Accusations of corruption between leading student political formations were thrown about during the highly contested University of Fort Hare (UFH) student elections yesterday.
The Daily Dispatch learnt the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (Daso) had opened a case against a university official and the South African Student Congress (Sasco) for allegedly selling accommodation to students.
If further emerged that Sasco had laid a complaint with university management against Daso over alleged misuse of more than R100000 during the Welcoming Bash last Friday.
Leaders of both student formations have alleged that these were just tactics to lure voters.
The contest, won by Daso in the previous election, was set to be heated this year as the historic university known for producing ANC and liberation struggle stalwarts celebrates its centenary.
Daso leader Yusuf Cassim, also a member of parliament, said he had opened the case against the university official and Sasco for selling rooms to needy students who did not apply through the proper university channels. “A docket has been opened with Alice police and they accepted our evidence but we hope the investigation will reveal further details.”
Cassim alleged one of the rooms was sold for R1250 to a student.
He said the complaint by Sasco to management was a propaganda tactic as some of the Welcoming Bash organisers were Sasco members.
An invoice seen by the Dispatch reveals that R40000 was spent on an outdoor stage with a roof but the event was said to have happened inside the university’s Sport Complex.
Sasco was also querying other amounts including R20000 spent on hiring Mayibuye Transport to ferry students, R15000 to hire a big screen and R9000 to hire a tent.
UFH Sasco branch secretary Bukiwe Ntlemeza said they had laid a complaint with management to expose the corruption in the Daso-led SRC.
“We have not received a response from management as yet, maybe after the elections,” said Ntlemeza, adding that some of the services paid for were not made available at the event. She said students were not transported by Mayibuye Transport to the venue.
Provincial police spokesman Lt Khaya Tonjeni confirmed police were probing Cassim’s room fraud charge.
No responses to attempts for comment from UFH, Mayibuye or Aneliza Nganase, whose company invoiced the SRC for the event, had been received at the time of writing.
Voting stations were due to close at 9pm yesterday, before counting and results.
Graft claims fly in UFH student poll
The Daily Dispatch learnt the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (Daso) had opened a case against a university official and the South African Student Congress (Sasco) for allegedly selling accommodation to students.
If further emerged that Sasco had laid a complaint with university management against Daso over alleged misuse of more than R100000 during the Welcoming Bash last Friday.
Leaders of both student formations have alleged that these were just tactics to lure voters.
The contest, won by Daso in the previous election, was set to be heated this year as the historic university known for producing ANC and liberation struggle stalwarts celebrates its centenary.
Daso leader Yusuf Cassim, also a member of parliament, said he had opened the case against the university official and Sasco for selling rooms to needy students who did not apply through the proper university channels. “A docket has been opened with Alice police and they accepted our evidence but we hope the investigation will reveal further details.”
Cassim alleged one of the rooms was sold for R1250 to a student.
He said the complaint by Sasco to management was a propaganda tactic as some of the Welcoming Bash organisers were Sasco members.
An invoice seen by the Dispatch reveals that R40000 was spent on an outdoor stage with a roof but the event was said to have happened inside the university’s Sport Complex.
Sasco was also querying other amounts including R20000 spent on hiring Mayibuye Transport to ferry students, R15000 to hire a big screen and R9000 to hire a tent.
UFH Sasco branch secretary Bukiwe Ntlemeza said they had laid a complaint with management to expose the corruption in the Daso-led SRC.
“We have not received a response from management as yet, maybe after the elections,” said Ntlemeza, adding that some of the services paid for were not made available at the event. She said students were not transported by Mayibuye Transport to the venue.
Provincial police spokesman Lt Khaya Tonjeni confirmed police were probing Cassim’s room fraud charge.
No responses to attempts for comment from UFH, Mayibuye or Aneliza Nganase, whose company invoiced the SRC for the event, had been received at the time of writing.
Voting stations were due to close at 9pm yesterday, before counting and results.
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