[SRC PRESIDENT ADDRESS]: Welcome home, you made it

Greetings VC, DVCs, Registrar, CFO, Deans, Academic and support staff, SRC alumni, parents, guardians and SRC and most importantly, you, all the first-time entry students.

Welcome home. Before anything else, take a breath. You made it. Whether you are feeling excited, overwhelmed, or still trying to understand where you are, I want you to know this: you are exactly where you are meant to be. We have been eagerly awaiting your arrival because we know you will have an impact that no other generation has brought to Rhodes University. Your presence here matters.

On behalf of the Student Representative Council, I extend a heartfelt welcome to Rhodes University. This institution has stood for 122 years as a space of academic excellence, transformative leadership, and courageous thought. Rhodes University is not simply a place of study; it is a living community, a tradition of questioning, and a home for those brave enough to grow. Today, you become part of that story.

My name is Thalethu Magidela, and I have the honour of serving as your SRC President. I was born in the spirited town of Mthatha here in the Eastern Cape, a place shaped by people who are relentless in their pursuit of something better. I am a third-year Bachelor of Science student, and just a few years ago, I was sitting exactly where you are now.

When I arrived at Rhodes, I felt nervous and overwhelmed by the weight of expectation. I felt like I had been dropped into the deep end, unsure if I could swim. Yet alongside that anxiety, I carried hope — carefully, almost fearfully — knowing that I did not come here to fail or to take a back seat. There was so much to accomplish, even if I didn’t yet know how.

My journey here was far from straightforward. My offer was finalised just two days before registration, while I was in Gauteng. I remember packing in a rush, my heart pounding, not fully knowing where I was going or what awaited me. I arrived in Makhanda after a long, exhausting drive from the East London airport with my grandmother, who had travelled all the way from Mthatha to ensure I got here. Registration was overwhelming. I walked endlessly between Barratt and the Student Bureau, trying to finalise my registration while my NSFAS status was still under evaluation. It was complex, uncertain, and emotionally draining.

But what stayed with me most was the humanity. One of the student ushers, Thato, kept checking on me, offering reassurance and kindness in moments when I felt invisible and needed it most. And in that moment, I learned something that has stayed with me ever since: belonging often begins with one person choosing to care.

When I was assigned a room in Dingemans House and walked in for the first time, I was met with singing, joy, and warmth. Right there, I knew I was home. I formed meaningful friendships, developed a deep sisterhood, and began to understand that Rhodes is more than lecture halls, libraries, and deadlines.
Rhodes University is a place where friendships are formed in corridors, where ideas are shaped during late-night conversations, and where growth happens slowly, sometimes quietly, but always meaningfully. In time, this campus will become familiar. The paths will feel less intimidating. And the people around you will begin to feel like home.

It is okay if you feel unsure right now. Many of us have asked the same questions you may be asking yourself: Do I belong here? Will I cope? Will I find my place? The answer is yes, not because you are perfect or prepared, but because you are willing to learn, to grow, and to try.

You are entering an institution made up of diverse academic homes. Rhodes University has 6 faculties. Across these faculties, you will find academics who are leaders in their fields nationally and internationally. Although they are leaders in their respective fields, they are intentional about your success. They practice an open-door policy and are willing to listen, guide, challenge, and support you.

Use that. Ask questions. Seek help early. You are not expected to walk this journey alone.
Rhodes is a space that encourages leadership rooted in service. That belief is what led me to run for Head Student in my second year, and eventually to serve as your President. Leadership here is not about titles; it begins in everyday choices: how you treat others, how you speak up, and how you refuse to accept injustice as normal. It is about showing up, caring deeply, and acting with integrity.

As the Student Representative Council, we stand alongside you. We are a council of 16 committed student leaders, each responsible for portfolios that serve every aspect of student life: from academics and residences to transformation, wellness, disability support, sport, arts and culture, and community engagement. Our role is not to speak over you, but to amplify your voices, advocate for your needs, and ensure that students remain at the centre of every conversation.

We want to be clear with you: we may not always see eye to eye, and there will be moments of disagreement, and that is part of democracy and growth. But every decision we make as the SRC will be made in the best interests of the student body, because we are for the students, by the students. We are accountable to you, and we will always be there to listen, to act, and to stand with you.

As you begin this chapter, hold tightly onto your why and at its core, that why is education.

You are here to receive an education not only to earn a qualification, but to expand your mind, sharpen your thinking, and equip yourself with the tools to question the world around you. Education is the key that unlocks opportunity. It allows you to move from survival to choice, from limitation to possibility. For many of us, education is not only personal but also generational. It carries the hopes of families, communities, and futures that are counting on you.

There will be moments when lectures feel heavy, when deadlines pile up, and when the pressure becomes overwhelming. In those moments, remember that every class you attend, every assignment you submit, and every exam you write is an investment in your freedom. Education gives you the power to think critically, to challenge injustice, to imagine alternatives, and to build solutions where none existed before.

So when the journey feels demanding, and it will, return to your why. Remember that education can change the trajectory of your life. It can change the story of your family. And ultimately, it can change society itself.

The University offers a wide range of support services from mental health and wellness to disability support, residence life, and equity initiatives that protect dignity and challenge injustice. Asking for help is not a weakness; it is an act of courage.

Some of you are the first in your families to be here. Others are continuing a legacy. All of you are here to create your own footprint.

You are not here by mistake. You are here by merit, courage, and purpose.

Rhodes will shape you, but you will also shape Rhodes. First-time entry students of 2026, welcome to possibility.  Welcome to responsibility. Welcome home.

God Bless You.