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From UFS to fame: UFS alumnus joins Binnelanders Season 15

05 June 2025 | Story Onthatile Tikoe | Photo Supplied

Logan James — Logan W. James, UFS alumnus and breakout star of Binnelanders Season 15, proudly waves the Kovsie flag as he steps into his first national television role.

University of the Free State (UFS) alumnus Logan W James made his national television debut in Season 15 of kykNET’s long-running medical drama, Binnelanders. Streaming on Showmax from 4 June 2025, the latest season introduces Logan in a role that delivers high drama, high energy, and a fresh wave of talent rooted in the Free State.

From campus to camera

Born and bred in Bloemfontein, Logan’s rise from student theatre to the small screen is a story stitched together by grit, passion, and a deep love for performance. A former learner of Grey College and a proud Kovsie, Logan honed his craft at the University of the Free State, where he quickly became known for his magnetic stage presence and commitment to his roles.

From standout performances in Everyman, How to Wuzz, and Run for Your Wife to unforgettable moments during UFS’s annual Africa Day showcases, Logan carved out a name for himself as a rising star on campus – one performance at a time.

A dream years in the making

Now based in Johannesburg, Logan is stepping into a new kind of spotlight. He plays Le Roux Snyman - a thrill-seeking, motocross-riding character with a bold facade and hidden depths.

“Le Roux is full of energy and contradictions,” Logan says. “He lives for extreme sports and adrenaline, but there’s a much softer, more vulnerable side he doesn’t often show. What excites me is exploring both boldness and fragility in the same breath - it’s something I’ve never quite done before.”

Though this may be Logan’s TV debut, stepping onto the Binnelanders set felt strangely familiar.

“I used to watch Binnelanders at my grandmother’s house,” he recalls. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d one day be part of the cast. It feels like a full-circle moment - a dream realised. The journey here wasn’t straightforward, but seeing it come to life like this is an incredible blessing.”

The foundation of theatre

Logan credits his Bloemfontein theatre roots as the foundation of his acting journey. “Theatre taught me discipline, presence, and heart,” he says. “On stage, there are no second takes. You have to show up, fully and honestly, every time. That kind of intensity trains you not as a performer, but as a professional.

These lessons continue to shape how he approaches his work today. “Kindness and professionalism – those are the two things I carry into every production,” he adds.

Big city, bigger lessons

The move from Bloem’s close-knit creative community to the bustling entertainment industry in Johannesburg came with new challenges – and new lessons.

“In Joburg, you quickly realise just how much talent is out there,” Logan says. “It forced me to embrace what makes me unique, rather than compare myself to others. Real passion – not the pursuit of fame – is what carries you through the tough times. If you’re chasing the art, not the spotlight, you’ll find purpose, even when things get hard.”

A voice for regional talent

Logan’s journey is not just a personal triumph – it’s also a win for regional talent. As a Free State-born actor breaking into the national scene, he is part of a growing wave of creatives proving that national recognition is possible from anywhere.

“To go from student theatre to national TV is a leap that’s both terrifying and thrilling,” Logan reflects. “But it's proof that consistent hard work, staying true to your craft, and trusting the process can open doors you once only dreamed of.”

Ready for the spotlight

With his first episode having aired on 4 June, audiences were treated to a performance that was rich with energy and layered with emotion.

“There’s a lot of growth ahead - for Le Roux and for me,” Logan shares. “I’m looking forward to every moment of it. I can’t wait for South Africa to meet him.”

News Archive

Student leaders 2012/13 announced

2012-08-30

Ready for the task - Sabelo Khumalo, SRC President of the Qwaqwa Campus and William Clayton, SRC President of the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Johan Roux
31 August 2012

The 2012/13 elections for the Student Representative Councils (SRC) of the University of the Free State were completed successfully and show meaningful support for the changes in student governance adopted by students across campuses over the past two years.

The SRC elections at the Qwaqwa Campus were completed on 23 August 2012, while the elections at our Bloemfontein Campus took place on 27 and 28 August 2012.

The SRC Elections at our Bloemfontein Campus showed a voter turnout of 4516 votes (30.8%), with the elections at the Qwaqwa Campuses showing 1753 votes (46%) – both campuses reached the required quorums and the IEA (Bloemfontein Campus) and IEC (Qwaqwa Campus) declared the elections free and fair and announced the results as a true reflection of the will of the student bodies at the campuses.

The full SRC at Bloemfontein Campus now consists of 62% black and 38% white, and 53% female and 47% male members.

In the Qwaqwa elections, SADESMO achieved 46, 38% of the vote, with SASCO, PASMA and NASMO each achieving 30,23% and 8,39% and 14,26%, respectively.

The successful elections at Bloemfontein Campus show that the detailed transformation of student governance introduced by students at the Campus in 2010 and adopted by the university in 2011, succeeded in mobilizing greater participation of students in governance and representation. These changes in the main included a shift to independent candidacy for elective portfolios (12 seats) and organizational candidacy in nine sub-councils that holds ex officio seats on the SRC. Changes also included the establishment of student representative seats in faculty governance and management forums and the adoption of a reviewed Central SRC Constitution. Ex officio seats hold full and equal constitutional authority in the SRC.

Students at Qwaqwa Campus introduced additional portfolios to its SRC, including ex-officio seats for academic affairs, arts and culture, commuter students, Rag Community Service, religious affairs, residences and sports.

A joint sitting of the Campus SRCs will establish the Central SRC 2012/13 on 9 September 2012.

As a further opportunity for participation in and the development of student governance and representation, the current Central SRC herewith also announces its recent adoption of a student governance advisory programme, namely the UFS Student Elders Council (SEC).

The SEC is established as a combined programme between the Central SRC and the Dean of Student Affairs and will consist of selected senior student leaders from all campuses who completed their terms of office, apply and are appointed to the Elders Council by the Central SRC.

The Council will serve as an advisory structure to the Central SRC and other student structures in support of the continuous development of student governance and representation of the student body at the university.

The SEC will advise the Central SRC to be constituted following the constitution of the respective Campus SRCs.

The SRC members at the Bloemfontein Campus are:

President: Mr William Clayton

Vice-President: Mr Bonolo Thebe

Secretary: Ms Karis-Robin Topkin

Treasurer: Mr Pieter Coetzee

Arts & Culture: Ms Chanmari Erasmus

Accessibility & Student Support: Ms Gene McCaskill

First-generation Students: Ms Tanya Calitz

Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Ms Nokuthula Sithole

Media, Marketing & Liaison: Ms Neo Chere

Sport: Mr Tshepo Moloi

Student Development & Environmental Affairs: Ms Thabisile Mgadi

Transformation: Ms Koketso Mofokeng

Dialogue & Ex officio: Associations Council: Mr Anesu Ruswa

Academic Affairs & Ex officio: Academic Affairs Council: Ms Nombuso Ndlovu

Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Residences Council: Mr Johann Steyn

City Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Commuter Council: Mr Michael van Niekerk

Postgraduate Affairs & Ex officio: Postgraduate Council: Mr Fadeyi Akinsuyi

International Affairs & Ex officio: International Council: Ms Tumelo Moreri

Student Media Affairs & Ex officio: Media Council: Mr Jamal-Dean Grootboom

RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Fundraising Council: Mr Jaco Faul

RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Community Service Council: Ms Keneue Mahloana

The SRC members at the Qwaqwa Campus are:

President General: Mr S Khumalo

Deputy President: Mr P T Lenka

Secretary General: Mr D Khethang

Treasurer General: Mr S I Sithole

Media & Publicity: Mr S N Ntombela

Politics & Transformation: Tbc

Student Development & Evironmental Affairs: Tbc Academic Affairs: Mr T Molawude

Arts & Cultural Affairs: Mr T Nkohli

Off-Campus Students: Mr B Mtshali

RAG, Community Service & Dialogue: Ms S F Mlotya

Religious Affairs: Ms D C Khau

Residence & Catering Affairs: Ms Z Mzolo

Sports Council: Mr S Mngomezulu

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