PRESS RELEASE: Stellenbosch Student Democracy Under Attack, Says RP
The Referendum Party has condemned Stellenbosch University’s disqualification of SRC eletion winner Ben Anderson as a betrayal of student democracy and a dangerous pattern of silencing reform-minded candidates.
PRESS RELEASE: Stellenbosch Student Democracy Under Attack, Says RP
The Referendum Party (RP) has expressed grave concern over the disqualification of Stellenbosch SRC candidate Ben Anderson, who won the most votes in the university’s 2025 SRC election. Anderson secured a clear majority on what, by the university’s own standards, was a relatively high turnout. His campaign centred on a detailed plan to reform what students themselves widely recognise as a dysfunctional SRC.
Despite this clear mandate, the Student Electoral Commission (SEC) has overturned his victory. This continues a troubling pattern at Stellenbosch: in 2016 AfriForum Youth candidates were suspended under contested circumstances; in 2024 Convocation candidates faced disqualification attempts on technicalities; and now, in 2025, another reform-minded candidate has been removed.
RP Executive Committee member Robert King says: “At Stellenbosch, candidates only seem to be suspended when they threaten the status quo. This is not democracy - it is manipulation by bureaucracy.”
RP calls on Stellenbosch University to uphold the principle that the will of the voters must prevail. We further affirm our support for Mr Anderson as he appeals this decision in Student Court. Disqualifying candidates after free and fair elections not only undermines confidence in the institution’s democratic processes, but also signals to thousands of students that their votes do not matter.
PERSVERKLARING: Stellenbosch Studentedemokrasie Onder Aanval, sê RP
Die Referendum Party (RP) het ernstige kommer uitgespreek oor die diskwalifikasie van Stellenbosch se SR-kandidaat, Ben Anderson, wat die meeste stemme in die universiteit se 2025 SR-verkiesing gewen het. Anderson het ’n duidelike meerderheid behaal op ’n dag waarop die opkoms, volgens die universiteit se eie standaarde, relatief hoog was. Sy veldtog was gesentreer rondom ’n gedetailleerde plan om die SR te hervorm—’n liggaam wat studente self wyd erken as disfunksioneel.
Ten spyte van hierdie duidelike mandaat, het die Studenteverkiesingskommissie (SVK) sy oorwinning ongeldig verklaar. Dit vorm deel van ’n kommerwekkende patroon by Stellenbosch: in 2016 is AfriForum Jeug-kandidate onder betwiste omstandighede geskors; in 2024 is Konvokasie-kandidate met tegniese diskwalifikasiepogings gekonfronteer; en nou, in 2025, is nóg ’n hervormingsgesinde kandidaat verwyder.
RP Uitvoerende Komiteelid Robert King sê: “By Stellenbosch lyk dit of kandidate net geskors word wanneer hulle die status quo bedreig. Dit is nie demokrasie nie—dit is manipulasie deur burokrate.”
RP doen ’n beroep op die Universiteit Stellenbosch om die beginsel te handhaaf dat die wil van die kiesers moet seëvier. Ons bevestig ook ons steun aan mnr. Anderson terwyl hy hierdie besluit in die Studentegeregshof betwis. Die diskwalifikasie van kandidate ná vrye en regverdige verkiesings ondermyn nie net vertroue in die instelling se demokratiese prosesse nie, maar stuur ook ’n boodskap aan duisende studente dat hul stemme nie saak maak nie.