Students for Law and Social Justice
Coordinated by students across South Africa
www.slsj.org
Dear Branch Executive Committees
As you are aware, seminar is the biggest event on our calendar. Everyone looks forward to
this historical event and alot of hard work goes into it as does alot of hard work go into the
various activities you conduct throughout the year, which we applaud you for.
We are aware that every year our membership database grows and so does the demand to
attend seminar which is always an issue for the seminar committee. Although we try to have
as many delegates at seminar as possible, funds do not make it possible to allow all members
to attend and therefore the NEC were forced to put a policy in place to address the Seminar
issue which was raised with us.
Traditionally every branch is given a certain number of slots which is almost the same for all
branches but which may vary depending on the location of seminar and transport costs. This
year that system is changing and a new policy is being introduced since that system was
abused and exploited by some branches in the past. The new system is to the benefit of all as
in the past branches would be unproductive (BEC’s) yet we saw BEC members still being
able to claim seminar seats.
The new seminar incentive plan does the following. It gives all the recognised branches (with
special consideration for those Institutes who are trying to establish branches) a minimum of
5 guaranteed seats to attend seminar. Thos seats cannot be taken away from any branch
however those seats will not be able to be taken by BEC members. Therefore those 5 seats
are reserved for the membership only. If a BEC is unable to perform during their term then
the NEC will determine which 5 members the seats go to as applications will be made
directly to the NEC for that branch and not the unproductive BEC.
The above is the extremist of measures that will be taken and we hope that we would never
have to resort to the above. Now the initiative works in this way. As is outlined in this mail,
every branch is required to fulfil certain reporting goals for the year. The basic idea is that the
more active the Branch and the BEC is, the more seats they get at seminar. Via the reporting
and other methods that the NEC will be using we will be deciding which branches are most
active and contribute most to the organisation. Based on a proportionate ratio of activeness
and contribution, branch seats at seminar will increase, hopefully enough to allow BEC as
well as the additional 5 members to attend. However if a branch is only active in certain areas
which allows them only a few seats extra then those on the BEC responsible for that activity
will be able to attend together with extra members as directed by the NEC. Chairs and Gen
Secs will be the last to qualify to attend Seminar as Branches rely heavily on their positions
and how seriously they take their portfolios; therefore failure of branches becomes their
responsibility.
So for example a branch that does nothing all year round will be able to send 5 members to
seminar of which the NEC will select through the application and the entire BEC is excluded.
However an extremely active branch could be given 25 seats and the entire BEC of 6 people
___________________________________________________________________________________
·
Students for Law and Social Justice (SLSJ) is a South African students organization dedicated to
protecting human rights, preventing discrimination and promoting social justice and the rule of law. It
is a society formed in partnership between students of the various universities of South Africa and it is
within SLSJ that we aim to transform legal education and access to justice.
can attend and the other 19 will go to members that they select. A not so active branch who
only holds 2 projects, whose POA said 10 projects, will get maybe 9 seats of which 7 will go
to members and 2 will go to the BEC members responsible for those projects.
The number of projects does always determine how active a branch is as we understand some
projects are more demanding as others but a general standard will be applied to all therefore
comprehensive reporting is required and is in your best interest so that we know what is
going on and can make fair decisions.
As you are aware the National Survey is critical to who we are and what we do. It is handed
out at seminar each year and delegates are requested to fill it out. This year the survey is
electronic and is done online. The second part of the initiative is that every member who
applies to attend Seminar and who does attend Seminar must have completed the survey and
that must be documented and proof must exist. Therefore we ensure that atleast 300 people
have completed the survey, so everyone at Seminar would have done it before and it can be
discussed at seminar. However it must be made clear that even before an application to attend
seminar is made the survey must have been completed by the applicant therefore ensuring all
potential delegates have completed the survey as well. It is also compulsory for BEC
members to complete the survey as soon as it is released as it is part of the duties of the
leadership to uphold and contribute to our goals.
Lastly on a more pleasant note, this year branches will not only be given an opportunity to
report on their activities , which i can assure you will happen, but also the NEC will be
making special awards to branches, BEC’s and individuals who have done extraordinary
work in certain categories. We realise that some of you work extra hard and we think that
recognition is important therefore you should also keep an eye out for members who you
think may deserve special recognition. Therefore we incentivise people to do more and better
and that even includes you, the leadership.
I hope the above is clear and you understand why we have taken this decision after much
debate (heated debates) and consideration. We feel that no one should have a sense of
entitlement over SLSJ especially not the leadership therefore we need to earn what we have
and the opportunities we are given, not just as leaders but as people who believe in social
justice; which is most often a selfless cause.
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Tel: Nikhiel Deeplal +27 76 924 7592· Web: www.slsj.org.za
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Tel: Nikhiel Deeplal +27 76 924 7592· Web: www.slsj.org.za