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UFS student leader Martin Nyaka elected to national SAUS leadership role

08 September 2025 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Lunga Luthuli

Martin Nyaka, Secretary General of the 2024-2025 Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) and Policy and Transformation Officer (CSRC) on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS), has been elected as Second Deputy Secretary General (DSG) of the South African Union of Students (SAUS).

Nyaka was elected during the first leg of the SAUS conference, held in Gqeberha from 10-13 July 2025. His election is historic, as this is the first time the union has appointed a second DSG. In his new role, he joins the National Executive Council (NEC) alongside the SAUS President, Deputy President, Secretary General, Treasurer-General, and the First DSG.

“It is a great honour for me to have represented the University of the Free State at this important platform, and I remain deeply grateful for the support and assistance I received from the institution throughout this journey,” said Nyaka. He will serve in this role until the next election in 2028.

Anticipated impact

Nyaka explained that his decision to stand for election was influenced by challenges he and his SRC colleagues encountered when addressing certain student-related issues. He noted that some concerns, such as those linked with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), can only be resolved at a national level.

“This position places us in a better position to assist students and to ensure that our students are funded,” he said.

In addition to his role as Second DSG, Nyaka also chairs the SAUS Monitoring and Evaluation portfolio, which oversees several sub-committees within the organisation.

Lessons from leadership

As his SRC term draws to a close, Nyaka reflected on the lessons he will carry into this new role.

“Previously, as student leaders our mindset was very radical, and if ever things would not go our way, we would take to the streets,” he explained. “However, over this last term, the SRC resolved matters and reached agreements with management without protest. An important lesson I take with me is that radicalism is not always the answer. In an organisation like SAUS, we need to sit down and have discussions with stakeholders when there is a deadlock.”

Nyaka emphasised that what excites him most about the opportunity is the chance to work alongside student-leaders from across the country who are equally committed to making a meaningful impact.

News Archive

State-of-the-art audio-visual studio up and running at UFS

2015-11-25

The state-of-the-art audio-visual studio that was unveiled in the beginning of this year reaped its first crop during a historic moment. On Wednesday 28 October 2015, the eight pilot students in the Postgraduate Programme in Film and Visual Media, which was launched at the beginning of this year, had their first big screen experience. Eight films were premiered in one night at the University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus.

An intimate movie theatre was brimming with friends and family of the students, their lecturers, and judges who doubled as moderators. This was no ordinary motion picture viewing. The apprentice filmmakers’ productions were undergoing formal external examination.

Judge by a legend

Katinka Heyns critiqued the student’s final products. Heyns is a renowned filmmaker, actress, director, producer, and founder of the production company, Sonneblom Films. She has numerous awards to her name, including the Career Contribution and Innovation Award, Legendary Award for Woman in Film and Television, and Medal of Honour for Paljas, which were presented by the Absa Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), International Crystal Award, and South African Academy for Science and Arts, respectively.

Johanet Kriel and Chris Vorster from the film school also assisted as moderators.

The cinema exam

Each student had 20 minutes to provide a synopsis for the viewers, and screen the movie. At the end, The Secret of the Golden Flower, written and directed by Rudiker Janse van Rensburg, and The Nexus Effect, written and directed by Gawie Myburgh were judged the best movies “Both films had had clear and creative story lines, a solid structure, and quality editing,” said Chris Vorster.

Despite technical teething problems, all the students showed a great deal of talent and passion for filmmaking. “Given the time constraints and technical challenges, I’m very relieved that we actually got films on screen. They all impressed me with their creativity. Mission accomplished,” added Vorster.

The films

• The Blood of Barbara (Yvonne Allwright)
• Diary of an Oreo (Nonsindiso Qwabe)
• GeFop! (Hendrik Cronje)
• The Nexus Effect (Gawie Myburgh)
• The Secret of the Golden Flower (Rudiker Janse van Rensburg)
• Well ain’t that a Coinkydink?! (Rethabile Radebe)
• What Lurks in the Dark…(Rese Moore)

(Photo caption: Front row from left: Nonsindiso Qwabe, Suné van Heerden, Theresa Moore, Gawie Myburgh. Middle row: Rudiker Janse van Rensburg, Hendrik Cronjé, Yvonne Allwright, and Rethabile Radebe. Back: lecturer: Chris Vorster.)

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