8th November 2009

The National Executive Committee of the SOUTH AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC STUDENTS’ MOVEMENT (SADESMO) met on 7&8 November 2009 in Durban.

The following emanated from the deliberations:

We wish to place on record that emerging out of this past meeting a new SADESMO has been born. We fully recognise that we exist as the only sensible voice of reason in student politics. Our priority and mandate is very clear: SADESMO exists to serve and empower students and their collective interests.

The socio- political and economic landscape in South Africa is continuously changing, and challenges are the order of the day. SADESMO remains committed to being a positive agent of change and a strong tower of New Hope for students and learners of all walks of life.

From here onwards SADESMO will place the interests of students and learners first, and steer South Africa back to moral democracy and ensure a non-sexist and non-racial education system that will prepare students for the job market. The skills, knowledge and expertise available in education must develop young South Africans into responsible citizens that will fully participate in the building of a thriving, prosperous and democratic society.

We will work tirelessly towards rebuilding SADESMO so that it becomes the only credible, relevant and viable Students’ organization in South Africa - to this end we will be working very closely with the IFP, government, institutions of learning, businesses, local and international student and youth formations, NGO’s, CBO’s and the greater South African community.

            The National Council of SADESMO (Nacosa) will meet on 5/6 March 2010 to critically discuss the Movements performance in the 2009/10 SRC elections, and compile an operational framework that will guide all election activities. We will be keeping close watch of the situations of University of Zululand and Mangosuthu University of Technology, to ensure that democracy is alive and that its due processes are unhindered; we will be engaging management at both institutions on the matters at hand. We categorically and strongly condemn Sasco for the damage inflicted on University of Zululand property in the past week; such behaviour is totally unacceptable and should not go unpunished.

We will be launching “Operation SIYABAHLANGABEZA” in February 2010 which will focus on:

1)      Recruiting High School Learners to join the IFP and SADESMO

2)      Facilitating career guidance to High School Learners 

In response to the ongoing calls for change and transformation within the IFP the NEC wishes to plead with all members of SADESMO and the IFP to desist from seeking change and transformation through unconstitutional and opportunistic means. We condemn in the strongest possible terms any action which is at odds with the Party constitution and principles.

We offer our fullest support to the IFP leadership collective up to the April 2010 conference, which will chart a new direction for the Party. Especially we offer 110% support to IFP President, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi; we are proud to call and have him as our leader, comrade and companion in the long journey towards a prosperous South Africa. He continues to be a moral compass, a beacon of hope and a seasoned people’s servant.

            We demand that all tertiary institutions put in place proper exit plans for graduates; through working closely with government and the private sector. It is totally unacceptable that graduates exist as statistics of unemployment. We will advocate very strongly for the involvement of universities and FET’s in the marketing of graduates. We expect without compromise the immediate scrapping of labour brokers who are exploiting innocent South Africans.

            In light of the ongoing events regarding the Reitz 4, we wish to reiterate our strongest condemnation of any instance or behaviour of a racist nature. Moving forward, we call upon all South Africans to engage the critical issue of reconciliation, which is far from finality due to the dismal failure of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This is a time for all of us to rise above petty politics and objectively deal with instilling societal unity and harmony. We will be engaging Professor Jonathan Jansen on the merits of his pronouncements in the near future.

We wish all those who are still writing well in their exams, we hope that their hard work will pay off positively.

In conclusion, we wish to thank all SADESMO members for electing us into office and to assure them that their trust has not been misplaced. We will continue advancing students interests without fear or compromise. We will keep the IFP message of hope alive in all corners of South Africa. We approach 2011 with a renewed energy, and a selfless commitment of putting people first.

Contact:
Mkhuleko “Leko” Hlengwa
SADESMO:  National Spokesperson
083 871 2711