DASO Tuks dissatisfied with the handling of the 2011 SRC election

The Democratic Alliance Students Organisation (DASO) at the University of Pretoria is today writing to the Vice Chancellor to express dissatisfaction with the handling of the 2011 SRC election (see a copy of the letter below). We will be demanding the release of the results of the election, which took place on 13 September, over four weeks ago, as well as the release of a judgement against Afriforum for electoral campaign transgressions which may fundamentally affect the fairness of the election outcome. 

The reason furnished for the delay in releasing the results was the need to bring Afriforum before a disciplinary court to be tried on their alleged electoral code of conduct transgressions. This is understandable, however the hearing is complete and the university is refusing requests to release the contents of the judgement as well as the election results themselves.

It is alleged by sources on the disciplinary committee, who are bound to a confidentiality agreement, that Afriforum has been found guilty of a number of transgressions, but will be allowed to participate in the election subject to the payment of an R80 000 fine, R50 000 of which was suspended. This flies in the face of standard election procedure, and raises serious questions about the nature of the relationship between Afriforum and University of Pretoria management.

There is no way that if Afriforum were indeed found guilty of electoral transgressions, which were brought to the attention of University Management during the campaign and which were unchallenged by them at the time, that the 2011 SRC election can be considered free or fair. In this instance a re-election needs to be held.

DASO will push urgently for this matter to be resolved, as every week that student parliament is not fairly constituted is another week that students do not have access to their representatives, who play a central role in assisting with often urgent matters such as access to financial aid. 

Statement issued by Jordan Griffiths, DASO Chairperson, October 13 2011

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