THE IFP-ALIGNED SA Democratic Students Movement (Sadesmo) at the University of Zululand (UniZul) has allegedly been disqualified from contesting this year's student representative council elections.

This after Sadesmo allegedly failed to meet the deadline to submit its candidate list for the elections.

Now the ANC-aligned SA Student Congress (Sasco) fears that this could lead to violence. Sadesmo has won four of the last five SRC elections.

Rumour has it Sadesmo supporters are threatening violence, demanding that they be allowed to contest next week's election.

UniZul spokesperson Dante Mashile yesterday confirmed that Sadesmo had "failed to meet the deadline to submit their list of candidates to contest this year's elections.

"I can confirm that Sadesmo submitted their candidate list late and had therefore been disqualified," he said.

Sasco general secretary at UniZul Themba Mkhize said because of these fears and the fact that the university has a track record of political intolerance, they had asked Police Commissioner Bheki Cele to deploy police on campus.

Sadesmo has poured cold water on the allegations.

SRC president Andile Biyela said: "We submitted our candidate list on time. We will definitely take part in the elections. Allegations that we have been disqualified are not true.

"As far as we know we made the deadline and our list was accepted. Should the IEC refuse us the opportunity to contest the elections, we will fight for our place in the elections."