Leadership from Student Affairs took turns training the new SRC during a three-day induction workshop that took place on 6, 8, and 9 November 2023 at the University. Dr Mthoko Ntuli, Student Development Officer in the Department of Student Affairs described the workshop as a “crucial meeting”.
Dr Ntuli said the workshop would provide the recently inaugurated student leadership with a “deeper understanding of how different departments at the University function”. All the 21 departments and divisions that interact with the SRC made presentations, detailing what they do, what the SRC would do with them, and how the SRC members were expected to behave vis-à-vis them, and other stakeholders during their term of office. Some of these departments and divisions are Students Counselling, Health Services, Student Housing, Protection Services, Information Technology and Networks, and Risk and Compliance.
“You have been given a document that will empower you; a roadmap of what happens in the SRC. This includes understanding what happens in the higher education sector,” said Dr Ntuli. Dr Ntuli also told the student leaders that the MUT Statute, and the SRC Constitution were some of the most important documents they had to familiarize themselves with so they would know how the University is governed. He told them that as SRC, they were part of the University’s governance. Some of the 11 members of the SRC are part of the different committees that govern the University.
The student leadership also benefited from a message from the Dean of Students, Dr Thembi Kweyama, whose presentation showed that she has been dealing with student leaders for a long while. Dr Kweyama said they felt it was important that the SRC be empowered with this information before they met to discuss their programme of action.
Dr Kweyama also spoke firmly to the student leaders about the necessity for good behaviour. “Just because we have a relationship with you, does not mean we will be soft towards you. We don’t want an incident where we will have to tell you, you are suspended or expelled. If you get pressure, talk to us. Don’t look at management as enemies.”
The SRC President, Thobisa Dalasile, said he learnt from the three-day workshop. “I learnt how the institution is governed, and how to lead the SRC before leading the students. And how to conduct myself in an ethical manner. This will empower guide the manner in which I will approach student issues,” said Dalasile.