By Lisakazi Stemela and Savannah Farris
The Student Representative Council (SRC) hosted an event to discuss proposed revisions to the Student Constitution of Stellenbosch University (SU). The event was open to all students so that they could be included in the process and for their voices to weigh in on the proposed changes – yet only three students attended.
The event, held on Thursday 16 April at 14:30, at the SU Library Auditorium, coincided with scheduled class times – a factor repeatedly referenced by attendees as the central barrier to active participation. The attendees suggested to Die Matie that the low turnout was a reflection of scheduling constraints, rather than a widespread sense of apathy.
The event aimed to create an opportunity for student contributions, ensuring the Student Constitution was in touch with the broader student body’s rights and not confined to leadership structures. The proposed amendments sought to improve the document’s accessibility through the simplification of complex legal jargon. These policy changes largely reflect student input with a focus on maintaining consistency in defined terms, elimination of contradictions, and enhancement of overall coherence.
The SRC advertised the event through a post on their official Instagram page. It included QR codes leading to documents outlining the proposed changes and avenues for feedback. There was also an option for students to attend online.
Despite this, turnout was still exceptionally low. The event’s facilitator and SRC Policy Officer, Natalie Nortje, remarked, “Gaining interest from students, especially relating to policy, is difficult to achieve.” Nortje acknowledged that timing of the event was another factor to be considered, since it was held “during academic hours”.
Natalie Nortje (left), the Policy Officer for the Student Representative Council and Simiso Langa (right), previous SRC Chairperson, assisting Nortje with displaying projected slides at the Student Constitution revision event on 16 April. Photo: Savannah Farris
While acknowledging that the low turnout fell below her expectations, Nortje expressed that it was not entirely unexpected. “There are many factors to consider,” Nortjie said. “In this specific context, it is largely due to students being unaware or disinterested in policy.” This is a narrative which the SRC is trying to shift.
This same sentiment was echoed by the attendees during their interviews with Die Matie.
One of the attendees, Thomas Coetzee, an MEng (Industrial Engineering) student and former SRC Societies Council Chairperson, emphasised the impact of academic commitments. “This sitting was held during class hours,” Coetzee states, “So it is more difficult for the average student, especially your undergraduates, to attend.” He added that he knows some of his friends who expressed an interest in attending, but could not due to prior academic commitments.
Another attendee, Zybian Anders, Vice-Prim of Walter Parry House, observed that student availability is inherently dispersed. “I get it. Even at night, some people might be writing; they might be studying for an A1 the next day.” Anders explained, “There is no perfect catch-all.” He proposes that any scheduled time presented to the students cannot satisfy everybody.
Mfumbathi Mduli, third year Agriscience-Economics student, who also attended, suggests that planning events such as these during the lunch hours could improve accessibility and bridge the gap between academic responsibilities and active participation in the Student Constitution. A lunchtime format could allow students to drop in briefly between classes, making the conversations more flexible and less disruptive to academic schedules.
As the Constitutional revision continues, the SRC’s challenge remains in balancing academic realities with meaningful student participation. Nortje reflects on her years of leadership experience, saying that “numbers aren’t as important as intention” and that the event was still “incredibly beneficial” in allowing her to identify “where further work needs to be done”.
Nortje also mentioned that students would have more opportunities for in-person engagement during the student Plenary sitting scheduled for 30 April.
