UP suspends EFFSC candidates for breaching electoral regulations
“An SRC who sings songs about murder, disrupts studies or intimidates students can never be recognised as a leader.”
EFF Student Command (EFFSC) candidates have been suspended from the University of Pretoria for creating racial division.
This comes after AfriForum’s youth wing petitioned the university to deregister the EFFSC, accusing it of intimidation and fuelling racial division, among others.
University spokesperson Rikus Delport told Rekord the institution’s Independent Monitoring Body found several candidates had breached electoral regulations in the elections.
“These recommendations propose the disqualification of candidates found in violation of the regulations. However, the matter has been referred to the relevant disciplinary authorities for further action in alignment with established university regulations,” said Delport.
He said the university has not yet decided on the authenticity of the election results pending the investigations.
“As of now, a final announcement regarding the election’s outcome has not been issued. The University of Pretoria remains committed to upholding the fairness and integrity of the SRC elections.”
AfriForum youth wing spokesperson René van der Vyver said the announcement was a huge victory for her organisation, particularly for students who wanted to co-exist in harmony with each other.
Van der Vyver said the decision was taken to make sure the student council elections were free and fair.
In a letter to the university’s leadership last week, AfriForum Youth demanded that the EFFSC UP be deregistered as a student society and that their student representative council (SRC) candidates be suspended.
The organisation had also filed a complaint against the provisional SRC election results at the university, in protest against the circumstances regarding SRC elections.
According to the organisation, the petition was signed and supported by over 2 000 people.
“Regardless of which violation of the election rules was the final nail in the coffin for the disqualification of the EFFSC’s SRC candidates, this is a victory for all Tukkies students. An SRC who sings songs about murder, disrupts studies or intimidates students can never be recognised as a leader,” said Van der Vyver.
She pleaded with university management to stick to its decision and not give in to the intimidation and threats of violence that have been made since the announcement of the disqualification of the EFFSC’s SRC candidates.
“The university has a responsibility to protect students and stop those who cause disruption. Students who feel unsafe can inform AfriForum Youth of any intimidation or violence.”
BREAKING NEWS: Eight elected student council candidates from the EFF Student Command (EFFSC) UP were disqualified due to their violation of student council election rules. This decision was taken by the university’s independent election monitoring panel, known as the Independent… pic.twitter.com/JEfatHlBq2
— PSAFLIVE (@PSAFLIVE) September 14, 2023
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