At the beginning of our term of office we boldly declared that this SRC would "strive to be the vanguard of its students" and that we would "unequivocally and unreservedly champion the student cause at the university".

And indeed, there were things we had to do to "give meaning to our presence in key chambers, and give purpose to our occupancy of our seats in student governance".

The SRC has been in the forefront of student issues at UCT. One of these was around the issue of academic exclusions. Here, we played numerous roles. We sat on review and re-admission committees and we trained student leaders to be deployed to RRCs. We organised a not-so-silent vigil, pushing for a more student-friendly exam timetable.

We also called for supplementary exams to be introduced in the science and engineering and the built environment faculties, a proposal for which has been drafted by the Academic Sub-Council. We drafted two similar proposals for Senate on the issues of exams scripts and the need for a 24-hour library service during exams.

In an effort to curb financial exclusions, the SRC was successful in institutionalising fee concessions for returning SADC students, in arranging loan agreements with the Department of Student Affairs, in raising approximately R300 000 through Jameson Plaza bookings towards the newly established SRC Financial Assistance/Bail Out Fund.

The SRC is in the process of securing R500 000 from the Vice-Chancellor, and will be advocating that specific reserves be freed up to aid Zimbabwean students.

We have also made a concerted effort to canvas students across all campuses on the issues are concern them by holding a SRC Imbizo and road show on each campus. We also launched the Vula site, the SRC website, and a quarterly email, which allow students to voice their concerns.

One of the bigger issues that the SRC has been looking into is the poor state of the Jammie Shuttle Service. The SRC conducted a survey that underpinned a report on issues around the Shuttles. The university has assured us that it will be used to upgrade and improve Jammie stops and routes.

In the residence sector the SRC and the Graça Machel Residence house committee have pushed successfully for cash compensation following the problems of last semester.

The SRC has also been instrumental in reviewing the food service provider and the new meal voucher system. We have also made a number of changes to the residence allocation policy to deal with transit students, student evictions and vacation accommodation.

The SRC still has a number of changes to make before handing over to the next SRC. Please check the SRC Vula website for this information.

If you have any concerns or suggestions that you would like to make, please don't hesitate to contact me at mqlzuk001@uct.ac.za, or the SRC secretary-general David Watson.

We hope that our final stretch in office will be successful and that students remember us as an SRC that was proactive and responsive to student needs and concerns.

Yours in Good Governance,
Zuki Mqolomba
SRC President