By: Lungisa Somtombo
After it has been made possible to contest elections independently, Athenkosi Fani is contesting Walter Sisulu University (WSU) Buffalo City Campus Student Representative Council (SRC) elections which will take place on 11 November 2021.
The award-winning activist and Public Relations student wants to run for this year’s SRC elections because of his passion for student development, his eagerness to serve, suffer and sacrifice for students and above all to show quality leadership skills that will take the university as a whole to a new level.
“I bring leadership skills that are lacking in the current SRC leadership which are transparency, accountability, responsibility and effective communication to represent all students, especially those who are not politically affiliated,” he said.
Fani added that he wants to show students the law allows for independent candidates to run for elections, therefore one does not have to be politically affiliated to have their voice heard or to lead students and to fight for their rights.
“I want to deal with the issue of student oppression, students are being oppressed either academically or administratively, I want to fight that and make sure that the institution puts the needs of the students first,” said Fani.
Being a leader for Fani will mean he gets a chance to be a shoulder to cry on for students, to fix current injustices, while he creates solutions to resolve student issues. He added that he cannot do this alone, he needs the support of the masses to unite and build the ideal dream of what WSU can become.
“I know there are people who are against members of the LGBTQI community, I want to say, I know beyond my sexuality, I am a capable leader, I have been tried and tested politically and my work speaks for itself.”
When asked if he thinks he is capable of winning as he is the first person to contest SRC elections as an independent candidate he said, he is confident because he believes he is a trendsetter as he was the first-ever WSU ambassador and the first Vodacom Next Level ambassador and he believes his time has arrived.