AfriForum Youth clinches victory after SU dismisses complaints against pro-Afrikaans SRC candidate
A victory for Afrikaans and students’ right to free, democratic and transparent Student Council elections (SRC elections). This is how AfriForum Youth describes the decision of Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Electoral Commission (EC) after this commission yesterday dismissed all complaints against a pro-Afrikaans candidate in this year’s SRC election. It was also announced yesterday that the candidate was among the nine candidates to be successfully elected to Maties’ SRC for 2024/2025
Last week, an election dispute erupted around an SRC candidate and AfriForum Youth member at SU, which nearly shattered her chances of a place in the SRC. Last week, Jolene le Roux was accused by an anonymous student of having received funding from a third party to promote her election campaign and that a post made on AfriForum Youth’s Instagram page compromised the “integrity of the election process” and gave her an “unfair advantage’. This is even though the post in question made no reference to her as an SRC candidate.
Le Roux was notified of the EC’s decision in writing yesterday. In the letter, it is claimed that although she was found guilty of allegedly breaching SU’s election rules, it was decided to dismiss the complaints as a decision to disqualify her would be unconstitutional.
AfriForum Youth instructed its legal team last week to assist the candidate. In a legal letter that Wian Spies, attorney at Hurter Spies and member of AfriForum Youth’s legal team, sent to the EC, the organisation strongly condemned allegations of misuse of funds and involvement in financial irregularities by the organisation and Le Roux as a member. He also emphasised that Le Roux may not be penalised based on her membership in or participation in AfriForum Youth’s activities.
Yvonne Gerber, Youth Officer for Development at AfriForum Youth, dismissed last week’s controversy as a witch hunt against Afrikaans and Afrikaans students at SU but considers the outcome satisfactory and a victory for justice. “The SU’s EC realised this week that we will not take the matter lightly and that we as a registered student organisation and Le Roux as a member of AfriForum Youth will fight these unfounded allegations and we have done so successfully and in the interest of all students,” she explains.
However, Gerber warns that this week’s events indicate a deeper problem at this university that points to intolerance towards Afrikaans and Afrikaans students. She maintains that AfriForum Youth will monitor signs of this and ensure that there is no unfair prejudice against students based on their language, culture or membership in pro-Afrikaans student organisations. “The result of the election also leaves us hopeful because it shows that Afrikaans still has a place in Stellenbosch and deserves it,” concludes Gerber.
