One of the main events in second semester is the election of student leaders across all student structures at the University of Pretoria (UP), including the Student Representative Council (SRC), Faculty Houses, House Committees, and student societies. These elections provide students with an opportunity to develop their leadership skills and make a meaningful impact on campus. To support the 2026 SRC elections and encourage participation, the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) launched the “Citizen Mode: ON” campaign with the slogan, “Be the leader you wish to see at UP”. This is meant to inspire students to run for SRC, the university’s primary student leadership structure.
The ability to lead is a very important skill to have and can determine the kind of opportunities one gets, which is why students are encouraged to run for structures at UP and improve their leadership skills. Being part of an executive committee – whether it is for the SRC, a Faculty House, or a student society – gives you great exposure to what you are capable of and what you can improve upon in terms of leading people. Dr Kgadi Mathabathe, Director of the DSA, said, “Do not think of a leadership role at UP as only something that enhances your student experience while you are here. Think of it as a lifelong career investment.”
PDBY spoke with Lusakhanya Hopoyi, the current Marketing and Webmaster EC member for House Humanities. When asked what inspired her to join her Faculty House, she said, “My passion [is] for making a meaningful contribution to the student experience within the Faculty of Humanities. I wanted to be part of a team that advocates for students and ensures that Humanities students feel represented and valued.” She also mentioned that her journey in student leadership has been both rewarding and challenging.
Through FLY@UP and the Student Governance and Leadership Unit, the DSA runs on-campus campaigns promoting leadership opportunities, including Student Societies Day, while ensuring that students understand the support available when they take on these roles. It also collaborates with faculties and TuksRes to extend this awareness, and during Welcome Day, the SRC encourages first-year students and their parents to recognise the value of student leadership.
Every SRC member has a dedicated staff mentor for the duration of their term, and other student leaders are supported by guardians or specific staff who walk alongside them. The Student Governance and Leadership Unit runs ongoing leadership training and retreats throughout the year. Mental health support and debriefings are readily available through the Student Counselling Unit, and every faculty has an academic success coach (ASC) who works directly with leaders to keep their studies on track. Hopoyi further shared, “Having to balance academics with leadership responsibilities has required discipline and good time management.” It is a layered system because juggling leadership and academic pressure is not a challenge any one intervention can solve on its own.
Some students question if student leaders represent the interests of ordinary students. Njongo Nana, a BSc Geology student, said, “I believe that they do, as I’ve seen them campaign for students’ interests and against reckless students that endangered others.” Employers today are no longer looking only at the degree on your certificate. They are also looking at soft skills, and some of the best ways to build those are through hands-on experiences like leadership.
Leadership is worth more than you think. Since the minimum requirement to access and retain a leadership position at UP is a 60% GPA, maybe you should consider running as well in the future.
Visual: Mila Jordaan
