Response to Comarade Grievances
junior maliviwe bata
Please see the in-line attachment detailing the Organisational
response to the the disgruntlement's that members of our much valued
membership have raised.
Indeed, we will not always agree, but my hope is that we continue
forwards and backwards never.
Kind regards
Junior Bata
Bachelor of Commerce, Rhodes University
+27 73 453 9003
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Colleagues
Although we face trialling times, and the winds of insurrection are
attempting to disenfranchise our Organization. Our mind is fixed on
the goals at hand, we will not be dismayed. In this vein, we would
like to again thank you for your support at your AGM held last night,
where a democratically elected and fit to govern leadership was
empowered to take our Rhodes University SASCO branch on a re-energised
and effective trajectory.
Indeed, Comrades Thapelo and Sisa have raised some important matters
pertaining to the nature in which the Branch Executive was converted
into a Branch Task Team, and all the related matters that ensued both
prior to and post this event. Rightly so, matters of Constitutional
veracity and applications thereto where raised and noted, and our
commitment to the membership of SASCO combined with our high value for
accountable leadership thus compels us to deal with these matters
swiftly. Such matters will therefore be addressed within good time and
as we speak, the Regional Executive structures are contemplating a way
forward with these matters, including the question of creating a
platform where such grievances may be raised and dealt with in the
correct and equitable manner.
At such a platform, there would also be further elucidation from the
upper organisational structures as to the exact grievances raised, and
the reasoning behind actions that were taken to correct short-falls or
to address the issues raised. We have full faith that these upper
structures of the Organization are both capable and competent to have
dealt with those matters in the most equitable and fair manner that
the circumstances allowed. On that note, we are pleased to report that
ours is a tenure of open, critical debate, and we thus wholeheartedly
support an environment conducive to constructive academic debate,
political learning and indeed Organizational reform ? where the
prevailing conditions require such reform.
In light of creating this conducive environment, and in standing with
the principles of upholding the stature and legitimacy of the
Organization, we will not be addressing those matters here and neither
shall they be deliberated through the open media. We must caution that
although the time for justice is always now, and delayed justice is no
justice at all; that forgetting that even this justice must be
effected in a just manner is surely no less an evil. Our hope is that
the past will serve as a reminder that such tendencies (airing of
dirty laundry in the public domain) do not benefit our Organization;
instead they weaken our solidarity, challenge the authenticity of our
movement, and thereby threaten the veracity of the sustained and
effective continuance of our struggle for gender, economic, social,
racial, and political freedom - as students of Rhodes University and
indeed the collective-progressive youth of the Republic.
We must also caution that Constitutional matters cannot be abused for
political purposes. The Rhodes University Constitution of Student
Governance, has still empowered the existence and continuance of SASCO
Rhodes University and as such, it remains a fully legitimate and
intact Organization, both internally and externally mobile. Comrades
are therefore advised to continue their support for our Organization
and to remember that it is only through having a united front, that we
can combat the evil winds that approach on the horizon. The divide and
conquer strategies of colonialist spies of yesteryear are indeed
outworn, they have been counted, weighed and found wanting. We will
remain united in the struggle for the liberation and emancipation of
the economic and political slavery that we are experiencing within our
Organizations of higher learning, and as the working class of this,
our great Republic.
In going forward Comrades, we cannot and must not forget the words of
Malcolm X when he reminds us that we are 'trapped, double trapped, and
triple trapped' by overwhelming odds. The only way to sure victory and
to climb out of this sticky vichyssoise; is to strengthen our
solidarity, to re-group, to remain intact, to forge new frontiers and
to deliver liberation to our constituent. Our Organization is bigger
than any one individual and collective ownership of our duties to our
membership is paramount. No it will not be easy, it will not be
immediate ? yet is shall not be tantamount to the 'tranquillizing drug
of gradualism'. It will take all of our effort, and we must put aside
grievances and focus on the work at hand. We are Rhodes University
SASCO, we are alive, we are ready to assume the challenges that face
us, and we shall overcome! Thank you in advance for your sustained and
re-invigorated support for our movement, let us continue with our
recruitment drives and not allow the winds of decent to threaten the
gains that our Organization has made.
Amandla!
Junior Bata
CHAIRPERSON
SASCO RHODES UNIVERSITY
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