For a bit of background as to how this will affect Rhodes and the nation in general here is a snippet from our Registrar, Dr. Fourie:

1. The NSFAS funding problem experienced by Rhodes has two components:
1. Partly, but by no means the most important reason, it is the loss of the EL campus. Students there counted towards our NSFAS allocation but many of those who 'counted' did not qualify for NSFAS funding because they were part-time students in employment.
2. The major reason for the drop in funding is that Rhodes has not grown at the same rate as other universities (because we are full - the accommodation crisis). The NSFAS pot of money has not grown at the same rate as the increase in student numbers across the system. The effect for us is that we get less funding per student because they divide what they have available by the total number of students and while we grow at a slower rate than other institutions, our allocation just gets smaller and smaller.
2. The additional problem next year is that NSFAS is planning to exclude foreign students when counting how many students need to be funded at each institution. In the past, foreign students at RU have assisted local students in that they have added to the count for determining the size of the NSFAS allocation while not being able to benefit from the allocation themselves. Next year they won't count so our allocation will drop: less available for local students.

Thus the aims of our march were three-fold and directed at:

1. Department of Education to demand that government must restructure its funding formula (NSFAS) to accommodate the vast majority of students.
2. Department of Finance to demand that, the funding to NSFAS be increased to improve access and exit.
3. South African Reserve Bank to demand that interest should not be charged on NSFAS holders before employment.

This was to be a National Day of action with students in Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga, Free State, Northern Cape and Gauteng expected to march to Pretoria (Sol Platjie House) and students in other provinces expected to march in their respective provinces. The action was not only for universities but for all students in the country.

Thus we were going to march from our Main Kaif to the Drosty Lawns were a representative from the department of Education would recieve our petition and address our concerns.

This didn't happen.

The day before the march I had heard tell of another march being organised for the same day. I had spoken to the organiser of the group calling themselves "Project Phambili". They were concerned about NSFAS' 40% SA black students clause. To quote thier pamphlet:

"Rhodes University should not neglect the criteria set by the Department of Education and aim to enroll 40% black South African students by 2006 so that funding can be increased!"

We discussed it and I mentioned many of Rhodes' issues such as the loss of our EL campus which makes it very difficult and expensive for poorer students to both travel and pay for accomodationin Grahamstown, and that a loss of funding would make it much harder for poorer students to attend our university. The important thing to bear in mind is that Rhodes has been meeting the quota's set down by the government. The new quota which has not come into effect yet will mandate the 40%. He realised that we were in agreement and we should march together. He wanted to bring some school children as they would be the ones most influenced by the change. I agreed and we discussed using the SRC bus to transport them to campus. This is how I understood things to be before the day.

When we arrived at the Main Kaif at 1:20 for the march at 1:30 there was a small group of six girls. We asked if they were here for the march, they said "yes" but not for our march, they were there for the "anti-SRC" march. I thought they had got the wrong idea about Project Phambili and asked them what the anti-SRC march was for. They said they couldn't tell us. I then flipped my lid, blame the lack of sleep. After reeling myself in the crowds started appearing. We walked around explaining the point of the march and getting people to sign petitions. A few minuted later SASCO came dancing and signing up the street with a group of school children. Tham readied the microphone and started introducing the march, while he was speaking Bulumko, the SASCO president was shaking his head and his cronie Mandla Mandela started chanting 'Down with Woods', our Vice-Chancellor, in Xhosa. This was the second sign of trouble.

When Tham had finished the Project Phambili representative I had spoken to the day before spoke. I quite enjoyed what he had so say, even though it was a bit of a side note to the actual march and his aim for 40% by 2006 was unrealistic. Then Bulumko spoke in Xhosa and we got going on the march.

Once we got the the drosty lawns, there was a bit more dancing and signing, as you do. At this point Mandla started shouting that we should be marching on Admin. What?! This was not why we were there. At this point Tham said that he would go and get Dr. Woods with Bulumko but that the SRC part of the march was over. We handed over the petition to the department of education's rep and he left without having a chance to speak. Most of the students left at this point too.

Them someone else got up and said that they agreed with the financial aid march but why does Rhodes not have 40% SA black students whenit has had 10 years. A silly sensationalist statement that was clearly ignorant of the facts and hadn't attempted any research. I had had enough and started to explain to those around me the problems Rhodes was facing, why it can't get the 40% immediately and why the original aim of the march was more important. This was going well till Mandal Mandela and his two Crabbe and Goyle lookalikes decided to start shouting me down saying 'Down with the SRC' in Xhosa. So much for rational debate.

I chatted to many of the original Project Phambili people and they were quite pissed off SASCO had hijacked the march, started a pointless argument and ruined it's original purpose, which is far more important than a private interview with Dr. Woods, something they could have achieved by making an appointment. However, "March first, ask questions later" seemed to be their mantra.

Dr. Woods them came down and adressed the crowd, which had now dwindled to about 15 students, many of whom were just interested in what was going, and about 30 school children. I think Dr. Woods did a damn good job of addressing their problems and seemed remarkably relaxed through it all. It was quite funny looking at the tiny crowd on the steps of the old admin block listening to Dr. Woods while cars honked at them to get out of the road. When Dr. Woods had finished they dispersed and the SASCO people looked quite happy with themselves.

Now there are a few important things to note:

1. SASCO never once came to speak to the SRC, made an appointment with anyone in admin or put any effort at all into getting some answers. Something which we have very politely asked them to do in the past.
2. The original, very important aim of the march was thwarted so SASCO could have an interview with Dr. Woods.
3. The real issue still exists and will only make their 40% demands harder to reach.
4. SASCO's silly political games could cost some poor students who previously relied on NSFAS funding to attend Rhodes, their degree.

SASCO's game is now very clear to me. They need to create conflict to garner support. By creating a black and white (pun intended) division, the old struggle passion can be drawn on. Thus, even though there was no conflict they had to create it. They also need to march first and ask questions later, if at all. This is for two reasons, the first is it allows them to circumvent the bureaucracy. The second is to create a very poor atmosphere for rational debate, where they can prepare attacks without giving the respondent time to think about an answer.

This is not the first time they have tried something like this. Their actions this year have been intended to create conflict at every step. We have extended the olive branch three times now. This is why Rhodes' SASCO is the devil.

UPDATE 13th Sep 2004

Verashni phoned the provincial director for SASCO about the whole issue. He found it all rather strange as SASCO were the instigators of the march but had used SAU to organise it (SAU has a few SASCO members). He then went on to say that Rhodes SASCO has been rather uncommunicative all year and seem to be on their own mission. He then apologised and said he would speak to them. Verashni then gave him Bulumko's number (he didn't have it). Let's see if that changes anything.