will focus our en-

ergies on:

1. Transformation

By transformation, the SRC refers to meaningful access to UCT for disadvantaged South Afri-

cans, especially those affected by the legacy of apartheid. We take the core of transformation to

be demographic change at the University of Cape Town. We realise that transformation goes be-

yond simply demography and will also endeavour to create an academic environment that al-

lows disadvantaged students to succeed through advocating for multilevel support programmes

and we will aim to change the mindset of the student community with regards to racial integra-

tion.

2. Social Awareness

The SRC will endeavour to create a more socially active and aware student body. The student

body must be encouraged to get involved in social commentary and upliftment. We wish to en-

gender in the students of UCT a concern for their community. The SRC will support pro-

grammes and organisations that aim to provide opportunities and support to our community and

encourage students to get involved in social responsive activities.

3. Promoting Academic Excellence

The SRC will focus its attention broadly on promoting academic excellence throughout the uni-

versity. This will be a dual process of advocating for better teaching and learning practices at

UCT and providing support through programmes that promote academic excellence. Particular

focus will be given to first years and students from previously underprivileged backgrounds that

are particularly susceptible to the challenges and rigours of university life: This support will

come from both academic and social spheres.


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4. Environmentalism

The SRC will advocate for a greener UCT Campus. It is the first time that any SRC has seri-

ously tackled the issue of environmentalism and we feel that given the global trends it is high

time that the University take action to make it greener. Our focus will be twofold: We will advo-

cate for programmes that focus on waste reduction, recycling and energy efficiency and we shall

run awareness programmes that will begin to change the mindsets of the university Community.

5. Student Development

The SRC wants to put particular focus on the graduateness of UCT Students. In an increasingly

competitive world our students need to have the skills and unique attributes that will make them

competitive in the global economy. This means providing support innovative programmes and

students, encouraging student enterprise and encouraging students to involve themselves in so-

cieties and student leadership.

6. Enhancing Student Governance

The SRC believes that it is high time that a review of student governance take place. The SRC

Constitution and others have become increasingly disparate and it is important that they be

brought in line with one another to avoid confusion and to increase efficiency and understanding

within student leadership and governance. It will also give the SRC an excellent opportunity to

make the changes that will allow us to improve service delivery to the students.

7. Visibility

The SRC understands that is has an important responsibility to advocate for the students of UCT

but we also have a great deal of power to make commentary and involve ourselves in activism in

our surrounding communities, nationally and internationally. The SRC has a responsibility to try

to improve the lives of those it can and must support causes that are worthy.

These 7 Key Focus Areas are the 2010 SRC’s commitment to the Students and the University of

Cape Town at all times we will remember our responsibilities and will fight for the betterment of

students and the community. We will fight to ensure we carry out our mandate, uphold our vi-

sion and achieve our mission and goals.


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SRC Structural Changes:

The SRC would like to inform you of a number of changes that have taken place within the

SRC since the start of our term in November. Three SRC members have either resigned or

been academically excluded since November. These members are Ms Mbalenhle Mbatha,

Ms Zamantungwa Khumalo and Ms Tara Dales, the Secretary General, the Entertainment

and Fundraising Coordinator and the Media and Communications Coordinator respectively.

The creation of these vacancies has forced the SRC to either fill their positions or absorb

their workloads.

In order to do this the following actions have been taken: Firstly, Mr Shannon Bernhardt has

been asked to fill the position of Secretary General, leaving a vacancy within the position of

DayHouses Coordinator. In order to fill this position the SRC has decided to co-opt the can-

didate coming 16th on the ballot in the last SRC General Election, Mr Keitumetso Mabele-

bele.

In order to fill the vacancy within Media and Communications, the SRC has decided to co-

opt the candidate coming 18th on the ballot in the last SRC General Election, Mr Uhuru

Malebo. The candidate coming 17th on the ballot in the last SRC General Election, Mr

Tsepo Serakalala, was unable to avail himself for the position.

In order to fill the vacancy within Entertainment and Fundraising, the SRC has decided to

divide the workload between the Sports Coordinator, Mr Jarvis Ball and the Societies Coor-

dinator, Mr Erik de Ridder. The SRC has decided that based on the available capacity within

the SRC it would be prudent to have members within the team fulfil the requirements of the

position rather than co-opting somebody entirely new.

The decisions taken by the SRC have been ratified by the SRC Constitutional Committee

and have the overwhelming support of the Student Assembly. These changes have become

effective. The members have undergone a rapid induction process and will be receiving

strong support from both the Secretariat and the Department of Student Affairs.


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SRC Organisational Report

Collective Goals and Objectives

Transformation:

1. The SRC has received a formal commitment partnership from the University Admissions

Office on the project of expanding student recruitment. A joint SRC and UCT admissions

Office team has been set up comprising three SRC members and three members of the

UCT admissions office. Regular meeting times to implement the programme have been

agreed and for the first time, the SRC will be given a role at the University of Cape

Town Open Day. This will allow the SRC to adopt its strategy of expanding the recruit-

ment of students from disadvantaged areas and contribute to the need to change the stu-

dent demography of UCT towards redress and equity.

2. The SRC is currently having meetings with an NGO called Equal Education to plan a

march to parliament on the 21st of March. The march will call on the South African gov-

ernment to provide a library to each school in the country within the next ten years.

3. The SRC organised the Some of My Best Friends Are… [Blank] campaign. The campaign

was covered by various local and international media platforms including University

World News. The objective was to make students confront issues of race and racial iden-

tity and question whether UCT is truly racially integrated. We have received good re-

sponse from students, and this campaign will be used as a platform to organise further

initiatives on this issue in future.

Events run for this campaign included a highly successful poster campaign, a talk by the

Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Crain Soudien and two screenings of docu-

mentaries discussing transformation, though unfortunately due to technical difficulties

we were able to have only one screening.

Social Awareness

The How Many More March

The SRC, in conjunction with the Department of Communications and Marketing, organised the

“How Many More?” Protest and March. The event was the largest of its type seen in many years

and has had the desired effect of spurring into action the university, the police and the govern-

ment. The SRC has also created the We Say: Enough campaign which will partner with the film

society in shooting video clips of student affected by crime and compiling them into a documen-


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tary. Furthermore, the campaign will be taken to the internet and students will be invited to par-

ticipate actively via social media platforms.

Promoting Academic Excellence

The Academic Awareness campaign called the “10 Days of Academic Activism” will be held

form 6- 15 April 2010. All plans will be solidified and finalised prior to the March vaca-

tion. Funding has been secured by IPD for a total of R10 000. The campaign will be

aimed at promoting the various academic support mechanisms that exist at UCT inform-

ing students about the academic exclusions and RAC process Improving and advocating

for academic excellence in the UCT student body

Environmentalism

1. To date a close relationship with the Green Campus Initiative has been built and main-

tained in the form of information sharing. The SRC has also assisted to raise funding for

GCI for items like their new gazebo.

2. The lower campus community recycling station project is in the final stages of approval,

which allow for the creation a recycling station on lower campus. All that is required is

a sign off on the space usage after which implementation can go ahead.

All stakeholders, Wasteman, Alliance E-waste, Properties & Services, Brett Roden (UCT

Environmental Risk Officer), engineering manufacturers (FC Engineering) and students

have been made aware of the project. All have confirmed participation at this stage ex-

cept for the Properties & Services department who will ultimately be responsible for the

space usage.

3. The SRC put forward a proposal by Biogreen diesel, a company that has been running for

almost a full year now. Biogreen diesel manufactures biodiesel which is made from

waste cooking oil. The plan is to use Biogreen diesel in the Jammie Shuttles and would

enable UCT to reduce the Jamie Shuttles carbon emissions by up to 38%, based on a B20

blend (20% biodiesel, 80% diesel). The plan is to use cooking oil used by Fedics to pro-

duce biodiesel. Biogreen is one of the companies, we are also in talks with Green-Diesel,

so it will most likely go to tender.

The following stakeholders have been consulted and have confirmed support and partici-

pation: Bio-Green Technologies and Brett Roden (UCT Environmental Risk Officer). To

date repeated attempts to contact Sibanye have been met with no response.


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Fedics caterers and Sibanye are the only two primary stakeholders who are not on board

at this stage. Once we have their pledge of support and participation the process will be

significantly easier to implement.

The Bio-Green proposal that was produced after subsequent meetings initiated by the

SRC goal coordinator, has been sent to all primary managerial stakeholders for their con-

sideration.

At present work is being done with regards to Fedics and Sibanye and progress is ex-

pected within two to three months.

Student Development

1. The Student Enterprise forum has been established in order to foster entrepreneurship

among students at UCT. The Forum will be used as a means to increase the avenues for

student enterprise.

2. The SRC is organising a conference on enterprise at campus. It involves many stakehold-

ers. The SRC has drafted a proposal and approach corporate for Funding.

Enhancing Student Governance

1. The SRC will be conducting a review of the entire student governance model and docu-

ments this year. All students and student leaders will be asked to comment on these

documents and will be asked to assist in the drafting of the amendments that may need to

be made.

Visibility

1. The SRC president met with the founders of the Fly the Flag Initiative to secure UCT

as the student hub of the initiative. The Fly the Flag initiative, patroned by Desmond

Tutu aims to create a number of vehicle processions around SouthAfrica in anticipa-

tion of the World Cup 2010. UCT will be a host to the flags and also be one of the

starting points of the procession for the initiative.

2. The SRC held an SRC Student Leaders’ Dinner. The idea behind this was to introduce stu-

dent leadership to our Vision and Key Focus Areas. The Event was well attended and it

gave student leadership an excellent to opportunity to interact with each other.


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Individual Goals and Objectives:

The Presidency and the Secretariat:

1. The Students’ Representative Council in partnership with the Department of Student

Affairs, has successfully sought funding of R300 000 for the inaugural African Stu-

dent Leaders’ Summit in September, 2010.

The African Student Leaders’ Summit will bring together elected student leaders

from the four key regions of Africa at UCT in a five-day summit.

Mindful of the role that students must play in deepening the process of participatory

democracy on the African continent and cognizant of the dream of realizing an Afri-

can renaissance in our time, the ASLS will aim to develop a new generation of Afri-

can leaders, committed to bringing meaning to the concept of afropolitanism and

passionate about creating a united voice for African students which can be a catalyst

for change on the continent and in the world.

The inaugural ASLS will be the first summit of its kind, attracting more than 50

elected student leaders from various universities across the African Diasporas. The

summit will achieve its aims by:

a. Hosting group debates and panel discussions on African democracy and

youth participation, African leadership and the role of elected student leaders

in African governance.

b. Creating and strengthening the links with elected student leaders from across

the continent.

c. Fostering a culture of social advocacy by encouraging delegates to start sus-

tainable projects in their regions as per the resolutions of the summit.

d. Building relationships with key government and non-government stakehold-

ers such as the African Union, South African Institute of International Affairs

and the United Nations.

The summit is now in the operational phase and a dedicated project coordniator is

being recruited via the necessary Human Resources channels. A Summit planning

comittee has been established to include six SRC members, one IAPO member, one

Department of Student Affairs representative and one representative from the De-

partment of Media and Communications.


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The University of the Witwatersrand Department of Student Affairs has been en-

gaged with and they have agreed to offer support and backing for the ASLS. In par-

ticular, the Head of Student Affairs of the University of the Witwatersrand met in a

meeting of the ASLS to discuss the role that Wits will play in supporting the initia-

tive into the future.

Similarly, SRCs and Departments of student affairs representatives from the Univer-

sities of Fort Hare, the University of the Western Cape were contacted and met with

face to face and have pledged their full support behind the initiative.

2. The SRC accountability model was drawn up and agreed upon on the 11th of February.

The model set out the plan for holding members of the SRC accountable and will

work hand in hand with the SRC stipend review policy.

3. In assuming office for the year as of 10 January 2010, the Zimbabwean Fee Dispensa-

tion Policy (henceforth referred to as ‘the policy’) had not as yet been approved for

the year 2010. The reason for this being that the University Finance Committee

(UFC) had requested that this policy be open for review and approval on an annual

basis, as the university needs to assess the financial risk and the economic situation

in Zimbabwe. Whilst the principle of annual review in itself is understood by the

SRC, the practical implications of annual review have often left the SRC in a diffi-

cult position. However, prior to assuming office, the SRC had begun communicat-

ing with Zimbabwean student leaders, and together we applied pressure for the

committee that sits with the policy (comprising of the DSA, SRC, Finance, Finan-

cial Aid, Fees and IAPO). This collusion lead to the committee sitting before regis-

tration began. Although there were no significant changes in the policy from the

previous year, the policy is needed the approval of UFC. Understanding that time

was a factor which would strongly influence the effectiveness of the policy, the

committee agreed that if the policy was given the go-ahead by the Vice-Chancellor

Management Advisory Group (VCMag) the policy could be implemented. This

would leave UFC with the role of making retrospective approval of the policy

come March. VCMag gave the go-ahead that week and policy was implemented.

Through making relationships with key stakeholders, the SRC has worked hard

towards minimizing the policy approval time (something which had caused far-

reaching setbacks in the past).The policy has thus far been successfully imple-

mented, with students being assisted timeously. The SRC applauds the foundation

laid by previous SRC’s for the initial implementation of the policy but notes that in

moving forward a more sophisticated policy will be required as the rules and pro-

cedures governing the concession are no longer cut and dry if they ever were at any

stage.


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4. The Committee Deployments have been completed to all university committees.

5. The SRC has been provided with stationery and office equipment.

6. The SRC has been provided with SRC Overalls, SRC blazers will be provided shortly.

7. The SRC has been working on the development of an outsourcing policy. This has in-

volved a great deal of research and consultation. In this a position is starting to take

shape that the SRC will be able to take forward to Council.

Treasurer General

1. The SRC made a commitment at the start of our term to continue the legacy of the bailout

fund. The bailout fund is there to give financial assistance to students who are in good

academic standing but are unable to raise the necessary money to cover their outstanding

debt. R75 000 was available from 2009 to be awarded. The committee sat on four occa-

sions From December 2009 to March 2010 and awarded R 75 000. The SRC is commit-

ted to raising more funds for more students to be bailed out throughout the course of the

year.

2. The SRC has engaged with the University finance department and ensured adequate

space for consultation on the issue of student fees.

3. The SRC has consulted the Head of Department of Economics and requested that the

department produce two post graduate students who will do intricate research into

the fees and fee setting mechanisms and present three reports to the SRC on the Uni-

versity Budget Allocation process, the University fee setting trends for the last 10

years, and student-centric fee proposal that the SRC can reference for its position on

fees for 2011.

4. SRC at the beginning of our term made a commitment to prevent as many students

from being financially excluded. Students who have more than R400 due in fees are

not allowed to register at the start of the year and are financially excluded. In this

regard the SRC worked on the University Studies Funding Committee (USFC) to

deal with such students. Through the committee the SRC managed to get 199 stu-

dents to receive bursary assistance amounting to R557 913 which allowed them to

register. The USFC also has an appeal sub-committee which handles appeals from

students in debt but are also on financial aid. Two members of the SRC finance

committee sat on this committee and managed to get 59 appeals successful out of 70

total appeals.


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Academics:

1. Previously, of the 6 faculties at UCT, only 4 had constituted Post Graduate Students’ Asso-

ciations. The aim for the year is to ensure that all faculties have PGSAs. The SRC is

happy to report that there is now a Humanities PGSA that consists of eight members who

have already conducted portfolio allocations. There is only one member in the Com-

merce PGSA currently and further efforts to get one established are being undertaken.

2. The SRC organised a PGSA Orientation in conjunction with the DSA. There has never

been a platform where postgraduate students have been able to meet one another, famil-

iarise themselves with support services or get a better understanding of what their role is.

The first PGSA orientation was held this year and students reacted positively to it. By

ensuring that PGSA are able to perform better, student governance will be able to be en-

hanced such that there issues and concerns will be able to be addressed.

3. Previously, students who had successful appeals and return to UCT did not get any follow

up support. Many of these students have unresolved issues and need to be given some

support so that they can start the year on a new leaf. With this in mind, a workshop was

held for these students that covered an array of topics with people presenting form CDP

as well as Student wellness. From the evaluating forms, this workshop was highly well

received. Please note that these forms can be made available on request.

4. Students who live in and around Cape Town are able to come through to the SRC office

and get help filling in their appeal forms. However, students from outside Cape Town are

not able to do this. A two page write up was provided on Vula to ensure that students are

able to get all the help they possibly can. Students were assisted via email as well as over

the phone in addition to one on one consults. Student consults were advertised on Vula,

via email as well as posters.

5. The sms that was previously sent out informing students of their exclusion was poorly

worded and did not contain all the necessary information. The sms was reworded to en-

sure that it took students’ feelings into account (ie. more sensitively worded) and pro-

vided as much information that it possibly can in 150 sms characters.

6. A submission was tabled to council in order to review the registration process of the

University. The SRC has placed particular emphasis on introducing electronic and

online systems that would increase the efficiency of the registration process. The

proposal has the support of some members of Council and will be discussed at the

Council sitting on the 27 March 2010.


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7. A class rep protocol was thus drafted and sent to faculties which will hopefully go some

way in ensuring that class reps are taken seriously by both the department and the reps.

8. There is nothing formalised about the Early Warning System and consequently, a task

team was put together in 2009 with a mandate to “review the EWS across the university

and report back to the committee with a view to formulating proposals for more consis-

tent approach across faculties”. The SRC will ensure that the work of the task team is

carried out timeously.

9. The SRC has conceptualised a programme Geared-up as being a programme that offers

both academic and non-academic support for 100 first year financial Aid students but the

idea has subsequently evolved into something much bigger. There will now be a series of

workshops that will be held for first year students irrespective of whether they are on fi-

nancial aid or not. This will form part of a pilot project that the SRC and the DSA are

working on together. We have met with university staff from the Department of Student

Affairs at Wits University, followed by meetings with both Stellenbosch University

along with Wits. Stellenbosch has a Fist Year Academy and Wits University has a First

Year Experience (FYE). These are both programs that cater for first year students with

the former being more remedial and the latter, much more proactive and pre-emptive- A

model the SRC favours. The reason why the latter is favoured is because the EWS model

can form part of the corrective side of things. The University needs to seriously recog-

nise that an intervention program is needed for first year students.

10. The forum will be held on the 10th of April during the academic awareness campaign.

The final programme plan is being put together.

The theme for this year’s forum will be ‘Enabling Academic Success’ and there will be

four forums which will cover various sectors of the academic environment that are meant

to all be contributing to your academic success. The provisional topics for the commis-

sion include:

a. Classroom experience

b. Orientation program

c. Teaching and learning Charter

d. Postgraduate experience


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Transformation:

1. The SRC is currently consulting all the faculty transformation officers to organise a

Deans’ Lecture Series on transformation in their respective faculties. Most of the

deans have responded positively to this proposal. The objective of this lecture series

is to hear directly from the deans about their transformation goals and objectives,

some of the successes and failures the faculties have experienced over the years in

terms of achieving those goals, what type of support structures exist to assist previ-

ously disadvantaged students and decrease the number of students who get excluded

etc. Since the university does not have a centralised and integrated transformation

plan, the talks may also focus on how the faculties plan to implement or incorporate

the transformation goals outlined in the university’s five year strategic paper.

2. The Intercultural and Diversity Studies unit (iNCUDiSA) and the Sociology depart-

ment at UCT is planning to offer a third-year elective course (the project is called

Teaching for Social Justice: Diversity Literacy Capping course) that will introduce

students to issues of diversity, transformation, identity, gender, sexuality etc. Based

on previous experiences, the department feels courses of this nature generally have a

profound impact on the students and how they grapple with diversity in a South Af-

rican context. The SRC is currently engaging with iNCUDiSA in terms of promoting

the course to students from all faculties.

3. The SRC will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Disability Unit. This will not

only boost the relationship between the SRC and the Disability Unit but also initiate joint

programmes to raise awareness about disability at UCT.

4. A review of the Student Transformation Charter, which was last amended in 2004,

is being discussed at the moment. After consultations with relevant stakehold-

ers, the charter will be amended or a new one will be drafted, which will then

go back to students for inputs.


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Residences

1. There were many students who arrived at UCT without firm offers of residence or ac-

commodation. This posed a great challenge to the SRC as it had to advise students on the

best course of action to find accommodation, direct them to OCAS, in the hope of find-

ing off campus accommodation. In limited cases where students had no friends or family

in Cape Town they were offered crisis accommodation. The SRC was able to secure an

additional 40 beds for Crisis Accommodation on top of the original 18 beds; this consid-

erably eased our ability to offer students a place to stay.

2. As part of a government request the university had agreed that residences could be used as

private accommodation for spectators and tourists who would flock to the city to watch

the world cup. The University proposed that students would have to leave residences

sooner than normal in order to allow for maintenance and cleaning to be done to the

rooms. This meant that the 72 hour rule that exists would have to be changed to 48

hours. However, the SRC has negotiated with Student Housing and the 72 Hour Rule

remains in action.

3. The University plans to use most of its residences for accommodation during the World

Cup. This means that most students cannot stay behind during the vacation period as

they normally would use residence as part of vacation accommodation. The following

issues arose:

International students

• ! Generally don’t go home during the vacation period and stay in Vacation ac-

commodation.

• ! They (international students) prefer second tier residences as they allow them to

remain behind, the use by tourists would therefore affect them severely.

• ! Also to be considered is that due to the world cup flight tickets are expensive,

which means the likelihood that more student would prefer to remain in Cape

Town than any other period due to affordability.

Academic reasons:

• ! There are students who have contracts with their bursars to do vacation work

over the June and December holidays. Due to the legal implications they have to

stay behind and work.


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• ! There are student 2nd tier who have approached me saying they have lectures to

attend and lots of academic work to be done which requires them to be at Uni-

versity as it also allows them to maximise the resources that would not be avail-

able at home.

• ! Law student have to do 60 hours of community service and some will undertake

these 60 hours during the coming vacation they once also have to remain behind

The SRC has taken up these complaints with Student Housing and it looks likely that we

will secure residence space and that the accommodation we are offering to tourists will

be undersubscribed. The SRC will give an update more fully at Student Assembly.

4. Upon returning in January it was noted that many students who had been academically and

financially excluded had lost their places in residence. For financial exclusions the cut

off day for the payment of the previous year’s fees was the 13th January as most students

were a home they consulted with me through the phone as to ask for help. Student hous-

ing subsequently gave these students a provision that they pay by the 21st Of January

which some students said they could not as they parents incomes come through month

end and the 25th of that month. Those students who had paid by the 21st got their place in

residence back, whilst those who hadn’t lost their places and were put in crisis, and also

on the student housing waiting list where it was agreed that they would get first prefer-

ence for a place when spaces showed up as they paid their fees. It was therefore impor-

tant that they submit their clearance letter when filling the waiting list from.

For students who were academically excluded it was agreed that they would get their

place back into a residence the only thing was that it may not necessarily be the one they

were in the previous year.

5. In the year 2006 Nadia Oshry the SRC Residence Coordinator began a process of review-

ing all residence constitutions with the relevant stake holders. As of last year SRC mem-

bers and Residence Council chair person with student housing members continued the

process of adapting and changing residence constitutions. This process included setting

deadlines as to ensure that the next SRC, Res Council or House Committees do not have

to start the process over again. This meant that a core constitution was created as to en-

sure that the same constitutional principles applied to all the residences. Some constitu-

tions were as old as the 1998 and therefore had not adapted themselves to the student

governance model. It is hoped that by August all residence constitutions would have

been reviewed adapted and accepted by all the houses.

To date the core constitutions have been drawn up, a draft of the constitution guidelines

has been put out, leaving room for SRC and the Residence Council to put their input be-

fore they are taken to each house. The constitution does specify certain portfolios that


16

may be put on but these are subject to each houses needs and facilities. This therefore

allows the number of house Committee members to vary according to each residence.

6. As is done each year buses were organised to fetch students from the bus station upon their

arrival at the Cape Town station. This is especially for students who are first years and

do not know their way around Cape Town.

On arrival students were directed by residence house committee members and other res

students to places where they were meant to go. The presence of the SRC stand that was

selling locks was also helpful in directing students who did not get a place in residence

to the relevant offices.

7. Peninsular Tour plans were undertaken by student housing office. This meant that Resi-

dence Council and the SRC merely provided student housing with the relevant number

of students who would be going and the meal options. This meant that Residence Coun-

cil members could focus on their O-week plans and the SRC could focus on students

who did not have accommodation.

8. When residence opened this year it was seen that Fedics was now serving a different

brand of yoghurt and juice. They had moved from Clover Danone yoghurt and

Quali juice to Darling juice and yoghurt. The residence Council decided to go back

to their residence as to check if there are significant numbers of students against

the brand or if it is just a few.


17

Societies

1. The Societies O-week was reorganised this year. It was organised around a Social Respon-

siveness theme, with central societies placement based on whether or not they have a di-

rect social responsibility function at UCT or in broader society. The SRC was able to

make this allocation because it did not lease out the central plaza to a company.

2. The SRC introduced a cluster model to the Societies O-week, with each grouping receiv-

ing its own banner. This catered to the students interests better and gave the Societies O-

week a great deal more organisation than it previously had.

3. The SRC designed a scale map and 3D model of the plaza in order to assist with the allo-

cation of Plaza space and for the purpose of providing visuals to companies wishing to

market at the Societies O-week.

4. The SRC handled all sponsorship at the Societies O-week. Marketing was supposed to fit

with the theme set by the SRC. Contracts were individually drafted with each of the

companies that did marketing.

5. The SRC has created an SRC Development Fund, where all funding raised from the Socie-

ties O-week was placed in this fund, as well as, a part of all monies raised during plaza

events this year. This funding is to be used for supporting projects that have a social re-

sponsibility aspect to them. The money will be allocated on a discretionary basis to ap-

plicants.

6. It became apparent to the coordinator that the sign- up sheet used by all student organiza-

tions to subscribe new members during Orientation week had not been updated or redes-

igned in a suitable manner for a long period of time. As such a new sheet was created by

the incumbent. The new sheet was both easier to navigate and to comprehend. In addi-

tion more distinctions between different types of organizations were made on the form in

aid of the first year students. The existing Bursary Fund donation option that existed on

the form was re-positioned so as to encourage the donations along with society sign ups.

The Bursary fund is to be used to assist financial aid students with society sign up fees

on an application basis.

7. The Societies Sub-Council was elected through an online election process. The Societies

Sub-council has elected its full complement of members for the first time in many years.

The Sub-council will be responsible for the implementation of the following brief:

• ! Improving the society funding model


18

• ! Developing a comprehensive proposal document for the expansion of societies

equipment & infrastructure

• ! Environmentalism in the societies sector

• ! The re-organization of the Societies Locker and the development of the Socie-

ties Centre

• ! The development and organizing of the New Leadership Induction Program in

October and the hosting of debating forums for different societies where is-

sues can discussed and shared

Sports

1. The SRC established a subscription fund that subsidises financial aid students’ subscrip-

tion fees to sports clubs and societies. The funds were collected on a donation basis

throughout plaza week. Once the value of the fund is finalised, financial aid students will

be contacted and alerted of the opportunity.

2. The SRC has pioneered the inter-residence sports series. The inaugural event, 5-a-side

soccer, was held on 5th of March with residences competing head to head complimented

by entertainment at the Kopano soccer pitch.

3. In conjunction with the Disability unit, we are working on a blind soccer tournament. The

training takes place throughout March with the event taking place in mid April. This ini-

tiative is aimed at drawing awareness to disability as well as providing a new sporting

avenue for both the visually impaired and sighted.

4. The SRC had membership on the task team that redrafted the Sports Council's Mis-

sion and Vision for sport at UCT. It has not yet been ratified by council. Once passed

it will redefine the focus of sport at the University.

Health, Safety and Security

1. The SRC has organised for the Forest Hill Jammie to stop on the corner of Rhodes Avenue

and Main Road in order to allow students to get to student wellness more easily. Students

may on request to the driver make this stop and will greatly assist ill students in making

their way to student wellness.

2. The SRC has organised for a review of the Map to Student Wellness, as it was causing

a certain amount of confusion to students.


19

3. The SRC has submitted a proposal to have Student Wellness increase the number of staff it

has during the exclusion period, as it does during the exam period. This is to better facili-

tate the large increase in referrals at this time and to help students cope with this ex-

tremely stressful time in their lives.

4. The SRC went to a HIV Testing, during the last Test period in Jameson Hall. The aim be-

ing to encourage students to get tested. There was an extremely good turn out by stu-

dents at the testing station.

5. The SRC is attempting to meet with all HODs in March to ensure that they are implement-

ing the First Aid policy of the University. It is hoped that we can get a number of staff

and locations equipped with First Aid.

6. The SRC ran a sticker campaign in February. These stickers had the emergency numbers

on them and were stuck on the back of student cards. This was also a part of raising

awareness of crime on and around campus.

7. The SRC has set up the Safety and Security Working Group, which is aimed at finding so-

lutions and creating awareness of crime on and around campus. The Working Group is

formed from safety and security reps from various areas of student leadership. The

Working Group and the SRC made residence visits in the beginning of March to spread

awareness and to inform students of the actions that are being taken to reduce crime, as

well as to receive comments from students.

8. Since the death of Joseph Giddy the SRC has put together a comprehensive proposal to

increase the security of students at UCT. The proposal has been taken forward to numer-

ous stakeholders within the University and without. The SRC will submit a fuller report

at student assembly next week when we have completed the current round of meetings

with UCT, members of parliament, other institutions and the Premier’s Office.

9. The SRC will be setting up a number of stands on Satellite Campuses that will carry

information pertaining to student services: Both academic and non-academic.

These stands will be put up next term.


20

DayHouses

1. The Day-House Sub council has been elected. This sub –council will be tasked to ascertain

the needs of day students and seek to find a solution to identified problems.

2. Visits to disability units and Ikhaya day house have been done as a fact finding mission to

their problems. Interaction with students staying outside UCT residences has been done

on a smaller scale as a strategy to see how we can map up a larger campaign to find a

long lasting solution to some of their problems. This is all in an effort to expand the

portfolio into a day students portfolio.

3. Day house Constitutional change

4. Roll out a survey targeted at Day students to find out their main problems. This will

5. Advocate for Politics Tutor Rooms for Ikhaya

Entertainment and Fundraising

1. To date for 2010, we have invoiced for close on R100 000. We have also

invoiced for R30 000 outstanding from 2009

2. We have introduced a new termination policy to reduce number of promo-

tion cancellations on plaza.

3. Booked out entire 1st semester in the first three weeks of term.

4. In the process of instituting a periodic Jammie slot for student Entrepre-

neurs to showcase their enterprises.

Conclusion:

It is clear from the SRC Organisational Report that the health of the SRC cannot be in ques-

tion. Despite the challenges that we have faced as a team the SRC has not compromised in

its duty to serve students or seen any noticeable decline in its ability its capacity. The work

and conduct of the SRC has been exemplary and its commitment to excellence unfailing.

The SRC at this time wants to thank all those who have contributed to our successes through

their support. We will continue to strive to be excellent and an extraordinary SRC.


21

2010 Budget

The Treasurer, Mr Lwando Maki, had the task to allocate the budget. He Formed a Finance

committee consisting of Mr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, Mr Melvyn Lubega, Mr Jarvis Ball and

Mr Uhuru Malebo. The committee met and a budget proposal was compiled and later

adopted by the SRC.

The Budget is composed of two sections: 1) Portfolio allocations and 2) Operational Costs.

Portfolio allocations provide skeleton funding for the day-to-day operation of portfolios. A

discretionary fund was formed to which each portfolio member can submit formal proposals

for funding of specific events / activities.

Lwando Maki

Treasurer

2010 UCT Students' Representative Council

Level 7 Upper Campus

Steve Biko Students' Union

Room (7.09)

Tel: +27 (0) 21 650 5498

Fax: +27 (0) 21 685 5051

Mobile: +27 (0) 84 232 5493


22

!

“We commit to being a visionary and accountable SRC that empowers students through the spirit of Ubuntu”

!

2010 SRC BUDGET

PORTFOLIO ALLOCATION

src member portfolio allocation

michell Mpike health and safety 2,000.00

Saif Islam Transformation 2,000.00

Richard Mclaverty DSG 17800

Keitumetse Mabelebele Day houses 1.500.00

Wanidle Mamba VPI 2,300.00

Shannon Bernhardt Sec-Gen 3,000.00

Sumaya Hendricks Academics 15,000.00

Erik de Ridder Societies 7,900.00

Jarvis Ball Sports 2,000.00

Melvyn Lubega VPE 2,300.00

Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh President 5,300.00

Tara Dales Media&Communication 24,895.00

Lwando Maki Treasurer 0

Londeka Mkhize Residences 2,000.00

ER and Jarvis Entertainment and fundraising 1,000.00

DISCRETIONARY 38,505.00

TOTAL 126,000

!


!

SRC Financial Report:

Expenditures Income

1. SRC Induction week & Strat-Plan weekend

Lunch food Catering 3,496.45

refreshments 968.08

Strat-plan Accommodation and food 46,838.01

Strat-plan Transport 5,000.00

Total 56,302.54

2. Nov-Dec Vacation Committee

Lunch food Catering 993.1

refreshments 400

Residence accommodation (4 members) 14,935.00

Non-residence Subsidisations (11

members) 10,171.00

Total 26499.1

3. SRC Freshers guide

Gaphic Designer 5,000.00

Printing 21,422.20

Advertising Sales 25,000.00

Total 26,422.20 25,000.00

4. January Vacation Committee

Residence accommodation (4 members) 11,500.00

Total 11500

!


!

5. O-week

Src T-shirts 552.65

Fresher's braai and plaza week recordings 1,000.00

Freshers Braai Games 1,000.00

Plaza week costs 6,700.00

Health and Safety Stickers 1,400.00

Plaza week stall sales R 88,518.00

Lock Sales 220.4

total 10,652.65 R 88,738.40

6. SRC overalls and diaries

Diaries 1,575.08

Overalls 5,250.00

Total 6,825.08

7. Operational Expenses

Refreshments R 1,793.37

Delivery R 30.00

Printing R 3,162.51

Telephone 2,526.31

Maintenance 365.24

Insurance 1,549.78

Stationarey (Excl diaries) 2,084.00

Total R 11,511.21

Special Grants

8. Dsa Grant 250,000.00

Total 250,000.00

!


!

9. Fundraising

VCU award 300,000.00

Total 300,000.00

Grand Total

R

149,712.78 663,738.40

Balance 514,025.62

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