The Economic Freedom Fighter Students Command (EFFSC) has not ruled out taking the legal route after recommendations that eight of its candidates should be disqualified for allegedly contravening elections rules.
The EFFSC University of Pretoria’s marketing, media and communication officer Thokozane Zwane said the legal team of the EFFSC UP is constantly briefed on the situation at the university.
“We are waiting for IMB and IEC to release final results of the elections and then we will take it from there,” Zwane said.
Last week, when preliminary results were released, they showed that the EFFSC had secured a clean sweep with 8 of its candidates securing seats in the university’s SRC.
But EFFSC’s joy was short lived when they received emails from the Independent Monitoring Body with recommendations that all its candidates should be disqualified.
“On 8 September which is the day preliminary results were officially published, all EFFSC candidates received emaisl from the IMB saying a report was filed by the IEC on 7 September, the same day that results were announced, alleging that all our 8 candidates contravened the rules of election and recommend the IMB disqualifies all eight candidates of the EFFSC and the votes cast in their favour be declared null and void,” said Zwane.
Zwane denied that the student body contravened campaign rules and said they are being victimised because of their affiliation to the EFF and that they didn’t do anything out of the ordinary.
“The reasons that were given to us is that we have contravened the campaigning rules in terms of how the posters were supposed to happen. However with that being said, the EFFSC has then taken a stand to submit evidence of how all candidates did the same thing.
“EFFSC has then proceeded to submit a report of about 28 pages to IMB detailing how everyone did the same thing. We are the only ones targeted. We think it is a victimisation because of the affiliation,” said Zwane.
The University of Pretoria spokesperson, Rikus Delport acknowledged receipt of the IMB recommendations but said the SRC results are yet to be released pending internal processes.
“The University of Pretoria takes note of the recommendations put forth by the Independent Monitoring Body concerning the breach of electoral regulations by several candidates in the SRC elections.
“These recommendations propose the disqualification of those found in violation; however the matter has been referred to disciplinary authorities for further action in alignment with the established university regulations.
“As of now, a final announcement regarding the final election outcome has not been issued. The University of Pretoria remains committed to upholding the fairness and integrity of the SRC election.”
Afriforum confirmed it had written to UP leadership last week demanding that EFFSC UP be deregistered as a students structure and also filed a complaint against the provisional SRC election results.
The Afriforum Youth structure is adamant it is not against democratic outcomes and called on university management to act on the recommendations.
“According to information we received, the EFFSC were disqualified due to the violation of student council election rules. If it is only a recommendation at this stage, we will encourage the university management to act upon this recommendation, said René van der Vyver, spokesperson for AfriForum Youth.
“It is not that we are disrespecting democratic outcomes but we most definitely don’t respect intimidation, inciting violence and disruption of academic responsibility. We also believe that no South African leaders should sing songs about murder,” said van der Vyver.
