AfriForum Youth wins Tuks election
AfriForum Youth won the student parliament election at the University of Pretoria (UP) with a record number of votes and received twice the number of votes than the ANC-affiliated organisation Sasco. The UP released the results today, more than five months after the election, after the UP's decision to hold a re-election had been set aside in a court order issued by the Pretoria High Court last week.
AfriForum Youth obtained more than 42% of the total number of 7 148 votes cast. AfriForum Youth's voting percentage has increased steadily over the past three years and this year's student parliament election was only its second. AfriForum Youth also won the 2010 election by 1 762 votes and achieved an absolute majority in the Student Representative Council (SRC).
"AfriForum Youth's support has almost doubled and the organisation is an example of a successful training school of young leadership," said Charl Oberholzer, National Chairman of AfriForum Youth.
The results of the most prominent organisations in the proportional voting system were as follows:
1. AfriForum Youth: 2 925
2. Sasco: 1 497
3. Daso: 998
4. Cope: 554
"AfriForum Youth not only succeeded in giving students back their voice, but also obtained a huge victory for Afrikaans, the protection of students' rights and the preservation of healthy student traditions.
"We believe that AfriForum Youth enjoys wide support, because young people associate the organisation with critical thinking and strong Christian values," according to Oberholzer.
Kallie Kriel, Executive Director of AfriForum, congratulated AfriForum Youth and the organisation's branch at the UP on their election victory. "The overwhelming support that AfriForum has received from young people confirms that the new generation of youth are prepared to take a stand for what they believe in, which bodes well for the future," said Kriel.
The court order stipulates that a newly elected RSC must be constituted before 2 March 2012. The RSC will be constituted by means of the first session of the student parliament. The parliament consists of some 87 students from, among others, three constituencies, namely associations, residences and faculties.
Statement issued by Charl Oberholzer, National Chairman, AfriForum Youth, February 27 2012
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