Sasco Free State Province

04/02/2016

Progressive Youth Alliance Joint statement

04 February 2016

The progressive youth alliance in the Free State Province sat on the 01 February 2016 to deliberate on quite number of issues that are confronting the youth in the province. The population in South Africa it’s dominated by the youth and it’s important that economic empowerment, skills development and socio – economic transformation of youth must be the center of attention. Education plays a very critical role in skills development and eradicating the level of illiteracy in the society. The pace of empowering youth it must be a pace that is to ensure that put the youth to be the core economic agents drivers of the economy in the economic activities.

On Bursaries, NSFAS and Top 100

The PYA acknowledges the strides that have been made by ANC Free State Led government in prioritizing education through a significant number of bursary holders of bursary and the further extension of bursaries to research qualification being masters and Phd. First degree bursary provides access to students that are unable to persue their studies in higher institutions of learning. Government intervention only is not enough as we have noticed particularly this year most of learners are unable to access higher institutions of learning because of lack of funds despite their academic performance. We are of a view that private sector and business people in the province must put education as priority, to ensure that they contribute in skills development in the province. We propose that all business people and private sector that are getting business from government must contribute 5% of the education being a tender or project. This will also assist to lower the burden of department of education being one of the major sources of bursaries in the province and it will increase beneficiaries and creating business people with caring about empowerment than only profiting.

NSFAS remains one of the major sources of loans that students benefit from to study. We are of a view that the centralization of NSFAS fast tracked, because higher institutions of learning NSFAS based offices set rules that are not even found in the NSFAS guidelines. There should be a speedy policy amendment because the range of R120 000 per annum it’s no longer relevant to a person that was earning less than R120 000 per annum, taking into consideration the inflation and salary increments that have been taking place for almost past 10 years. NSFAS office must be removed from higher institutions of learning and there should be provincial departments to administrate NSFAS, to minimize the maladministration.

We acknowledge those that are performing well in matrics and been awarded in top 100 in the province. We are of a view that top 100 it must be categorized as quintile 1 schools and quintile 2 schools, further rural and farm school where learners did well. This is to put fair contest as material conditions of schools differ from quality of teachers to school infrastructure and availability of resources. Currently the contest it’s not fair as learners perform from unequal material condition and this has a potential of unable to recognize some deserving learners from disadvantage schools. There should be categories in the top 100.

On Graduates

The Free State province is producing lot of graduates, we notice as the numbers of unemployed graduates is increasing every year. This has the capacity of discouraging other youth not to be in higher institutions of learning because they notice those that are supposed to be the mode of inspiration in the society are struggling to get jobs. We urge the government to implement graduate placement programs despite internships, as we have noticed that even some of the graduates that are doing internships they end up being unemployed.

On unemployment

Unemployment increasingly as it is becoming and mostly being females being on top of the graph, it’s worrying as we are in a transforming society. Unemployment is also source of youth being involved into drug abuse and criminal offences because of frustrations of not having a job. We acknowledge that this is a national issue and we further acknowledge that government it’s a major employer. We will embark on a march to private sector, business people and government to demonstrate that unemployment problem is not only government problem but everyone’s problem, and everyone must commit to the reduction of unemployment.

On Local Government Elections

The African National Congress is heading towards local government elections and as progressive youth alliance we are ready to mobilize young people to go out in numbers to vote for the progressive government of ANC. Young people in the province must be in the forefront to ensure that the future is sound and secured through the implementation of National Development Plan.

On SAYC and Youth advisor

The South African Youth Council it’s supposed to play a critical role in mobilizing the youth and championing its interest. Lately we have observed since the emergence of it SAYC term high level of absenteeism of programs that addresses issue that we are confronted with. SAYC is serving individuals than the affiliates that are important in organizing and mobilizing the society. The structure must be dissolved and convene a conference because the youth of Free State can’t be delaying programs of youth.

Youth advisor in the office of the premier it plays a critical role in moving government towards championing the interest of youth in all sectors, being youth in business, education and unemployed. But we have observed in lately that the office is used to frustrate the youth of the province instead of fulfilling its mandate or role. Going towards local government election, we are of a view that the office must be in the forefront addressing the challenges that are confronting the young people. But on continuously the incumbent in the office continue to breed angry young people in the province. The incumbent must be recalled in that office with immediate effect, because we can’t allow consistent bulk of complains and breeding of angry young people. We can’t allow a situation where the office to be used as a machinery to settle political scores and being counter towards progressive youth alliance.

On one school one security

Security of learners in high schools its important as we have observed some of the incidence that are occurring in schools that will have been dealt with better in the presence of security. The one school one security campaign it will roll out soon to create awareness that there is a need.

Issued by PYA Free State.

07/01/2016

SASCO FREE STATE ON MATRIC 2015 RESULTS

07 January 2016

The South African Students Congress (SASCO) in Free State wants to take this opportunity to congratulate the matric class of 2015 for obtaining 81,1% pass rate in the province.
We acknowledge the hard work that was put by the Department, teachers, NGO’s, Unions and Learners to ensure that as Free State we remain to the front in education as we came third in the results nationally. Despite the amount of stumbling blocks that stakeholders and learners were confronted with, success became the results at the end of the journey.

We note the great work that is continuously done by the ANC Free State led government to ensure that education remains a priority. Since 2007 ANC National conference that took a resolution that education is a priority, ANC Free State in its administration record more than 7000 students that are studying on full time bursaries local and international and further extending the bursaries to research qualifications (Masters and Phd). The SASCO Free State believes there’s capacity in Free State and remains confident in the Free State government that it will lead
this country.

We welcome all those that will be joining higher institutions of learning in this academic year, we further encourage that those that didn’t make it must use available second chance program opportunities that are created by the department. Comrades of SASCO will be waiting for you to assisting you.

On Bogus Colleges/ institutions
We urge all matriculants that have been progressed before they register with any college, they must verify with the Department of Higher Education if that college has registered for including the courses that is said to offer. These bogus colleges are established to rob, waste time and resources of those that are desperately seeking education. Do not become a victim report any bogus college that are been noticed in the province must be reported to the nearest authorities.

On Right To Learn Campaign
Branches of SASCO in higher institutions of learning in the province will be embarking on this campaign to ensure access and success of students. Financial exclusions, exorbitant registration fee and academic exclusions that are continuously taking place in our institutions. We urge all students on campuses to Make SASCO your Best Friend on campuses on their arrival. Exorbitant Registration fee it remains one of the major element of exclusion that students are confronted with, the branches of SASCO and SASCO led SRC are ready to confront this challenge. Registration fee it must be boycotted because it denies many access to education. Higher institutions of learning are ivory towers not people institutions, we will be intensifying our RTLC to ensure those that deserves to study must be on campuses. No student must be denied an opportunity to study because of outstanding fees and registration fee, particularly those that have passed their courses. Further no students that meet the NSFAS requirement must be denied and opportunity to study or been made to pay registration fee on TVET’s. we are determined to fight this battles without retreating. Free, quality and compulsory education remains our clarion call.

On TVET’s and NSFAS
TVET’S play a critical role in the sector of education and they remain vital for technical skills. We urge learners that didn’t meet the requirements of universities to utilize them effectively. We take note of most of the TVET colleges that are continuously disregarding the NSFAS guidelines by making those students that are qualifying for NSFAS to pay registration fee, whereas NSFAS is paying that registration fee and not refunding students their accommodation and food money in time , SASCO take this as a form of corruption and a deliberate and intended actions to exclude learners to further their studies. We encourage students to report all their cases with the relevant authorities in order for us to uproot these tendencies. We further condemn the incompetency of lectures and management of TVET colleges that results to a bulk of pending results. This it has been going for a cycle of years and it’s a problem of incompetency.

We urge matriculants to use all the opportunities that are been put out there by the Free State government to further their studies.

For more information
Provincial Convener: Daniel Towa 073 624 2938
or
Provincial Coordinator: Zama Sigwebela 078 225 8508

26/10/2015

SASCO Statement on the National Shutdown!

26 October 2015



The South African Students’ Congress notes the various victories that have been secured by students in South Africa as a result of the struggles of the last two weeks. We however believe that this is not the end of the road and as such vigilance is important going forward.

We are sternly of the view that the issue of no fees is a minimal victory and our ultimate victory will be the attainment of free education in South Africa and the complete transformation of our universities. It is for this reason that we believe students should always be vigilant and raise the question of free quality higher education in South Africa.

It should also be noted that whilst the fee increment question has been secured, the various campus specific questions we have been struggling for are also in existence. This is why it is important for our structures to not be lost in celebration and miss an opportunity to engage these questions that will affect registration next year.

We appeal to all our structures to continue to struggle for their aims without being captured by forces of reaction that are hell-bent at weakening the student movement and totally collapsing our universities. It is important that we guard against these wedge-drivers and agent provocateurs.

The organization is currently busy engaging all its structures about the way forward on its call for a national shutdown, noting the conditions cited above. During this period, we are calling for a go-slow on the national shutdown. We are very committed to the resumption of the academic programme and ensuring that students are given time to prepare and write their examinations.

Issued by the SASCO NEC

Ntuthuko Makhombothi (President) – 0718752209

Or

Luzuko Buku ( Secretary General ) - 0718793258

23/10/2015

SASCO Welcomes the Pronouncement by the President but wishes he could have addressed students

23 October 2015

The South African Students’ Congress welcomes the announcement made by President Zuma that there will be no fee increment in our institutions of higher learning for the year of 2016. We are happy that our protest action as students yielded positive results in the immediate term. Our ultimate goal is the attainment of free education and we shall fight to ensure that government does not deter from its commitment to provide free quality education in South Africa. We commend government for taking such a bold stance and we will ensure that there we hold government accountable for the introduction of free education immediately.

We are however saddened that the President allowed himself to be held hostage by Vice Chancellors instead of coming out and delivering this good news to students. We believe that the confrontation that happened between the students and the police was as a result of this prolonged meeting whereby students started to feel agitated and become inpatient.

The organization nonetheless condemns in the strongest terms acts of violence and hooliganism from some of our comrades, together with other structures. We believe that these acts carry the potential of leading to the loss of support for our call by society. We believe that that there ought to be vigilance and determination from students but discipline is a necessary ingredient if we are to get society’s respect. In the same vain we condemn the rubber bulleting and the teargasing of students. We believe that the police could have handled the situation better.
Moving from here we will be doing a nationwide consultation with our structures to determine a way forward on our National Shutdown. This is because we believe that VCs and our councils can decide to go against the instructions of the president hiding behind institutional autonomy.

Issued by the SASCO NEC

Ntuthuko Makhombothi (President) – 0718752209
Or
Luzuko Buku ( Secretary General ) - 0718793258

19/10/2015

SASCO Calls for a National Shutdown against Fee Increments and for Free Education

19 October 2015



SASCO calls on all students to embark on a nationwide mass action against fee increments until their demands are met. We believe that this call should be correctly linked with the call for Free Quality Education in our country. The national day of mass action will be Wednesday 21 October 2015 and shall continue up until all our matters are resolved.

We encourage those institutions which are already on strike such as the University of the Witwatersrand, University of Fort Hare, Rhodes University and the University of Cape Town to continue their actions and further accelerate these strikes so that they are felt by the echelons of power in our institutions and in the Department of Higher Education.

Our mass action against fee increments is in line with our call for free quality education. We are calling on government to introduce a moratorium on fee increment across all universities and for the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, to speedily introduce free education.

We appeal for our comrades to be vigilant and not be fooled by institutional managers who are plotting to delay the fee increases up until the summer holidays. Even if they do this, we must promise them that institutions will not be re-opened up until there is 0 percent fee increment.

We call for the bailout of the higher education system by the government and the declaration of state of emergency on education in the land. We call for the end of austerity in relation to education spending by the ANC led government.

We believe that the prevailing crisis runs the risk of blackmailing many of us and our parents into abject poverty and destitution. There cannot be this reckless increasing of fees in a period where the economy is badly performing. This is a clear form of theft by these institutions organising themselves as USA, Universities South Africa. We are not afraid of the Higher Education Cartel.

We appeal on our comrades to interpret this as a call for aggressive mass mobilisation rather than vandalism of our institutions.



Issued by the NEC of SASCO

Ntuthuko Makhombothi (President): 071 875 2209
Or
Secretary General (Luzuko Buku): 071 879 3258

14/10/2015

26/09/2015

SASCO on alleged corruption in MOTHEO TVET College and attacks on SADTU.

The South African Student’s Congress in the Free State has noted the corruption allegations at Motheo TVET College. The student movement has always being upright on corruption in all its forms. Corruption is a cancer that steals from the poor of the poorest, and as the South African Students congress we will always fight corruption with our full might. Government efforts to ensure optimal access to higher education are undermined by this cancer. The South African Students Congress has always pronounced itself on student leaders who when deployed to the SRC involve themselves in corrupt activities. The South African Students Congress will be the first to defend students and won’t compromise its fighting power through involvement of corrupt cases in our institutions. We condemn all forms of corruptions that undermine the strides of the national democratic revolution. We further call on all our members to refrain from behaving in a manner that can put the name of the organization into disrepute or use the name of the organization in a manner that will put the image of the organization into disrepute.

We further condemn the use of the name of the South African Students congress to undermine our alliance with SADTU and COSATU. They remain a reliable ally of SASCO in the education terrain and the advancement of our revolutionary task. This is an alliance that is historic and developed in pursuance of the National Democratic Revolution within the Mass Democratic Movement as led by the African National Congress. We remain committed to the National Democratic Revolution and understand the importance of unity in action of the congress movement. We remain committed to what our SPOT document calls for ; ”It is the task for all progressive students today to appreciate the task of building a strong ANC, SACP and Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) South African National Civic Organisation and other MDM formations through all contributions to their programs. It is only through the collective strengths of the entire movement not one of them singled out.”

We are having all relevant discussions with the congress movement, and government in addressing challenges in the institution. We remain committed to striving for a democratic, unitary and non-sexist education system that will prepare all South Africans to partake to the fullest in the building of a democratic society.

Issued by SASCO FREE STATE

Enquiries:
Provincial Chairperson: Daniel Towa 073 624 2938
Provincial Secretary: Zama Sigwebela 078 225 8508

23/09/2015

SASCO Free State Congratulates ANC Free State on their appointment of Cde Msebenzi Zwane as Minister.

SASCO Free State would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Cde Msebenzi Zwane the ANC Free State Treasure and former MEC of Agricaulture and Rural Development on his new responsibilities as the Minister of Mineral Resources and energy.

Issued by SASCO Free State
For more information contact
Daniel Towa Provincial Chairperson 073 624 2938
or
Zama Sigwebela Provincial Secretary 078 225 8508

10/09/2015

CUT Bloemfontein Campus SRC Election Results
SASCO contested 12 out of 14

SASCO = 12 seats
EFFSC = 2 seats
PASMA = 0
DASO = 0
Independent = 0
SASCO won all seats it contested.

04/09/2015

SRC Elections Results UFS Main Campus.
SASCO Contested 10 out 12.

SASCO 6
EFFSC 1
Independents 5


Brigade

30/08/2015

SASCO Qwa Qwa Branch, Ese Mae Mae