Am I really a comrade? These politically-driven students keep referring to me as comrade. I'm confused. Am I a comrade just because I'm black or have they identified me to be in the same struggle they are in?
For anybody information. I am not a comrade of any organisation that is associated with the PYA (SASCO, ANCYL, YCL) in the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Comrade means that I am your fellow counterpart in your struggle. I do not deny that I am in a struggle. But it is definitely not he same struggle. You are fighting for the most of trivial of things. Your struggle has changed direction- it is no longer fighting for the rights of students but excusing those who have failed to responsibly utilise their rights. One must remember that with every right comes a responsibility.
We, the student community, should all fight for the students who were unfairly dismissed. Yes, we al know that unforseen circumstances do arise and affect our academic progress but we cannot keep blaming the elements of life for our failures. Our University offers us services to help us deal with almost all probems that may come our way. Plus, lectures aren't heartless bastards. They are more than willing to help. Students who are academically excluded appeal saying it is their poor background that did not prepare them for the University workload. Or family issues arise. One cannot use such excuses if one has not gone to seek help, which is usually the case. If you cannot cope there are avenues to help you reach your potential. In the working world, one cannot use these excuses. If you don't deliver- you're OUT!
Don't get me wrong. I'm saying that all exclusions are justified but we will never groom our country's people if we allow them to regress instead of progress. One should learn from their mistakes not be excused from them
Monday, May 28, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Redefine Democracy
We are being fooled into believing that we are living in an democratic state. In reality, we are living in an hegemonic state where the ideologies of the dominant state are being forced upon us. The majority elect "leaders" into governance to represent everyone but it seems that the it is only a handful that are represented. It is those "comrades" who benefit from this kind of society and those who are not "comrades" are deemed insignificant to society.Looking at the way Student Representation is at Universities, I feel comfortable to express such opinion about politics and democracy in South Africa.
South Africa is a country with a rich but painful history. The majority- because of the colour of their skin- was prejudiced against, oppressed and had their human rights violated by the minority who foolish believed they were superior. Historical legends such as Stephen Bantu Biko, Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela (through significant organisations such as the ANC and SASO) fought the struggle of equality against the racist and oppressing governance of the apartheid era of Hendrik Frensh Verwoerd. Men and Women fought with their lives to bring about the radical change South Africa so desperately needed. In 1994, with the election of the ANC as the ruling party and Mandela being President, the nation saw a brighter future.
That future has once again grown dim. All that was fought for during the struggle has been forgotten. This premise has been proven by how student governance has transformed into since 1994. Now, we place individuals, through what we think are democratic processes, into governance to represent us and ensure that our rights as students are not infringed. Instead, elected leaders use their positions to pursue personal and/or organisational interests and forget that their priority should be the students. We (students) are told to "vote" for those who we would like to govern and represent us but if the result does not suit the mandate of the dominant organisation, hegemonic power will be enforced to change the results to resemble the mandate as was the case at the University of Kwa-Zulu- PMB.
When the elected Student Representative Council voted for Malusi Gwala to be President of the Council (differing the wishes of the SASCO and ANC Youth League Mandate: Kwazikwenkosi Mshengu), Central SRC of the University- which is made up of only SASCO and Youth League members only)- pressured the Council to change their vote. If the people express their faith in an individual through democratic procedures then are the people not supposed to get that specific individual to lead. If the dominant power is going to question the voice of the majority and deploy their own choice, then why vote? Why let us live in the illusion that we are "free" and that elections are fair? Why not then define what democracy is so that we all have a common definition? Because why decieve us and tell us we have the power to elect when in reality, it is the handful who strive to fulfil their personal agendas through political structures who have the vote.
South Africa is a country with a rich but painful history. The majority- because of the colour of their skin- was prejudiced against, oppressed and had their human rights violated by the minority who foolish believed they were superior. Historical legends such as Stephen Bantu Biko, Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela (through significant organisations such as the ANC and SASO) fought the struggle of equality against the racist and oppressing governance of the apartheid era of Hendrik Frensh Verwoerd. Men and Women fought with their lives to bring about the radical change South Africa so desperately needed. In 1994, with the election of the ANC as the ruling party and Mandela being President, the nation saw a brighter future.
That future has once again grown dim. All that was fought for during the struggle has been forgotten. This premise has been proven by how student governance has transformed into since 1994. Now, we place individuals, through what we think are democratic processes, into governance to represent us and ensure that our rights as students are not infringed. Instead, elected leaders use their positions to pursue personal and/or organisational interests and forget that their priority should be the students. We (students) are told to "vote" for those who we would like to govern and represent us but if the result does not suit the mandate of the dominant organisation, hegemonic power will be enforced to change the results to resemble the mandate as was the case at the University of Kwa-Zulu- PMB.
When the elected Student Representative Council voted for Malusi Gwala to be President of the Council (differing the wishes of the SASCO and ANC Youth League Mandate: Kwazikwenkosi Mshengu), Central SRC of the University- which is made up of only SASCO and Youth League members only)- pressured the Council to change their vote. If the people express their faith in an individual through democratic procedures then are the people not supposed to get that specific individual to lead. If the dominant power is going to question the voice of the majority and deploy their own choice, then why vote? Why let us live in the illusion that we are "free" and that elections are fair? Why not then define what democracy is so that we all have a common definition? Because why decieve us and tell us we have the power to elect when in reality, it is the handful who strive to fulfil their personal agendas through political structures who have the vote.
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