Unisa Eastern Cape regional student leadership announced

Unisa Eastern Cape’s Regional Student Representative Council (RSRC) inauguration was held in East London on 12 September 2023. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) was present to manage the process and ensure that it was fair and legal.

IEC officials and the Unisa Eastern Cape RSRC

Unisa Gqeberha Regional Centre Co-ordinator, Raseela Daya, delivered the welcome and opening remarks by stating, “This is a very special day as there will be new leadership roles for students and we wish you well on your journey. Unisa management is looking forward to working with the RSRC. We will try our best to assist wherever we can. We would also like to thank the outgoing RSRC.”

The IEC Deputy Chairperson, Commissioner Mavesana Sibanda, wished all outgoing members of the RSRC well on their future endeavours.

Programme director, Tshepo Neito, stated the rules to all who attended and said that the qualifying criteria are that all candidates must have been a Unisa student for at least one year or must have passed at least ten modules. Neito added that the candidate must be a registered student in a formal  university qualification. The exclusions were that candidates may not have a criminal record and there must not be any disciplinary action being taken or pending against them by the university.

After the voting had taken place, it was concluded that the new leadership are Nceba Phangindawo as RSRC Chairperson, Asekho Mnqatyelwa as RSRC Deputy Chairperson, Cinga Dlanjwa as RSRC Secretary, Sixolile Lugongolo as the RSRC Deputy Secretary, Sipho Konkwane as RSRC Treasurer, Aseza Nteleza as RSRC Education and Training Officer, Sinazo Tshaka as RSRC Undergraduate Officer, Unathi Zono as RSRC Postgraduate Officer, Anathi Mgquba as RSRC Speaker, and Ayola Ntshangase as RSRC Deputy Speaker.

The new RSRC Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson were given an opportunity to make a few remarks and they spoke about how they would put students’ needs first by being transparent. They stated that campuses should be open for 24 hours and spoke about how members of the protection services (security personnel) must be appointed by the university on a permanent basis. Lastly, they  raised the issue of students not receiving their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances. 

The East London RSRC inauguration was a success as all processes were fair and legal. Everyone who had the right to vote did so and there was a positive turnout of students who had come to support those they wanted to be part of the new student leadership.  

* By Lukhetho Mbanjwa, Communication and Marketing Intern, Unisa Eastern Cape Region