Inaugural vote of thanks at SRC Gala Dinner - University of South ...

INAUGURAL CLOSURE AND VOTE OF THANKS
1 ST SRC GALA DINNER IN HONOUR OF FORMER STUDENT LEADERS AT UNISA
Convy Baloyi
Executive Director: Dean of Students, University of South Africa
E-mail address: Baloyimc@unisa.ac.za
14 October 2011
Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Mandla Makhanya
Mrs Makhanya
Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Narend Baijnath
University Registrar, Professor Louis Molamu
Deputy Chairperson of the Unisa IEC for 2011 SRC elections, Ms Thelma Louw
President of the National SRC, Mr Nhlamulo Siwela
Former Presidents and Secretary Generals of the former Unisa NSRC since: 1996-2003
Former Presidents and Secretary Generals of the former Technikon South Africa NSRC: 1996-2003
Former Presidents and Secretary Generals of the new Unisa NSRC since 2004
Co-hosting Program Director
Members of the media
Musicians
Guest SRC Presidents from sister institutions
Members of the National Working Committee of the SRC
Special guests, friends and fellow South Africans
When I joined Unisa on the 5 th of January 2009, the University was extremely quiet and intimidating.
The Theo van Wyk architecture provoked hope in me and I entered with courage with very limited
understanding of what was waiting for me. I went straight to the lifts and pressed 10. Little did I know
that that was the floor that housed the then Pro Vice Chancellor‟s office, Prof Makhanya, now the
Principal and Vice Chancellor of Unisa. I entered the floor with anxiousness and high level of
nervousness. Instead of the PVC, the receptionist appeared and welcomed me and directed me to the
9 th floor where I was met with a sign to the Dean of Students‟ office. Again, everyone in Student
Affairs was on leave except for the secretary in Student Development. She welcomed me and briefly
made anecdotal comments, and that was the beginning of a daily challenge. By the way and most
importantly, there was no SRC in the University. The results of the elections were disapproved by
Council because of poor student participation on the elections which resulted to below 1%. Since
then, the TvW Building has become part of my daily interactions with the University of South Africa.
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I started to do my work. I later met with members of team Student Affairs. We worked and gave our
best in service to humanity. Little did I know that one day this soon, the PVC, Professor Narend
Baijnath will one day stand before me and the „old league‟ of SRC presidents and their secretaries to
deliver such a compelling welcoming address in honour of selfless contributions of then young
leaders and now movers and shakers in society, who braved the barren and fierce security forces to
champion the course of transformation. The warm welcome from the PVC which included an
expressed birthday wish to Nhlamulo Siwela was inspiring. He called for robust and sustainable
student participation in Unisa‟s agenda for broader transformation. He insisted that none of us should
forget the contribution of the founders of 1996. It is important that their legacy is carried forward with
dignity and respect. The PVC succinctly provided an illuminating picture or review of work of all
former student leaders. I thank the PVC for attending the Gala and providing an inaugural welcome in
such an impeccable style.
When I joined Unisa and in the delivery of the work that I love dearly, it did not dawn to me that in
such a brief period, the President of the National Student Representative Council of Unisa Jikelele
will stand in my presence and those of his predecessors to provide context on the launch of a practice
that seeks to recognize excellence and sacrifice. The acceptable practice in higher education today is
that SRC presidents are celebrities who after registration and being elected, forget about social plights
of students and indulge in physical wasting exercises and mental demining engagements and result to
nothing. This is not the case with Mr Nhlamulo Siwela. He is in the struggle for human emancipation.
He eats and breathes governance and student leaders. He reads and quotes from books and idioms and
he speaks with boldness characterized by respect and Ubuntu. Siwela was able to provide context of
the event. Without fail he recognized the founders and pathfinders of Unisa SRC. I thank Mr Siwela
for attending the Gala and providing the purpose of the event, as well as for allowing us to share his
birthday with us. I pray that he leaves longer to see this initiative maturing into an international
benchmark.
Professor Makhanya, a dynamic, warm, kind and welcoming servant leader graced the function with
his presence. He was wonderfully introduced by the PVC. Prof Baijnath introduced the Principal
through the Unisa vision citing four things (a) CARE, Servant leadership, the Principal‟s role in
African higher education, and his ability to unite the Unisa community in ways never imagined in
decades. He commented on the sharpness of their engagements in leadership corridors as social
scientists, as well as the manner in which they complement each other. Thank you, Mr PVC for such a
befitting introduction of the Principal.
I must tell you that it never dawned when I stepped into Unisa in 2009 that this time soon in my
functioning as Dean of Students, the Principal will, with love and sincere enthusiasm that was
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characterized by joy and a sense of accomplishment, stand before me and the audience of student
leaders to provide a ground breaking keynote challenging everyone to SERVE. Prof Makhanya
reviewed the meaning of a Visionary. He reminded all of us that great heroes and heroines are those
who contribute selflessly to life and humanity in ways that some of them pass on before seeing fruits
of their trials and tribulations. He appreciated work that was done by founders of Unisa SRC. He
stated that the work of the first phase was complete and called for the completion of the current phase,
which he termed phase 2. He encouraged all of us, particularly student leaders to take advantage of
the post 1994 and 2004 national and institutional legislative frameworks and lead students and the
University to greater heights. The Principal also appreciated the role which was played by the current
SRC. He called for accountable leadership. Without hesitation, he stated quite unequivocally that
Unisa will support and train student leaders. He wants student leaders to embrace the notion of
SERVANT LEADERSHIP. He requested SRCs to distinguish themselves from the rest and create out
of their practices a benchmark for other SRC elsewhere in the country and the continent. Mindful of
the existence of just over 60% female students in the University student enrolment, the Principal
expressed his concern regarding the continuing absence of female student leaders in the SRC. I thank
the Principal not only for this visionary account but also for attending and staying until the end of the
function with the part of Unisa that he loves the most: STUDENTS.
I feel particularly blessed that I work with great colleagues such as Mr Thembinkosi Slovo Mnguni,
who spent sleepless nights preparing for the event. The role that was played by Mr Godfrey
Tshikhudo, Ms Laura-Anne Coetzee, Ms Pina Mphahlele, Mr Gilbert Mamorobela, Unisa
Foundation‟s Maria and Mr Majopelo and my office Mr Thabo Ramasodi in making sure that this
event become a success. I remain indebted to all of you for your commitment to serve students. Thank
you to all of you. Mr Tinyiko Baloyi for running around with requisitions and dealing with Finance
and Procurement to get the Jazz Band, catering and other supplies, your contribution is much
appreciated.
It was never in my expectations that Mr Console Tleane and Mr Fanafuthi Sithebe will one day sooner
that the 14 th of October 2011 stand before me and the audience of student leaders (this time as friends
of the University and its management) to reflect on the path towards the free existence of SRC and its
participation in University governance. With conspicuous emotions and deep fulfillment and joy,
these two influential leaders reminded us on how the one TJ Lee and two others were facilitated to
prematurely bid farewell to University services as a result of their passion for advancing the
dehumanizing causes of apartheid against Unisa students. They called for the documentation of SRC
history. Console eloquently expressed his concern for the kind of young leaders that Universities and
society produce today. He recalled that leaders of yesteryear and of his time would quote gallants of
struggles and philosophers of great ideologies in their daily engagements. He indicated that there was
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never a materialistic agenda on the manifesto and socio-political script of leaders of their times. He
challenged Unisa and its SRC to consider doing something about (a) leadership development to the
point of its curriculation and professionalization; (b) skilling of the „mavericks‟ of the „old league‟
through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programmes at schools such as the SBL in Midrand;
and without missing his words, he concluded by calling for (c) the introduction of life history
leadership consciousness. It was me like a point of no return when Console emphasized as he
punctuated his speech that “we are willing to assist, we can participate in training these leaders, we
are grateful to Unisa”. Thank you to Console Tleane and Fanafuthi Sithebe as well as the „old league‟
of old Unisa and TSA for finding time to come and share your experiences and time with your
lifetime University. Unisa values you.
This was great day, a wonderful moment of governance, and day worth remembering. It
affirmed my belief that an appropriate SRC member is one who acknowledges that being voted
into office means that (a) someone somewhere has entrusted you with their needs and
aspirations, (b) they expect accountable leadership and to be served with respect and honesty,
(c) they view you as their sound-minded and intellectual vessel who accurately carry their
plights and ideals into the policy development platforms of the University. This Gala dinner
demonstrated to me that through Unisa, students can be rest assured that their voices will
continue to be represented and heard at Senate, Institutional Forum, Management and Council.
I can safely and boldly confirm that there is a young and matured cadre of committed and
courageous student leaders who are prepared to brave the way and contribute in the continuing
broader transformation of Unisa and higher education. The future looks brighter.
Thank you to all and everyone who attended and supported us. The channel for appreciating
servant leadership and selfless contribution of student leaders in service of students of Unisa has been
launched. Enjoy exercising your democratic rights and vote for leaders of your choice!
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