Following a highly successful SRC election that recorded the highest voter turnout of 71%, the University of Fort Hare hosted an equally successful Institutional SRC Constitutional Summit from 5 to 7 December 2025. The gathering brought together Chairpersons and Secretaries from all student governance structures, representatives of student political organisations, developmental, religious, and academic societies, external facilitators, and members of the SRC.
Organised by the Student Affairs Division, the Summit is recognised as one of the most significant student governance engagements.
In her official communication, Acting Dean of Student Affairs Prof Patrica Monyai extended “words of sincere gratitude to all Student Governance Structures, including the UFH SRC, student political organizations, developmental, religious, and academic societies, as well as the organizers and external facilitators for delivering a highly successful SRC Constitutional Summit.”
She explained that the Summit “was necessitated by the growing need for a new SRC Constitution at the University of Fort Hare,” noting that the existing document “was last reviewed in 2012 and several attempts to review it thereafter were unsuccessful.”
Over three days, delegates engaged in intensive deliberations aimed at modernising the University’s student governance framework. The opening plenary set a focused and reflective tone as participants acknowledged both the historical significance of the moment and the decade-long need to update the Constitution. Delegates approached the task with seriousness and clarity, grounding their discussions in principles of democratic participation, accountability, and institutional alignment.
Day Two saw the Summit shift into its most demanding phase, with delegates breaking into commissions for clause-by-clause review of the existing Constitution. These commission sessions became the intellectual engine room of the Summit. Student leaders examined constitutional language, debated governance principles, and carefully considered each proposed amendment. The discipline and patience with which commissions conducted their work distinguished this Summit from earlier reform efforts.
On the third day, commission conveners presented their consolidated reports to the plenary, detailing the proposed constitutional amendments, the challenges identified during deliberations, and the anticipated implications for future SRC governance. Delegates engaged with the reports with rigour, asking questions, offering clarifications, and ensuring that the final document reflected the collective reasoning of all structures present. After thorough engagement, all resolutions and amendments were adopted.
Prof Monyai confirmed the successful conclusion of this work, stating that “the summit was a great success characterized by high-level discussions led by student leaders. The work of the various commissions was collated, presented, and all resolutions were duly adopted.” She added that the external facilitator “is now expected to consolidate a draft report and submit all documentation to the University for review and consideration,” with the draft SGC expected in February 2026 and to be considered for approval in March.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the Student Affairs Division to supporting the process to its final stage, saying: “The Student Division remains committed to working closely with all student representatives to ensure that the SRC Constitution review and amendment process reaches its logical and successful conclusion.”