SASCO ends EFFSC dominance at University of Limpopo as ANC celebrates SRC victory
POLOKWANE: The African National Congress (ANC) in Limpopo has welcomed the victory of the South African Students Congress (SASCO), under the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), in the 2026/27 University of Limpopo Student Representative Council (SRC) elections.
The elections were held on 7 September 2026, with SASCO emerging ahead of its closest rival, the Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC).
According to the ANC Limpopo, SASCO secured 6,756 votes, finishing 725 votes ahead of the EFFSC.
The result marks a significant shift in student politics at the university, where the EFFSC had established itself as the dominant student organisation in recent years.
The University of Limpopo confirmed that the 2026 SRC elections were conducted electronically, with 25,489 students on the voters’ roll.
The university’s constitution requires at least 25% voter participation for an election to be valid and binding.
University of Limpopo
The ANC Limpopo described the SASCO result as evidence of growing confidence in progressive student leadership and praised students who participated in the elections.
“The ANC is confident that the SRC that will be constituted will use the mandate entrusted to it to serve students with dedication, defend the interests of the student community and contribute towards a better University of Limpopo,” the party said.
EFFSC’s long reign comes to an end
SASCO’s victory represents a major turnaround following several years of EFFSC dominance at Turfloop.
The EFF first broke the PYA’s hold over the university in 2014, when it won 10 SRC seats, compared with five for the PYA and two for the Student Christian Organisation.
At the time, the PYA comprised the ANC Youth League, Young Communist League and SASCO.
The ANC’s provincial leadership has congratulated SASCO, the PYA and the incoming SRC, while also thanking students for exercising their democratic rights.
The outcome is likely to be closely watched beyond the university, as the University of Limpopo has historically been an important political battleground and has produced numerous prominent South African political leaders.
The 2026 result gives the ANC-aligned student movement an opportunity to reclaim influence at one of Limpopo’s most politically significant institutions.
The victory also puts an end to the EFFSC’s reported three-consecutive-term grip on the SRC and places SASCO back at the centre of student governance at Turfloop.
