Mandela release inspired me to politics: Jobe

By Simphiwe Sithole

The University Of Zululand Students Representative Council president Bongani “Jobe” Sithole reckons the release of Dr. Nelson Mandela as a great inspiration to his political activism. Started at the age of 16 while was still at high school to be a political activist – and it channeled him to be elected as Congress of South African Students (COSAS) president.

Politics to Jobe had not been just a game but an apparatus to preach and practice democracy. As today’s political leaders and activists perceive politics as a pavement to be above others heads, Jobe reckons opposite. “I had never thought that I would be the SRC president one day” says Jobe. “I think its wisdom from God”, he added.

This young and ambitious leader have a little time spent for himself and family because he uses most of the time working to triumph long-lasting fruits for the University Of Zululand students. Sithole is heard most of the time putting God in his addresses – he sees everything coming from His favor. He opposes the perception that Young Communist league is an anti-religion party.

In our interview with him he told UZPRESS that as SRC they are facing numerous challenges that include accommodation issue for students. And they are setting up some strategies to deal with them.

Sithole’s vision is to promote academic excellence during his term of office and also democracy.

When asked about the unrest that took place two weeks ago and shook the South African community whether they’ll guarantee that it doesn’t happen again – he said, “there’s no promise because if the management doesn’t respond to the SRC appeal, strikes would be perpetuated. After the last two weeks strike the SRC came back with many promises from the university management. That includes qualified and competent lectures, tight security on campus and full resourced library”, added Sithole.

If you cannot use the word of mouth, use the strong hand

Universities strikes over these past two weeks have left the South African communities questioning themselves and parents shocked about what is happening about their children away. Beginning with the University Of Zululand strike which took two days and steered the university to close for two consecutive days and students driven out of campus, followed by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) repeating the comparable story. All these actions are driven by unmet services by institutions’ management. If the student representative counsel is raising an issue on behalf of students, the management does not stem out with the solution. Then the SRC must apply other strategies than the Word of Mouth. The institution management fails to understand that students are clients, and moreover are a part of the university family. If a certain part or a client is raising an issue, that issue must be attended. If the management fails to understand that, the institution is reversing its plans of development inadvertently. In South Africa politicians usually says “vote and have your say”, if it does not work we then take a step further. It is used that if the management or a leader doesn’t want to listen we use the ‘strong hand’ accompanied, sometimes, by violence. Africa, mostly South Africa, had had enough with strikes and violence during strike. It is time now that leaders take some soluble actions about it. If the solution stemming takes time, make strikers understand why. These whole issues are strongly affecting our image as the university, community and the country at large.