Sasco defeats Daso to regain control at UFH

The ANC-aligned Sasco yesterday wrested control of the University of Fort Hare’s Student Representative Council (SRC) from the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation.

Last year, in a major upset, Sasco lost control of the SRC to Daso, which won 52% of the poll.

Sasco provincial general secretary Lwando Mangqishi said Fort Hare students had afforded Sasco another chance to improve the lives of the students.

“The students have put their faith in the organisation one more time and we are determined to make right by them this time,” he said.

This year Sasco took 43% of the vote to Daso’s 40%, putting Sasco in the driving seat.

Winning the majority of votes means Sasco is entitled to take the SRC’s top two seats – the presidency and the secretary-general.

Sasco has nominated five candidates who must go through a selection process to get the posts.

Mangqishi said Sasco had to convene a two-day branch general meeting (BGM) to find their SRC leader. The SRC will be constituted on Tuesday, and the seats will be allocated on the day.

DA Youth federal chairperson Yussif Cassim, who was on the frontline of a robust campaign for Daso at Fort Hare, said Dasa had managed a virtual tie with Sasco overall, as both organisations had the exact same seat allocation. Also, Daso had retained the number of seats it won last year.

Cassim claimed a letter by a senior university staff member had encouraged students to vote for Sasco and that there was an “onslaught of intimidation” throughout the elections from the university management and the ANC.

“We have lodged objections with the presiding officers and management regarding these concerns and await a response, but provisionally we accept the results,” said Cassim.

Congratulatory messages poured in from ANC structures throughout the day. ANCYL provincial spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa said the Sasco victory was a clear indication that the Progressive Youth Alliance led by the ANC Youth League remained the trusted champion of young people’s interests.

“Sasco in the University of Fort Hare has once more been confirmed by the students as the only student organisation that carries the aspirations of students in our country,” he said.

UFH Economic Freedom Fighters’ student command East London campus secretary, Khazimla Matam, said they were happy with the results.

The EFF was only “recognised” on March 13 and went to the elections on April 21. “We had only a month and a week to prepare and already we have influence in the political sphere of UFH.”

UFH Pan-Africanist Student Movement of Azania secretary Lukhanyo Songo was also happy with the results.

UFH acting spokesman Khotso Moabi said official results were expected to be made available on Tuesday to allow objections to be made before the following Monday.