Colleagues Although we face trialling times, and the winds of insurrection are attempting to disenfranchise our Organization. Our mind is fixed on the goals at hand, we will not be dismayed. In this vein, we would like to again thank you for your support at your AGM held last night, where a democratically elected and fit to govern leadership was empowered to take our Rhodes University SASCO branch on a re-energised and effective trajectory. Indeed, Combrades Thapelo and Sisa have raised some important matters pertaining to the nature in which the Branch Executive was converted into a Branch Task Team, and all the related matters that ensued both prior to and post this event. Rightly so, matters of Constitutional veracity and applications thereto where raised and noted, and our commitment to the membership of SASCO combined with our high value for accountable leadership thus compels us to deal with these matters swiftly. Such matters will therefore be addressed within good time and as we speak, the Regional Executive structures are contemplating a way forward with these matters, including the question of creating a platform where such grievances may be raised and dealt with in the correct and equitable manner. At such a platform, there would also be further elucidation from the upper organisational structures as to the exact grievances raised, and the reasoning behind actions that were taken to correct shortfalls or to address the issues raised. We have full faith that these upper structures of the Organization are both capable and competent to have dealt with those matters in the most equitable and fair manner that the circumstances allowed. On that note, we are pleased to report that ours is a tenure of open, critical debate, and we thus wholeheartedly support an environment conducive to constructive academic debate, political learning and indeed Organizational reform – where the prevailing conditions require such reform. In light of creating this conducive environment, and in standing with the principles of upholding the stature and legitimacy of the Organization, we will not be addressing those matters here and neither shall they be deliberated through the open media. We must caution that although the time for justice is always now, and delayed justice is no justice at all; that forgetting that even this justice must be effected in a just manner is surely no less an evil. Our hope is that the past will serve as a reminder that such tendencies (airing of dirty laundry in the public domain) do not benefit our Organization; instead they weaken our solidarity, challenge the authenticity of our movement, and thereby threaten the veracity of the sustained and effective continuance of our struggle for gender, economic, social, racial, and political freedom - as students of Rhodes University and indeed the collective-progressive youth of the Republic. We must also caution that Constitutional matters cannot be abused for political purposes. The Rhodes University Constitution of Student Governance, has still empowered the existence and continuance of SASCO Rhodes University and as such, it remains a fully legitimate and intact Organization, both internally and externally mobile. Comrades are therefore advised to continue their support for our Organization and to remember that it is only through having a united front, that we can combat the evil winds that approach on the horizon. The divide and conquer strategies of colonialist spies of yesteryear are indeed outworn, they have been counted, weighed and found wanting. We will remain united in the struggle for the liberation and emancipation of the economic and political slavery that we are experiencing within our Organizations of higher learning, and as the working class of this, our great Republic. In going forward Comrades, we cannot and must not forget the words of Malcolm X when he reminds us that we are 'trapped, double trapped, and triple trapped' by overwhelming odds. The only way to sure victory and to climb out of this sticky vichyssoise; is to strengthen our solidarity, to re-

group, to remain intact, to forge new frontiers and to deliver liberation to our constituent. Our Organization is bigger than any one individual and collective ownership of our duties to our membership is paramount. No it will not be easy, it will not be immediate – yet is shall not be tantamount to the 'tranquillizing drug of gradualism'. It will take all of our effort, and we must put aside grievances and focus on the work at hand. We are Rhodes University SASCO, we are alive, we are ready to assume the challenges that face us, and we shall overcome! Thank you in advance for your sustained and re-invigorated support for our movement, let us continue with our recruitment drives and not allow the winds of decent to threaten the gains that our Organization has made. Amandla! Junior Bata CHAIRPERSON SASCO RHODES UNIVERSITY