The National Working Committee convened its second virtual meeting today, the 15th of May 2020 to discuss future of the student population in our country and the world under the COVID-19 pandemic that threatens the future of humankind. Profoundly so; the call by Mao Tse Tung that “What we need is an enthusiastic but calm state of mind and intense but orderly work” As we confront this pandemic whilst not deepening the already existing inequalities in the post-schooling and training sector.
The organisation was also reminded of the words of Chairman Mao when he charged, “In class society, everyone lives as a member of a particular class, and every kind of thinking, without exception, is stamped with the brand of a class.” Therefore as the NWC meets online its thinking is similar to the thinking of poor majority students from working-class backgrounds.
The NWC observed a moment of silence in honour of the comrade Denis Goldberg and Dr Mnisi whose contribution to the liberation struggle in our struggle and nation-building cannot be downplayed. They and their generation of revolutionary activists who defeated an ugly and brutal Apartheid regime remain exemplary to the student movement in that every struggle exist to be won for the majority of the citizens.
Walter Sisulu month
The NWC sat during the month of May, the historic month where the honorary President of our organisation was born and unfortunately passed on. The NWC has adopted a plan to commemorate the life and times of Xhamela, the organisation will host a memorial lecture in honour of Walter Sisulu and honour his contribution to the life of the liberation movement and its struggle. We will invite senior members of the mass democratic movement to present a memorial lecture.
STUDENT-WORKER RELATIONS
The NWC has begun with the consultation process with the progressive labour formations in the sector as part of consolidating the students-workers interest and as a means of to unite the working class but also fruition of strategically transforming higher education from ivory towers to peoples education and training centres for peoples power.
As an organisation, we have appointed a team of five comrades headed by the National Organizer, comrade Athenkosi Mabona to consult with National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union on the way forward and possible means to return to the new normal teaching and learning in our institutions of learning. We will be engaging all stakeholders and progressives in the sector as part of the broad view of not only winning the students’ hearts but everyone in the sector to believe in our strategic perspective on transformation.
RETURN TO CAMPUSES
The organisation has since made a call on our government and institutions of higher learning not further exclude the poor students from working-class backgrounds by forcing e-learning down the throats of these students. The organisation warned the Minister of Higher education, science and technology the continued abuse of institutional autonomy by universities would lead to the unfortunate creation of a two-tier system in higher education, the education for the have and the one for the have-nots.
In line with our strategic perspective of building a single coordinated higher system, we will be engaging Minister Dr Blade Nzimande to coordinate the sector and not leave the historically privileged institutions to lead on his behalf. The organisation has since called on a return to the new normality for the sake of the poor and working-class students in our country with strict adherence to the COVID-19 risk containment measures. We will be intensifying this call as majority parts of the country will be advancing towards level three (3) of lockdown as announced by the state President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa.
ORGANISATIONAL BUILDING
As the 21st NEC, we inherited an organisation that was at A blink of its collapse, the organisation that was experiencing unprecedented erosion of its cultures and traditions. The NEC in its first meeting held at Booysens Hotel resolved to relieve some structures from their duties and begin a process of building unity and cohesion in the organisation. The National Working Committee was since given a duty to conduct a thorough process with structures and ultimately appoint interim structures where the organisation was previously limping.
The NWC has therefore appointed Provincial Task Teams as listed below:
MPUMALANGA:
Convener – Cde Xolile Nkabinde
Coordinator – Cde Siyabonga Shabalala
Resource Mobilizer – Cde Mxolisi Ncaphalala
– Cde Genius Shabalala
– Cde Mbalizonke Magubane
– Cde Bheki Mashaba
– Cde Fortunate Nkambule
NORTH WEST:
Convener – Cde Doctor Ndebele
Coordinator – Cde Nkululeko Sithole
Resource Mobilizer – Cde Tumelo Gaegake
– Cde Xolile Nxozana
– Cde Sindiswa Nazo
– Cde Reneilwe Louw
– Cde Kelebogile Basnaar
LIMPOPO:
Convener – Cde Khutso Afrika Rakgosoka
Coordinator – Cde Lebogang Ramushu
Resource Mobilizer – Cde Nature Moraba
– Cde Euthley Mashai
– Cde Bernard Cgina
– Cde Micheal Malaji
– Cde Euleda Mutovholwa
EASTERN CAPE:
Convener – Cde Alungile Kamtshe
Coordinator – Cde Athenkosi Sityata
Resource Mobilizer – Cde Siyabonga Halam
– Cde Thulisa Samela
– Cde Ayanda Mjongile
– Cde Nandipha Konongo
– Cde Bongeka Makhumba
KwaZulu Natal:
Convener – Cde Thabo Sheme
Coordinator – Cde Sifiso Nkabinde
Resource Mobilizer – Cde Tumelo Molausi
– Cde Sizwe Luthuli
– Cde Talent Mthenti
– Cde Sithembile Kunene
– Cde Sinoxolo Duma
Post the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, the world began to change in some dramatic ways. Forces were unleashed and continued to have profound effects on all cultures as nations of the world. This includes integration of world markets, technology and information that is oblivious to both national and cultural borders. The post-covid-19 society will require the progressives to be innovative and not stand back as the new world order will be in creation.
The National Working Committee concluded on a high note. The meeting emphasized the need for NEC to marshal the student movement towards the post-21st National Congress and pragmatically build unity and cohesion. A focused and united organisation will never fail to attain its founding objectives.
Issued on behalf of SASCO NWC
Bamanye Matiwane
President
President@sasco.co.za
Buthanani Ngwane
Secretary General
Sg@sasco.co.za
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