Cosas chairperson in Alex says goodbye

Quondam chairperson of Cosas Pontsho Genius Lebepe writes:

This letter is intended for all constituencies, general stakeholders, acting BEC [branch executive
committee] of Congress of South African Students and the newly deployed Zonal Task Team of the organisation .

I write this open letter to all of you with the sole purpose of conveying my endless gratitude to those of you who have been the source of my moral fibre. I shall not obliterate the ordinary pupils who, when they got the opportunity, never shied away to relate their personal or academic problems to me. I was also their big brother – no problem was too little or too big in my eyes, and I only did justice to them .

I can confidently say that my reign was not one of the easiest, but I was able to manoeuvre around it with the aid of the acting BEC. It is in account of that, that we have made many unprecedented decisions that were succeeded by unanticipated outcomes but that never became a cul-de-sac to us, as we always acted in the best interest of our constituencies.

Along the way, many have also questioned the legitimacy and competency of my rule, especially those who wanted to advance their personal fiefdom, but I also retaliated by being a paragon of virtue.

Now the time has come and the bell has tolled for me and my hands can no longer clasp the struggles of my constituencies. The sun has set in my reign, although my heart itches and yearns for the best interest of the pupils, but both my feet and hands are bound by shackles.

It is with that regard that I announce my resignation with immediate effect as I have done what was expected of me in office; to revive the organisation to its former glory. I was also granted the platform to reach people’s hearts and revive lives.

To my constituencies, I now hand over the burden to new brooms, and I also leave with you the legacy of virtuous leadership. I humbly request that whenever the time comes to elect new leadership, please reject mediocrity and vote in meritocracy.

Reject all those whose minds are narrow and dull, such as their skinned grey trousers, who drink stimulating beverages from a brown bottle and term it ‘black consciousness’ and argue that is for sobriety purposes whereas sobriety is only in literature. Let us empower those in brightly coloured skirts as I reckon that they are virtuous and capable.

To pupils in different Alexandra schools and surrounding areas, please continue to ‘dream the impossible dream. To fight the unbeatable foe. To bear with unbearable sorrow, and to run where the brave don’t go, and right the unrightable wrongs’ even in my absence when your arms are too weary to fight the systematic injustices.

In conclusion, I would also like too express my unconditional gratitude to the voice of Alex which is Alex FM and Alex News for being with us every step we took. To those whose toes I have stepped on, please find time and space in your hearts to heal.