NUST STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL LOCATED

In the recently held NUST Student Representative Council (SRC) Orientation Convention, the SRC was singled out and demanded recognition as an important body within the University’s functions.

Addressing participants who included the SRC, the Division of Student Affairs and Senior University Managers, Ngqabutho Nhlabano sought to shed light on the importance of the SRC within the University structures and to encourage students to be fully committed to the roles that entail the Council at the same time attending to their studies.

 “As a member of the SRC, on should understand the Vision, Mission and Values of NUST,” said Nhlabano. “You need to understand the mandate of the SRC and locate yourself within it. One also needs to understand that they are students first before being a President, and should resist the temptation of being a full time politician and a part time student,” he noted. 

To clear the air on the role of the SRC as a body within the University, Nhlabano stated the main duties of the SRC as the body embarks on it its activities for the year. The SRC should:

•   Decide on policy of the Union on all internal and External Affairs
•  Control, Maintain and safe guard property of the Union.
•  Prepare in Consultation with the University Admin and approve annual estimates of the Union income and expenditure, submitted to the general meeting for approval and then to the University for approval by the University Council.

In his presentation, Nhlabano reiterated the need for the SRC to uphold the University’s values and ensure that all its activities fall within the SRC Constitution.

“The Constitution provides for student general meetings which are chaired by the President. General meetings are like any other meeting convened by other corporate firms.A general meeting is not a launch pad for a violent student demonstration. A general meeting should be constituted of registered NUST students, not suspended and expelled students, not former students, not youths from political parties, not members of ZINASU or ZICOSU, not hired thugs and muggers. A general meeting is not some get together party for ganja smokers, scud gobblers or those high on vereza, ngoma or some other drugs and alcohol. A general meeting is not some platform to denigrate and verbally assault members of the University Administration or the Government,” said Nhlabano who is also an ex-SRC member. The Orientation programme empowered the NUST SRC to perform their duties well for the betterment of the student body.

Adapted from Nust Newsletter