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Tumisang Motsoane, a student in the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS), has achieved a significant milestone by securing the position as a Student Assessor in the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the University Sports South Africa (USSA). The prestigious election, held in Cape Town on 7 October 2023, adds to Motsoane’s growing list of leadership roles. Currently serving as SRC Sports on the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS and Chairperson of the Sports Council at the UFS, Motsoane embraces this new responsibility with gratitude and commitment.

Motsoane’s role within the NEC

On his election into the NEC Motsoane remarked, ‘’Becoming part of the NEC means that I get to represent a cohort of student-athletes nationally. Therefore, my responsibility is to ensure their exposure and competitive needs are well taken care of and contribute to student development through sports.” In addition, as a representative of student-athletes both at the UFS and across the country, Motsoane is dedicated to aligning USSA with the overarching goals of student success, exceptional student well-being, student development and student graduation.

Nevertheless, Motsoane’s role within the National Executive Committee (NEC) goes beyond these essential tasks. The NEC, responsible for coordinating all USSA's activities at the national and international levels, collaborates closely with National University Sports Associations (NUSAs) covering various sporting codes within the organisation. His role is to plan, organise, administer, and promote different sporting codes.  Furthermore, his role entails facilitating and influencing sports development by promoting broad student participation and elevating elite performers to encourage student exposure, thereby bridging the gap between amateur and professional sports.

The role of the USSA

University Sports South Africa (USSA) serves as the governing body for higher education sports in South Africa. USSA holds membership in regulatory bodies such as the Federation of African Union Sports (FASU) and the International University Sports Federation (FISU). These affiliations provide valuable exposure to student-athletes, preparing them for potential careers in professional sports. Motsoane emphasises that “USSA is an organisation committed to nurturing student-athletes, focusing on closing the gap between amateur and professional sports by promoting sports development in institutions of higher learning and facilitating the involvement of student-athletes in various sporting codes.”

Although Motsoane’s election to the NEC is recent, he brings forth a vision aimed at improving the organisation. His mission as an executive member includes ensuring that “student-athletes are provided with comprehensive support and receive the recognition they deserve.’’