With many challenges within higher education and the student community, the new SRC chairperson, Masilo Silokazi is ready to lead the SRC team and make an impact at Stellenbosch University (SU). She spoke to the communication officer at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences about her new role.
Tell us about yourself. What are you passionate about?
I’m Masilo Silokazi and my friends call me Masi. People often ask me about the meaning of my name. It means African princess. My parents are Zulu and I’m from Johannesburg. I love music and playing guitar, but I have three main passions, ie. performance, content creation, and leadership development.
What are you studying and why did you choose SU?
Throughout high school, I always loved drama, but I was also a student activist with an interest in law. I applied to different universities, and it wasn’t until I attended an information evening for prospective students that I decided to become a BA student at SU. There, I was inspired by one of the graduates who shared her experience with us. Today, I’m studying BA Honours in Drama and Theatre Studies.
Apart from being the SRC chairperson, have you had any other leadership roles?
Yes, I’ve always been involved with leadership. At SU, I started by getting involved with the First Years Committee. As a mentor during the COVID-19 lockdown, I was committed to supporting my mentees and staying engaged with them online. Later, I became the head mentor for Venustia and I also participated in the debating executive team.
How do you feel about being the SRC chairperson and what has it been like so far?
It’s a lot of mixed emotions. My experience has been overwhelming and rewarding. There’s the administrative side where I’m sitting on institutional committees and working with a team of 24 SRC members. It can be overwhelming because we’re all working hard while we also have our social lives and other responsibilities. However, it is incredibly rewarding to see their goals achieved and play a part in fostering these developments. Overall, when it comes to the end of the term, I know it will be worth it to say that I contributed to SU and that I’m happy with that contribution.
Do you have any role models and how has this influenced your leadership style?
I don’t have one role model but I try to emulate certain qualities that I admire in people. In my first year, I had a good mentor who encouraged me to step into leadership. I saw my mentor’s ability to create a warm and welcoming environment for others and I aspired to do the same. I admired the head mentor as well, for her ability to connect with people and have a conversation with anyone.
I developed a good relationship with the head mentor and together, we started an initiative called SWAN Solidarity. During the lockdown, so many people were isolated and didn’t have any support. People increasingly struggled with issues relating to Black Lives Matter, Gender-Based Violence, and street violence. To show our solidarity, we started SWAN Solidarity.
In terms of my leadership style, I thrive in conditions where it is a collaborative space. I enjoy sitting down with my team, openly discussing our plans, and then assigning roles to each of us so that we can act effectively.
What are your priorities for the SRC this year?
In the SRC team, some people have brilliant ideas on how they see SU transforming. In my capacity as chairperson, I’d like to assist and uplift them to achieve that. I’m passionate about transformation and inclusivity. I worry about queer representation in the student community. We have pride initiatives, but some spaces don’t have an interest in engaging in this conversation. It is not only about the queer community but also issues around race, class, and disability. I want to make sure that we’re having productive conversations about this.
What are some of the challenges you’d like to focus on for SU?
There are so many challenges in higher education but the most topical one right now is the NSFAS situation. The cap on accommodation is a huge crisis and especially in the Stellenbosch context. There’s not enough student accommodation or affordable accommodation. I’d like to be optimistic and say that we can do something to help the situation. There is a task team that includes SRC members, and they are working to figure out how we can address this issue.
Additionally, I would like to highlight the opportunities that are available for students. I like micro-credentialing and there are leadership programmes and workshops that students can get involved with, such as the leadership programme offered by SLEAK. Many students may not be aware of these opportunities. I think it’s important to find ways to bolster this and create hype and excitement about it.