Farewell to the outgoing SRC

Dear colleagues and students

This has notably been one of the toughest years to be a student due to the complexities, changes and uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. The members of our outgoing Student Representative Council (SRC) rose to the challenge and showed great leadership through this intense period. They worked with the university executive by creating immediate solutions to problems that were raised by the pandemic.

Despite the unfavourable circumstances, the SRC has been incredible, served with great resilience and stepped up to the plate by accomplishing some significant achievements.

Here are a few of the SRC’s accomplishments during their term of office:

• working with UCT management on behalf of students who needed transport home ahead of lockdown, negotiating for travel discounts; as well as resources to support online learning
• the creation of the International Students Forum to address students’ needs, ranging from registration to COVID-19 lockdown issues – the SRC monitored the needs of international students who stayed in South Africa during lockdown, and kept them informed of virtual UCT services such as the Student Wellness Service
• coordination of communication between the Humanities Students’ Council and satellite campus students, such as the Theatre and Dance Students’ Council – they also reached out to the Music Students’ Council, Philosophy Students’ Council and the Art Students’ Council
• participation in the postgraduate task team, which is led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation Professor Sue Harrison to respond to the changing needs of postgraduates
• the reworking of SRC Thursday under UCT Cares as a platform for interaction between the SRC, students and the executive
• a collaboration with UCT’s Office for Inclusivity & Change to provide online survivor support to address students’ psychosocial issues – sessions are held on Microsoft Teams every Tuesday from 17:30 to 19:30.

Our outgoing student leaders have been effective representatives of the student constituency on the committees they have served on. Their experiences in office will serve them in good stead throughout their careers.

Thank you to our outgoing SRC for the valuable contribution to the student body of UCT. They served with great distinction through a very turbulent time.

Sincerely

Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng
Vice-Chancellor