IN CONVERSATION WITH APHELELE KHALAKAHLA (NEC for SAUS)
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The South African Union of Students (SAUS) strongly condemns the escalating and coordinated victimisation, suspension, and intimidation of student leaders and ordinary students at multiple public universities in South Africa. This alarming trend constitutes a direct attack on democratic student governance, academic freedom, and the constitutional rights of students to organise and express themselves without fear or reprisal.
Since our election, SAUS has received numerous reports of institutional victimisation at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), University of the Western Cape (UWC), and the University of Fort Hare (UFH), among others. These cases reveal a sector-wide culture of power abuse by university management, who increasingly resort to disciplinary measures and suspensions to silence dissent rather than uphold accountability and good governance.
University of Johannesburg (UJ)
At UJ, three SRC members were suspended following their peaceful involvement in a student funding dispute related to NSFAS defunding. Despite clear evidence that no misconduct occurred, the university imposed blanket suspensions, denying these student leaders access to academic activities, residences, and SRC offices. This represents not only an administrative injustice but also a deliberate attempt to exclude critical SRC members from deliberations on key issues such as fee increases.
University of the Western Cape (UWC)
At UWC, the SRC Secretary-General and SAUS NEC member, Ms. S. Gantsho, has faced sustained victimisation by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s office. She has been denied access to meetings and participation in SAUS activities despite being duly elected by congress. Such manipulation of administrative procedures undermines democratic governance and threatens the autonomy of student representation on campus.
University of Fort Hare (UFH)
The situation at UFH is particularly concerning. While SAUS condemns any illegal activity on campus, we call for students to remain united, strong, and focused during this challenging period. The campus has become a theatre of fear, with student safety compromised and leadership under attack. SRC President Mr. Aphelele Khalakahla and the Deputy President have been suspended, and recent student protests have drawn negative attention to the university.
We strongly condemn UFH management’s authoritarian tendencies, including the involvement of SAPS in targeting and arresting the SRC President. The instability at UFH requires decisive intervention from the Minister’s office. Students must be allowed to freely elect their leaders, rather than be subjected to an imposed SRC Interim leadership without consultation with contesting political organisations. SAUS calls for the immediate resignation of the Vice-Chancellor of UFH, as his leadership is a key cause of the current turmoil.
Sector-Wide Concerns
These incidents are not isolated but reflect a systemic problem across the higher education sector. University managements are increasingly using disciplinary codes as political tools to suppress student leaders, particularly those advocating for transformation and student welfare.
SAUS calls on the Minister of Higher Education and the Portfolio Committee to intervene urgently. Efforts to resolve these matters through USAF have proven ineffective. We demand the immediate reinstatement of all victimised students and student leaders and the protection of democratic student governance structures.
Furthermore, we reject any proposed fee increases for the next academic year and will actively mobilise students against such increments. SAUS will engage with all political formations and progressive alliances to unite students and develop strategies to positively shape the higher education sector.
SAUS remains committed to addressing student victimisation in all institutions of higher learning and will not rest until this issue is resolved.
Since our election, SAUS has received numerous reports of institutional victimisation at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), University of the Western Cape (UWC), and the University of Fort Hare (UFH), among others. These cases reveal a sector-wide culture of power abuse by university management, who increasingly resort to disciplinary measures and suspensions to silence dissent rather than uphold accountability and good governance.
University of Johannesburg (UJ)
At UJ, three SRC members were suspended following their peaceful involvement in a student funding dispute related to NSFAS defunding. Despite clear evidence that no misconduct occurred, the university imposed blanket suspensions, denying these student leaders access to academic activities, residences, and SRC offices. This represents not only an administrative injustice but also a deliberate attempt to exclude critical SRC members from deliberations on key issues such as fee increases.
University of the Western Cape (UWC)
At UWC, the SRC Secretary-General and SAUS NEC member, Ms. S. Gantsho, has faced sustained victimisation by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s office. She has been denied access to meetings and participation in SAUS activities despite being duly elected by congress. Such manipulation of administrative procedures undermines democratic governance and threatens the autonomy of student representation on campus.
University of Fort Hare (UFH)
The situation at UFH is particularly concerning. While SAUS condemns any illegal activity on campus, we call for students to remain united, strong, and focused during this challenging period. The campus has become a theatre of fear, with student safety compromised and leadership under attack. SRC President Mr. Aphelele Khalakahla and the Deputy President have been suspended, and recent student protests have drawn negative attention to the university.
We strongly condemn UFH management’s authoritarian tendencies, including the involvement of SAPS in targeting and arresting the SRC President. The instability at UFH requires decisive intervention from the Minister’s office. Students must be allowed to freely elect their leaders, rather than be subjected to an imposed SRC Interim leadership without consultation with contesting political organisations. SAUS calls for the immediate resignation of the Vice-Chancellor of UFH, as his leadership is a key cause of the current turmoil.
Sector-Wide Concerns
These incidents are not isolated but reflect a systemic problem across the higher education sector. University managements are increasingly using disciplinary codes as political tools to suppress student leaders, particularly those advocating for transformation and student welfare.
SAUS calls on the Minister of Higher Education and the Portfolio Committee to intervene urgently. Efforts to resolve these matters through USAF have proven ineffective. We demand the immediate reinstatement of all victimised students and student leaders and the protection of democratic student governance structures.
Furthermore, we reject any proposed fee increases for the next academic year and will actively mobilise students against such increments. SAUS will engage with all political formations and progressive alliances to unite students and develop strategies to positively shape the higher education sector.
SAUS remains committed to addressing student victimisation in all institutions of higher learning and will not rest until this issue is resolved.
