She decided it in a moment of impulse, but she knew it would work. Like the Springboks and their millions of supporters, she believed.

When captain Siya Kolisi lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy after the Springboks beat the All Blacks 12-11 in the final of the IRB Rugby World Cup in France, Nomvula Chasakara, North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus Student Council chairperson (PCSCC) and her dedicated team had ensured that R100,000 would be allocated to aid struggling students with their registration fees in 2024.

On the day of that epic final, a large television screen was erected in the Amphitheatre on the Potchefstroom Campus, and tickets were sold to students to watch the game.

In total, 2100 seats were available at R20 per ticket and R30 for two tickets. At 19:45, more than an hour before kick-off, there wasn’t an empty seat left.

This happened in collaboration with the office of the vice chancellor, Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, the office of Prof. Daryl Balia, Potchefstroom Campus deputy vice-chancellor, the office of Dr Corrie Rheeder, director of Student Life on the Potchefstroom Campus, and the office of Danie Hefer, manager of the Central Bursary Office, who all contributed to making the magic R100,000 number a reality.

Nomvula and her team raised R33,000, with the latter three offices sponsoring the rest. The Central Bursary Office will distribute the funds raised. This is how it all began.

Photos: Supplied

“Last Monday, the deputy chairperson, the students’ interest and development officer and I decided to go to the Student Life Office to pitch our idea to Dr Corrie Rheeder. We explained that we would like to use the Rugby World Cup final to raise funds, with all the proceeds going to helping students register next year. She said if the registrar approved, we’d have her backing. We then spoke to the registrar, who gave the go-ahead. We then decided to challenge Prof. Tyobeka to match the ticket sales. He said that not only would he join us, he would match the sales as well,” Nomvula explains.

“When Saturday came, we had already sold over 1,200 tickets. That evening, we sold 870 more. The students came in their numbers. It was so exciting that we, as the PCSCC, felt very proud. There were no incidents during the day or event; everyone came Over 2,000 students watched the World Cup finals in the amphitheatre. Prof. Bismark Tyobeka celebrating with Eagi. together to support the Springboks. Prof. Balia was kind enough to sponsor the television screen, and our other expenses ran to about R12,000, so it was a big success. It was an on-the-spot decision, and all involved just came together remarkably.”

The Springboks might have been crowned four-time world champions, but students from the NWU again showed why their culture of care makes winners of us all.