Speaker, on 19 August 2006, the University of the Free State elected Mr Moses Masitha as their first President of the Student Representative Council. The ANC acknowledges the calls for change expressed by students during these elections, particularly as the university has been engulfed by the negative issues of racism and racial discrimination in the recent past.
The ANC further salutes this achievement, especially since the province is the spiritual home of the ANC. Recognising the horrible events of racial discrimination that took prominence at the university, we further applaud the shining example by the student community for bestowing their confidence in the SA Students Congress-led SRC to establish a progressive transformation agenda at the University of the Free State. We also applaud them for undertaking this huge responsibility of continuing the struggle for a better life and increasing access to quality education.
The ANC would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Moses Masitha on his election. The ANC reminds him that the confidence and the mandate given to him by the student community places him and the Sasco-led SRC at the pole position in undertaking the task of racially transforming the university as a centre of academic excellence and meaningful improvement of student life. Thank you. [Applause.]