The portfolios of the president and the wellness officer are currently vacant.
THE PRESIDENT and the wellness officer of the Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) have been removed as they have been academically excluded from the university.
This is according to SRC secretary-general Warren Makoga who told Wits Vuvuzela that Orediretse Masebe (president) and Palomino Jama (wellness officer) were no longer members of the SRC. The removal of the two was in line with the SRC constitution which states that, “A member of the SRC ceases to be a member if and when s/he ceases to be a student of the university.”
In a statement to Wits Vuvuzela, Makoga said that, “These exclusions illustrate a fair reflection of the challenges faced by the students in the university.
“We commend them for their undying spirit and willingness to change the lives of their fellow students,” the statement added, referring to Masebe and Jama.
SRC fundraising and entrepreneurship officer Azra Karim, said that what had happened was upsetting. “This is nothing to be celebrated, no matter who you are. I feel for both members that have been excluded.
“The university needs to reflect on the positions of student leaders and offer them support because it is tough being a student leader at Wits,” Karim added.
Senior programme advisor for student governance, Jabu Mashinini, said she could not comment on the matter.
Both Masebe and Jama were approached for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.
According to Makoga’s statement, “The SRC will be meeting to discuss the re-composition of the structure and communicate the outcome of those discussions to the broader student body in due time.”
FEATURED IMAGE: “It is tough being a student leader at Wits,” says an SRC member. Photo: Palesa Dlamini
FEATURED ARTICLES:
- Wits Vuvuzela Wits SRC treasurer general vacates position, Feb 2018
- Wits Vuvuzela Wits SRC tackles academic exclusion, July 2018