30 August 2025
The South African Union of Students (SAUS) convened its 9th National Elective
Congress in two folds; firstly, at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) from the 10th to the 13th of July 2025 and reconvened again at Boontjieskraal Incubation & Conference, Kimberly, Northern Cape from the 22nd to the 23rd of August 2025
The conference was convened under the theme “Confronting the suppression of student activism and advancing transformative student governance in institutions of higher learning”.
The congress was convened under a difficult period for the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector marred with various challenges such as the suppression of student activism in universities across the country; victimisation of student leaders; rising student historical debts; the defunding of students by NSFAS and the Gender Based Violence scourge which is ravaging our universities across all campuses in South Africa amongst others.
The conference tackled the most pressing material conditions affecting students in institutions of higher learning, these conditions range from a lack of a sustainable funding model, student historical debt, and the accommodation crisis. Conference
resolved on proposing innovative and sustainable models to ensure financial and residential access is not a barrier to success. It proposed comprehensive reforms to the funding model and debt crisis such as:
- Redesigning NSFAS for sustainability and reliability, with a strengthened portal and
- communication system.
- Developing a sustainable funding scheme for the “missing middle students,” postgraduates, and N+ students.
- Actively campaigning for the government to clear all student historical student debt, starting with the deceased students and unemployed graduates.
- Abolishing application fees at all institutions.
- Engaging the Higher Education Authority to implement a fixed, multi-year fee increase model to replace volatile annual increments.
The 9th elective conference resolved that a working paper on the role of Artificial Intelligence (Al) in strengthening and broadening academic and administrative support for students across the higher education sector must be developed.
A clear roadmap must be developed for the fundamental revision of the national student funding model, exploring sustainable funding sources beyond current allocations to ensure its long-term viability and an increase in funding more students across the country.
Conference resolved to initiate a concerted process of lobbying and campaigning for the comprehensive review and amendment of the Higher Education Act and the NSFAS Act to align them with the transformative agenda of the student movement. Conference further resolved that the NEC must investigate to ascertain whether all institutions have fit-for-purpose Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) policies and report on their implementation efficacy, it must investigate and propose minimum standards and protocols for the appointment and conduct of private/institutional security personnel on campuses specifically in relation to handling GBVF cases and student protests.
Conference further resolved that a solution for students who applied during the tvet cycle must be urgently found just so we can quickly counter a drastic increase in student debt and student dropouts come 2026.
In closing, the congress, as mandated by the constitution of the Union, also elected the 9th National Executive Committee as led by:
President: Siyabonga Moses Nkambako (UKZN)
Deputy President: Mcntosh Khasembe (UWC)
Secretary General: Nhlonipho Nxumalo (WITS)
1st Deputy Secretary General: Jemina Mokoena (CUT)
2nd Deputy Secretary General: Martin Mnyaka (UFS)
Treasurer General: Nkosinathi Mabilane (UNISA)
Additionals:
- Thato Masekoa (SMU)
- Palesa Moleshiwa (UJ)
- Billy Molatane (UJ)
- Sinovuyo Gantsho (UWC)
- Nombulelo Chiya (WITS)
- Buhle Mchunu (NMU)
- Kamogelo Zwane (NWU)
- Olive Vilakazi (UMP)
- Mhlengi Ngubo (MUT)
- Olifant Nonofo (SPU)
- Aphelele Khalakahla (UFH)
- Vusi Mokoena (UNIVEN)
- Tshepiso Zungu (CUT)
- Balungile Madikizela (WSU)
- Lungelo Bandile Mnguni (CPUT)
- Gerswin van Niekerk (SPU)
- Wisani Hlungwani (TUT)
- Solomzi Zoleka (DUT)
- Azotha Ntanzi (UKZN)
- Nomfundo Mbatha (UNISA)
This NEC emerges as the collective voice of students across our country, ready to defend the right to activism, deepen democratic participation, and advance a transformative vision for higher education as guided by the theme of Congress.
The first NEC meeting of the South African Union of Students further appointed the following names to office barriers:
International relastions: Nomfundo Mbatha
Spokesperson: Thato Masekoa
National Organiser: Olive Vilakazi
The newly elected NEC thanks the outgone 8th NEC and wish them all the best with their future endeavours. This newly elected NEC also takes this opportune moment to thank all students across all 26 universities as represented by their SRCs in the union; we also thank them for entrusting us with this important responsibility to be their voice in the sector and we commit to be robust and never be apologetic when it comes to raising student issues sharply.
Issued by the South African Union of Students:
SAUS President: Siyabonga Moses Nkambako
SAUS Secretary General: Nhlonipho Nxumalo
For Media Inquiries contact:
SAUS Spokesperson
Thato Masekoa
(+27)79 129 5948