UL student elections: SASCO leading EFFSC
With over 14 000 votes counted, SASCO leads EFFSC in the UL SRC elections, with final verified results still pending.
LIMPOPO – The mood at the University of Limpopo electrified on Monday night after preliminary results showed the South African Student Congress (SASCO) breaking the EFF Students’ Command’s (EFFSC) grip on the Student Representative Council (SRC), effectively giving the ANC’s student chapter the presidential seat for the first time in four years.
According to preliminary results released by Kwano’s Services and Developments, SASCO is leading with 6 756 votes against EFFSC’s 6 031 votes out of 14 897 total votes cast.
The gap is just 725 votes, but it is enough to put SASCO ahead for the first time in four years.
EFFSC entered the election as the ruling structure after winning three consecutive terms. Before that, SASCO controlled the student parliament.
Faculty-by-faculty breakdown
The faculty results confirm a split, two-way contest:
| Faculty | SASCO | EFFSC |
|---|---|---|
| Health Sciences | 709 | 237 |
| Science and Agriculture | 2 506 | 1 720 |
| Humanities | 1 986 | 2 243 |
| Management and Law | 1 555 | 1 831 |
SASCO won Health Sciences and made a historic gain in Science and Agriculture with 2 506 votes to 1 720 – a faculty SASCO has not won in 10 years.
EFFSC retained its strongholds in Humanities with 2 243 votes to 1 986 and Management and Law with 1 831 votes to 1 555.
SCO, ActionSA and YGSA trailed in all faculties.
Seat projection
Based on the preliminary count, SASCO would secure eight seats in the SRC, EFFSC seven seats and the Student Christian Organisation two seats.
What’s driving SASCO’s comeback
Political analyst Zacharia Moabelo said SASCO’s comeback was driven by two years of aggressive campaigning and the appointment of former EFF provincial chairperson Jossey Buthane as campaign manager for ANC.
Buthane’s inside knowledge of EFF structures and increased resources helped SASCO lure students, especially with what seemed to have been sufficient resources allocated for the campaign period well above the EFFSC, on campus, Moabelo said.
Incoming SRC President Nare Magwai told supporters after the announcement that SASCO will deliver on its promises.
Voter turnout
The university said voting for the 2026/27 SRC elections closed at midnight on Monday, September 7, through an electronic voting system.
The results remain preliminary and subject to audit and verification. Under Section 31(1) of the UL SRC Constitution, at least 25% of registered students must vote for results to be valid.
With over 17 000 students registered for 2026, the turnout of 14 897 is well above the threshold.
Final verified results are expected from Kwano’s soon.
