Dear Son
My son I have to compel my weak and sick hand to put ink
on paper from within the confines of Cecilia Makiwane Hospital.
This is because I have, with great jubilation, heard the good news that you are
now admitted as a student at the University of Fort Hare for 2014 academic
year. Congratulations!
I hope that you have made good friends at university.
Hearing about your admission made me to think of a very old friend of your
father who is still at university, SASCO. I am not surprised that this good
friend intervened in your case. Please consider making friends with this SASCO;
it is a very reliable friend.
Below is an old letter that your late father once wrote
to this friend some years ago after graduation, just few days before his
untimely departure:
“Dear SASCO
I still do not know how to begin to express my gratitude
to your sterling work. I have never thought that I could afford university
tuition, accommodation, food and all other costs but, thanks to your struggles,
I had TEFSA.
I am very grateful for your unbroken and persistent
support throughout my studies. Whenever I and other students needed help, be it
on academics, accommodation, finances or service we received from university,
you would decisively intervene, successfully. That, I do appreciate.
Your temperate and pleasant character continues to
inspire me. I shall take your example for implementation in my personal life.
From lessons I got from you beyond those from the course material whilst at university,
I can safely say that I now understand what kind of graduate is needed by our
problem contaminated society for better transformation.
Through tough times, you were there for me and cushioned
me and my friends against any form of victimization when we were a bunch of vulnerable
‘freshers’; hence I have no regrets for having associated with you. I am
grateful for this.
You did not end by only landing me a genuinely listening
ear when I puked out my problems to you; you acted upon them for their speedy resolution.
I wonder what I would have been if you were not always around campus. If it
were not for your bravery and excellent service, chances are I would not be a
graduate and thus, not in my present great mood. Thanks to you my new born son
will not live in poverty as I will have means to support him.
Things I could not share with my friends and classmates,
I confidently shared with you guaranteed that they will not be used against me,
but instead they will be addressed in the best possible way. Your word’s worth
is always confirmed by your actions for you are really committed to campus work
as your SPOT document states it as one of your pillars. Indeed, I will always
cherish your work till I breathe no more.
Thank you for being always ready to lend a hand.
Please continue the good work for generations to come.
Yours Sincerely
Comrade”
I am certain that the above letter portrays well the kind
of friend that is SASCO. Now that you have heard what your father had to say to
this friend, I would like to tell you about its exceptional cadreship of this
gallant organ.
My knowledge about the organisation stems from the
decision I took after they had taught me to read and write for few years
through their community work. I then decided to research and learn about the
leaders and activists of this organisation.
Each and every day, these revolutionary beings take it
upon themselves to fight the students’ battles so that the student populace can
pursue its education under good conditions, where student services are at par
with what is required by students to live better at campus and free the
environment of any unnecessary obstacles to their education.
SASCO cadres always have hope that at some point, the magnanimous
revolutionary battles that they wage everyday will lead to the fulfillment of
the humble objective for free, quality education.
Many of the martyrs of this struggle have fallen. Among
those men were resilient and brave activists such as Wanga Sigila, Xola Nene,
Claude Qavane and many others (you are bound to stumble on these names as you
interact with SASCO). Yes, it is neither just nor exciting that so great a
detachment has fallen before the advent of free education. However, as comrade
Che Guevara would have advised, the remaining activists of SASCO had picked the
weapons of these cadres and are continuing with the war for there is no time
for mourning except for learning from the example that has been well set by the
fallen cadres.
Rarely do the comrades go home during recess. Many of
these cadres lose the opportunity to be with loved ones in the villages,
townships and many other working class communities that they come from because
they open early January before any student in order to commence with the Right
to Learn Campaign. The campaign, among many other things, seeks to ensure
access and success in education. For example, the successful demonstrations
that led to the NSFAS issues being resolved early this year are a testimony to
the efficiency of this cadreship through the campaign. Even your admission is
as a result of this campaign.
Armed with revolutionary theory, commitment, passion and
love for justice, SASCO cadres are always ready to throw everything they have
in wrestling any threat to the best interests of students. It is because of the
knowledge of this fact that I was confident that, despite our poverty since the
passing away of your father, you will be admitted at UFH so that you could get
the education that I had no privilege of having.
Remember that SASCO always works for nothing less than
the realization of students’ interests and their aspirations. With the
knowledge that their efforts bear fruits for revolutionary transformation of
both institutions of education and society, they remain forever committed to
the struggle for the betterment of the plight of students.
The spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood reigns in SASCO.
Of course, now and then conflicts would arise over how best to steer the
vehicle of transformation. It is out of these ‘conflicts’, the best policies
informed by the best interests of students and greater society emerge through
deliberations and democratic processes of the movement. To one another, all
SASCO comrades are friends, sisters and brothers. Hence, they collaborate so
well across campuses for efficiency.
Whatever words they utter in boardrooms, actions they
make in the course of struggle, and decisions they make, trust me when I say it
is always for students. Please, never forget that they are there for you and
never forget them when you speak or pray to whatever deity you may believe in.
Indeed, they are worthy of blessings.
In their excellent service, they discriminate by neither
name nor student number. Consistent with their principles of democracy,
non-racialism and non-sexism, they assist and fight for students across the
racial spectrum, gender and creed.
Remember that they are students like you and they also
have to study and attend like you so that they do not conflict with SASCO’s principle
of academic excellence, therefore, please, show your appreciation to them. They
do not demand it but they do deserve it.
SASCO cadres stand proud on the pedestal of excellence
and you have to associate yourself with that excellence.
SASCO cadres do not mind living a paradox of nocturnal
and diurnal life for you. ‘Akulalwa kuyasetyenzwa’
Make SASCO your first and best friend on campus.
Regards
Your loving Aunt
