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Mothusi Mokalane

Student politics have shaped, and shape, the social structures in South Africa and the rest of the world. Student political and social activism have been prevalent forces in South Africa for decades. However, student politics rose to prominence at a larger scale in the 1970s when the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) and South African Students Organisation (SASO) were founded. This was after a vacuum period in anti-apartheid activism following the ban of the African National Congress and the arrest of Nelson Mandela in the early 1960s. The legacy and spirit of leaders such as Steve Biko, Onkgopotse Tiro, Barny Pityana and Dr Mamphela Ramphele, who were at the forefront of the Black Consciousness Movement and South African Students Organisation, is seen in today’s students’ political and social activism.

Today’s democratic political system has enabled an increased participation of students in political activities. This participation is the voluntary activity of an individual in political affairs and includes membership and activity connected with political groups such as movements, groups, parties, pressure groups, interests, and office holding in political institutions. It also includes informal activities such as political discussions or political events and political persuasion of authorities or members of the public.

When SASO and the BCM were formed, black students in tertiary institutions were segregated and excluded from their white counterparts. The inequality in institutions is what influenced the rise of student social and political activism in South Africa. These educational challenges faced by black students in South African institutions did not entirely end with apartheid, but were is some cases inherited by the new dispensation and subsequent generations that went on to study in universities and colleges post-1994. The most prominent grievances in South African universities are mostly caused by the same issues that were experienced by Biko, Ramphele, Pityana, Tiro, and many black students in the 1970s. These include high tuition fees, racism and accommodation issues. All these challenges put South Africa at a standstill in 2015 and 2016 with the advent of the #FeesMustFall movement. This movement was led by students, for students, and rose to prominence when students in historically white universities took to the streets, protesting high educational fees.

Naledi Chirwa, a University of Pretoria Alumnus, narrated her experience with state security in Corridors of Death, a book by Malaika wa Azania. Chirwa explains being arrested in the early hours of the morning in her family home in Mamelodi, leaving behind her son who was an infant at the time alone with her (Chirwa’s) mother. Chirwa was not only arrested but also suspended by the university, and expresses that her story shows the price some students pay for being student activists and representing underrepresented students.

Illustration: Giovanna Janos

Student politician:

Advocating for students, as a student

Mothusi Mokalane

The start of the 2021 academic year saw students take to the streets to advocate against financial exclusion. Prospect Street and the Prospect Str gate of the University of Pretoria were the meeting points chosen by student leaders for everything concerning the crisis faced by students at the time. One of the students who worked with and represented students at the beginning of the year is member and ground force of the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC), Thabiso “Mathaithai” Masokameng. Masokameng serves as the Deputy Chairperson of the EFFSC UP.

Masokameng says that his love for politics, socialism and advocacy against the unjust began at a young age, and was often misunderstood for loving conflict. “My love for politics and activism started at a very young age, it would often be misinterpreted by those around me as the love for chaos given the demographics and level of political education of where I was born and bred” said Masokameng. His love for South African politics became clearer during his high school days when he was one of the students who were leading COSAS and SRC structures in his school. Masokameng then registered with UP and became a member of the EFFSC. The kind of leadership that Masokameng looks up to in the political space is one of sober minded leaders. Masokameng went on to point out that if he had to choose a leader he aspires to be, it would be the likes of Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. “The man is amongst those that made education fashionable not only in our movement but to the country at large being one of the youngest to attain a PhD, doing very well in carrying out the mandate of the organisation in spaces he occupies and now heading a progressive portfolio of political education”, explained Masokameng.

Regarding his political experiences at UP, Masokameng said that university politics have helped him realise how things are engineered in a way that seems like those who engage in politics and activism are ill-advised, ill-disciplined, and have a nature of ‘hooliganism’. Masokameng also shares that necessary political education is needed because politics affect every aspect of our lives, and in this case, our education. Additionally, Masokameng indicated that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Chapter 2, sections 18 and 19) affords every individual the right to political affiliation and political party formation. The Constitution of Student Governance of UP has been a guidance for him in realising that politics can be utilised as an instrument that best serves and represents voiceless students. Masokameng also put forward that “there is still a lot of work to that needs to be done to afford political formations a space without sanctions and targeting of student leaders to execute its civil duty to a greater student populace and provide necessary information in building future leaders, while strengthening governance among students to result in social cohesion, transformation and other important issues that concern higher education institutions, society and South Africa at large”.

When asked why he chooses to make the struggles of students his own, Masokameng’s response was; “To claim that I chose to make student struggles mine would imply that they were never mine in the first place and believing such would mean I suffer from affective erethism. The struggles of the students are my struggles, like many of them I remain an easily disposable aesthetic to the system - a student number”. Masokameng went on to add that his and the EFFSC’s generational mission is economic emancipation and free, decolonised and resourceful education.

Masokameng’s political career is in close alignment with the EFFSC’s campaigns. He forms one of the student groups in the EFFSC that runs a campaign called #SIZOFUNDANGENKANI, which assists students with a variety of issues, ranging from academic exclusions, financial exclusions and NSFAS queries, to other academic and accommodation related issues. Recently Masokameng led fellow students in an engagement with the management of particular private residences where students were facing issues and registered victory. They reached an amicable agreement with Studios@Burnett and they procured a computer lab, new washing machines, a good working Wi-Fi system and a sexual harassment policy. Varsity Studios management was also engaged with and ensured that they install cameras in the corridors.

Masokameng says that upon completion of his university degree he does not wish to be absorbed by mainstream politics; however he does not overlook the possibilities of that happening, given his passion for activism. Should he join mainstream politics, Masokameng says he will look into political education. Masokameng stated that mainstream politics and student politics are at gaps with each other and as a result they are of two different worlds. Masokameng explained that mainstream politics have a wide range of possibilities and avenues to exhaust as opposed to student politics that have limitations which range from funding and many other challenges. While mainstream politics has a set standard of using the Electoral Act and candidate deployment to legislature, student governance is different from one university to another.

There is a narrative and belief that mainstream politicians always use student politicians to advance their courses and political careers, however Masokameng indicates that this view is untrue. Masokameng explained that there are exceptional circumstances where students are used by politicians and this is not only limited to politicians but extends to university authorities, accommodation managers, police officers; but the idea that South African politicians always use students when it benefits them remains an untrue reality. Masokameng said this view “creates an impression that student activists are controlled, thus not subject to their own volition which would be an insult to many of us. Politics like any other field is based on results, the capacity of your organisation, how influential one is to translate the vision and mission of the organisation to its benefit and that of its constituency”.

Student activists like Masokameng’s are important in student representation. South African tertiary education is a tense one, no one can confidently say they are secured in it, as Masokameng stated, students remain an easily disposable aesthetic to the system, a student number. Therefore young leaders like him can be important for the cause of students.

UP Archives Project: Recollecting Covid - 365 days in lockdown

Susanna Anbu

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the halt of most elements of campus life as we know it. The pandemic has effectively created many watershed moments that warrant extensive documentation and preservation to create a repertoire of pandemic experiences for future generations to look back on. The UP archives has set in motion a project called “Recollecting Covid - 365 days in lockdown” that is tasked with documenting the pandemic experiences of all staff, students and alumni affiliated with UP. The aim of the project is to create an extensive documentation of experiences to allow future generations to understand how the University community coped amidst the pandemic years. Below are the categories that students and staff can participate in:

UP Students

“Tell us what it’s like to be the first group of Tuks students dealing with a pandemic in 100 years. How are you sustaining your studies and your relationships during this period of social distancing and self-quarantine?” You can view videos on the frustrations of working online or listen to an example of a poetry submission that were received.

UP Faculty

“What was it like to shift to remote instruction and learning? How has this had an impact on your research and other academic work? Tell us how you have adapted to this change in your work and in fostering your relationships with colleagues and your students.”

UP Support Staff

“What is the experience of suddenly and abruptly shifting to remote work? What are you doing to support your colleagues and others at the University?” There are photos available depicting coping with online meetings.

Submission

Entries can be submitted via archives@up.ac.za. The submission should contain the person’s name, surname, student/personnel number, degree / faculty / support service department and contact details. There is also an option to submit an entry anonymously, which should be indicated on the submission form or in the email accompanying the entry. Each recollection or experience submitted should be accompanied by a caption, title or description. Each person is allowed maximum of 5 entries

Prizes:

Overall winning submission: R 5 000 Best UP student submission: R 2 500 Best UP staff submission: R2 500

Rules and regulations:

Participation in the project is voluntary, free and open to all students and staff of the University of Pretoria.

The copyright of the recollections will become the property of the UP Archives on submission to the competition.

The project also explains the following conditions and information: “The University of Pretoria will not be held responsible or liable for any damages, expenses or loss of whatever nature or injuries incurred during participation in this project.

Participants in the project understand and agree that in order to enter their recollections in the project, the entrant must obtain prior written permission from any person/s referred to or depicted in the recollections that, their story can be submitted for the UP project and used in exhibits (if applicable). The University will not collect the personal information of individuals, unless such information is voluntarily disclosed. (The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into)

The University reserves the exclusive right, at its sole discretion, to discontinue the project at any time.

It is your responsibility to ensure that any information you provide us with is accurate, complete and up to date.

No responsibility will be accepted for entries lost, delayed or damaged in transmission.

Closing date: 26 August 2021. (No late entries will be accepted or considered).” (Sourced from: https://www.up.ac.za/news/ post_2960100-recollecting-covid-19-365-days-underlockdown-the-up-archives-remembering-competition