September/October 2017 - Volume 1, Issue 7 Proud to be... the People's University THE UNIVERSITY HOST Student Representatives’ Elections Moses Moonwe On August 24 2017, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) held its annual Central, Institutional and faculty elections. All TUT recognized political structures contested in the election process across all campuses. After weeks of campaigning and generating voters, student leaders could still be seen on the ground gathering and talking to students to secure votes for their political structures on what was a cold and windy day across all campuses. n the day of elections, students were al- SCO. Amongst all this structures, SASCO was voted process. This means in 2016 students voted in num- lowed the time to cast their votes, though by 533 students, which gave them 4 seats. The bers compared to 2017. Oclasses were not suspended for the day EFFSC also got, 4 seats by the number of 474 votes. students ,were not deterred as they took to the The two structures were followed by the voting stations in their numbers to participate in SCO, which got 170 votes and 1 seat. the 2017 SRC elections. The University security and In Mbombela campus SASCO, contracted electoral committees ensured safety in the vot- 460 votes, which gave them 4 seats. It was ing stations across each campus so that students then followed by the EFF which got about could practice their democratic right to voting for 407 votes, and 3 seats. SCO trailed eff by the their leaders freely and fairly. number 222 votes, which gave them 2 seats. The preliminary results were counted and collated SASCO got 574 votes, which gave them 3 based on the number of legitimate voters who in- seats in Garankuwa campus. The SCO con- deed participated in the vote. The CSRC results in tested for 583 votes, which gave them 3 seats all TUT campuses were as follows: SASCO got 2625 equal to SASCO, and EFFSC managed to get number of votes, which gave them 5 seats, it was 233 seat, which gave them 1 seat. trailed by the EFFSC, which managed to get 1371 votes, which enables them get 2 seats. The SCO Emalahleni campus results, SASCO got 465 got 388 votes, which gave them 1 seat. votes, 3 seats. EFFSC got 434 votes and 3 seats as well. They were followed by SCO, In Soshanguve campus, SASCO was voted by 1307 which contested 292 votes and 2 seats students, which gave them 4 seats. It was followed by SADESMO which got about 486 votes, which Looking at 2016 results there was about gave them 2 seats. The SCO, was voted by 420 stu- 59077 number of students who legitimate dents, which gave them 1 seat, together with the to vote, as a result only 25% of students EFFSC, which got 1 seat through 396 votes. managed to vote. In 2017 about 14301 number of students qualified to vote, 4 political structures contested in TUT Polokwane out of this number only 23% of students campus, this include SASCO, DASO, EFFSC and managed to participate in the electoral Election Day Action 1 page BUA The ISRC outgoing president provides words of advice Moses Moonwe EDITORIAL TEAM he outgoing Institutional Student the correct protocol to raise their concerns. Representitive Council (ISRC) president Editor According to Hendrick Masunda, the main pur- Hendrick Masunda, shared words Athenkosi Lolwana T pose of the CSRC body is not only to lead other of advice to the incoming ISRC and CSRC students but they are also expected to succeed Deputy Editor leadership on 6 September. Masunda based in their academics as well.” We are here to study his words more on encouraging sophisticated Moses Moonwe firstly before anything, CSRC members must leadership amongst the upcoming SRC leaders, work hard to acquire their national diplomas and Social Media Editor this was presented as part of his farewell degrees” Masunda added. message. Baphelile Sambo Masunda also told Bua that, CSRC members Masunda encouraged SRC members to stick to should not be afraid to make mistakes and should Advertising and Marketing their lane and know the people they represent. learn to lead from the front and not to be misled Rivoningo Mashala The election process was free and fair, votes by people who are not part of the representitive council. Layout and Design were counted according to the number of reg- istered voters. ” The result outcomes were well Nadia Ross “The role of the CSRC members is to attend to presented according to electoral processes, no (TUT Printing Services) the demands of our students, hold students at a ballot papers were reported stolen” Masunda high regard and also esure a safe and conducive Reporters reiterated. environment for students to thrive” said Masunda. Matshidiso Zwane Masunda continued to say “not everyone was He also stated, that a true leader always reports Baphelile Sambo happy with the election results” however, he consistantly to his people, about everything he or Lungile Mthombeni urged political structures and students to ac- she does or wishes to do. cept the results presented and follow Thabang Kganakga Nolifa Makhubela Contributor Phila Jentile Stock Images ©www.feepick.com Indebted students will finally be able to graduate www.shutterstock.com Gerrit Bester For daily news updates follow us total of 132 students who have completed According to Oren Fuchs, a Trustee of the First Rand their studies, but are unable to graduate Empowerment Foundation (FREF) who represented owing to outstanding debt, will benefit from the FRF at the event, the ability of higher education A institutions like TUT to continually deliver quality Facebook: Bua Campus News a grant of R3,065 million the FirstRand Foundation (FRF) made to the University on Thursday, 7 graduates that the business sector requires, is September. critical to their sustainability and South Africa’s development and growth. Twitter: @Bua_news At an event hosted at Dénisburg on the Pretoria Campus, Dr Edgar Nesamvuni, Acting Deputy Vice- “The grant is a very significant contribution and Chancellor (DVC): Postgraduate Studies, Research highly appreciated gesture to assist financially needy and Innovation, thanked the FRF on behalf of the students to finally graduate, find employment Instagram: @Bua_news University’s management, saying that the grant and make a meaningful contribution to society,” will ensure that students can enter the job market said Danie Ferns, Deputy Director of the TUT carrying a certificate. “This also influences the Advancement and Partnerships Office (APO). YouTube: Bua TV throughput rate on which our subsidy is based,” he The majority (67) of the 132 students who will be added. assisted hail from the Faculty of Economics and For inquiries, compliments or article TUT statistics show that almost a third of students Finance, which was proudly represented by Prof suggestions contact us: who completed their studies in 2016 did not receive Robert Rugimbana, Executive Dean. their qualifications due to outstanding tuition fees. Physical Address: Tshwane University of Technology Pretoria Campus Staatsartillerie Rd, Pretoria, 0183 Building 4 – 218 Telephone: 012 382 4266 Email [email protected] (from the left): Prof Robert Rugimbana, Executive Dean: Faculty of Economics and Finance; Charmaine Nondo FNB Fund Manager; Dr Edgar Nesamvuni, Acting Deputy Vice- Chancellor: Postgraduate Studies, Research and Innovation; Oren Fuchs, Trustee of the First Rand Empowerment Foundation; Thandeka Rantsi, Social Investment Analyst at Tshikululu; and Danie Ferns, Deputy Director: Advancement and Partnerships Office. BUA page 2 Disability is not inability for alumnus Sibongile Vukela any people in the society think that disabled people, Mandlazi does not allow his people living with disabilities should be disability or anything else get in his way. The Mtreated in a special way. Society tends elevators are not operational at the Ga-Ranku- to feel pity for the disabled and offer help even wa Campus which is a challenge for Mandlazi where it is not necessary. This has never deterred however, he was not fazed. He says that he can alumnus, Jabulane Mandlazi (35), he is a proud make use of the stairs like any other person. and independent young man who is paralysed. When Mandlazi is not at work, he spends time His limbs are weak so he has to use crutches to with his family. Currently he is a bachelor who walk however, that has not stopped him from would like to one day get married and have five living his dream. children. He advises people who are living with Jabulane Mandlazi was born and raised in a disabilities not to isolate themselves, to dream small village called Phola in eMalahleni, he big. is the only one in his family who lives with a disability. Mandlazi was born as a normal child, “Living with a disability however over time he was diagnosed with polio Jabulane Mandlazi, Ga-Rankuwa which made his limbs weak, unfortunately by does not mean that Campus System Engineer living the age of six he had become paralysed. He cur- you can’t achieve your with a disability. rently cannot walk on his own so he uses a pair of crutches as assistance. He studied Software goals, work-hard and Development at the eMalahleni Campus and obtained his National Diploma in 2010. don’t underestimate Growing up was challenging for Mandlazi, he yourself because says that he used to be an object of pity for the sky is the limit,” his community members and peers. He feels uncomfortable when people pity him. “I don’t said Mandlazi. like it when people feel sorry for me, sometimes they offer help when I don’t need it. I am inde- pendent and I will ask for help when I need it,” Mandlazi says he enjoys his job because it al- he said.