WEEKS of ardent campaigning by Student Representative Council hopefuls drew to a close recently with the announcement of the SRC for 2002/3. The executive members will be announced as soon as the Student Parliament, following the election of office-bearers by the SRC, has confirmed these candidates.

The first three sabbatical candidates elected were: Tauriq Jenkins (2 258 votes), Thabiso Monyatsi (2 212) and KB Molala (1 663).

The first twelve non-sabbatical candidates elected were: Itai Chitapi (2 635), Bee Wijsenbeek (2 614), Mbali Vilakazi (2 293), Luleka Mafenuka (1 948), OG Masisi (1 816), Napo Ramodibedi (1 793), Nelson Ncube (1 585), Tsepo Thabisi (1 364), Zuks Nchukana (1 360), Avukile Mabombo (1 350), Daniel Cabral (1 303), and Sean Kirsten (1 204).

Based on the Student Parliament Constitution, an election poll of 25% of full-time students is required for the SRC to be constituted. The poll in this election was 38.33%.

The SRC comprises a diverse group of students; three are women (compared with nine last year), three are white and 12 black, and five are international students (Wijsenbeek is from the Netherlands, Ramodibedi is from Lesotho and Ncube, Jenkins and Chitapi are from Zimbabwe). Interestingly, the three women elected took three of the top four positions on the open poll.

There is a healthy spread of academic backgrounds represented: eight candidates are from Humanities; two are from Commerce, two from Engineering and the Built Environment and three are from Science.

A total of 6 015 of the 15 690 full-time students cast their votes (2001: 5 475 of 14 506), representing 38.33% (2001: 37.74%). Of the 3 968 part-time student, 254 cast their votes (2001: 249 of 4 030), representing 4% of votes (2001: 6.17%).

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