Statement of the National Executive Committee of South African Students’ Congress Tuesday, 02 June 2009
* * The South African Students’ Congress (SASCO) had its 3rd National Executive Committee meeting from the 29th till the 31st of May 2009 at Booysens Hotel, Johannesburg. The meeting discussed among other things the state of Higher Education and the UNISA Debacle; the Minister of Higher Education and Training also addressed the meeting *On the Report of the Ministerial Committee on Racism * * * The NEC noted the deplorable state of our campuses without any shock; we have always believed that our Institutions of Higher Learning were heaven racism and discrimination It is disgusting that after 15 years into a democratic dispensation we still experience racism within our institutions, who are supposed to be breeding a new graduate who understand the democratic society we are building We therefore call on Minister Nzimande to take action against Institutions like the University of Free State, Rhodes University, University of Pretoria and University of Cape Town among other Institutions who are known of sheer racism Students’ Demand to President Zuma SASCO believes that students voted the ANC into power because of the promise by the ANC of “Gradual Introduction of Free Education” through the reviewal of the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in the manifest of the ANC Conscious of the constrains brought by the economic recession into the budget of the Government, we however believe Education should not be compromised as it one of the priorities promised in the ANC manifesto We therefore call on President Zuma to pronounce plans towards the introduction of Free Education in his state of the nation address tomorrow * * *On the Resignation of Vice Chancellor of UNISA Professor Barney Pityana* After discussion with our structures in UNISA about the possibilities of forcing the Vice Chancellor to resign, after his failure to give a strategic leadership role in the Transformation of UNISA We have agreed to suspend mass demonstrations in UNISA and participate in the upcoming SRC elections, while closely observing progress on areas they committed to improve. Through the SRC, organised workers and students in general we will call on the University Council to force Professor Pityana not to finish his contract, which ends in December 2009 in this regard victory is certain. We are confident that the majority of UNISA Council members share the same view with us that Pityana’s contract must not be renewed On recent national general elections The NEC congratulated students across the country that brought innovation and creativity in assuring that students overwhelmingly vote ANC. The NEC however noted with disappointment the failure of our country to decisively break the national question allegiance in electoral patterns this manifested itself through coloured, white or black vote, regionalism and sheer tribalism. We expressed that if this tendency is not attended, it has potential to reverse the gains we have made in last 15 years of our democracy. On transformation of SABC The NEC is resolute that the ANC-led government has responsibility to rescue SABC from internal collapse, patronage and factional politics. We further hold a view that more educational programmes particularly during prime time must be shown as part of nation building, it is not acceptable that programmes like Jika-Majika and American Comics are prioritised at the expense of South African Educational programmes. *Contact:* Mawethu Rune – SASCO President @ 073 829 5027 *Or * * * *Magasela Mzobe – SASCO Secretary General @ 083 563 7942* --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
