Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • The largest-ever cohort for GADRA Matric School
  • Eskom Power Alert 1
  • Ukhuphiswano lwenginqgi iSarah Baartman oluxhaswa ngabakwa-SAB
  • A cry, a smile, a dance
  • A high-functioning high school forsaken by the Department of Education
  • If you’re good enough, you’re old enough
  • Beyond just “16 Days” of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
  • Amazwi Museum celebrates African Language week
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Grocott's Mail
You are at:Home»Uncategorized»Student elections no whitewash
Uncategorized

Student elections no whitewash

_Gr0cCc0Tts_By _Gr0cCc0Tts_September 14, 2012No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

'Vote for White Person.'

'Vote for White Person.'

This was the slogan adopted by Rhodes University student Brad Bense in his Student Representative Council (SRC) campaign for presidency last month. Giant photoshopped depictions of Uncle Sam, the iconic image for US Army recruitment, could be seen around campus, followed by the slogan ‘Vote Mlungu’ which translated means ‘Vote White Person’. This sparked mixed reactions from the student body, marking the beginning of a very controversial election campaign.

“Is this Votela uMlungu slogan trying to get black people’s votes?” asked Zusipe Malume Batyi on the SRC Facebook page, a sentiment shared by a number of students who found the slogan offensive. “I see this simply as a pathetic slogan that talks down to a level that the candidate obviously believes black people will find appealing,” added Fundile Sangoni.

On the other hand, student Jean-Michel Gaud commented on the thread, “I think more than anything it is a way of Africanising the candidate. The SRC has traditionally hit a wall when it comes to getting ‘white’ students to participate… I don’t think anyone should legitimately take offence.”

Regardless, Bense’s motives were questioned at both the SRC Grazzle, where candidates present their manifesto, and at the Presidential Debate last week. An unidentified student asked him if the students should vote for him because he is white or because of his capabilities.

In response, Bense said that there was no mention of the word ‘mlungu’ in his manifesto and that it was a campaign strategy intended to challenge student apathy. He explained that the election had failed to reach a quorum of 33.3% in the first round of elections and the results had been rendered null and void.

“There is a lack of white constituency,” Bense pointed out. With this in mind, as Media Councillor, he took it in his stride to effectively create debate in student governance.

Bense’s professional ethics were questioned as he had set aside strict formality and donned jeans; a white vest with the words ‘votela umlungu’ on the front and ‘100% Mlungu’ on the back.

As a result, a sharp contrast was drawn between Bense and the other presidential candidate Sakhe Badi, whose slogan was ‘Everybody needs SomeBadi’.

Quorum was reached in the second round of elections and Badi was elected president. Bense is his deputy. The inauguration took place last Friday.

Previous ArticleStudent apathy wins the day
Next Article International visitor for President’s award
_Gr0cCc0Tts_

Comments are closed.

Tweets by Grocotts
Newsletter



Listen

The Rhodes University Community Engagement Division has launched Engagement in Action, a new podcast which aims to bring to life some of the many ways in which the University interacts with communities around it. Check it out below.

Humans of Makhanda

Humans of Makhanda

Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

© 2023 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.