About Us
HISTORY
THE HISTORY OF A UNIFIED STUDENT SPORT MOVEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
Established: 8 December 1992 / Constituted
as SASSU: 16 April 1994 / Re-Constituted as USSA: 19 April 2008
The establishment of the South African Student Sports Union (SASSU)
introduced an exciting new era in student sport at tertiary education
institutions. The significance was that it unified two historical separate
groupings within our society, i.e. students from historical Black and
historical White institutions. It did so in a way that sought to harness
the experience and expertise of both groupings in order to establish a new
tradition, one that reflected the aspirations of all student sports persons
guided by the historical mission of tertiary education institutions, being
centres for the acquisition of life skills and the imparting of knowledge
and research. SASSU was founded within this sector to promote sporting
values and encourage sporting practice in harmony with, and complementary
to, the academic character of tertiary education institutions.
THE UNITY PROCESS
The unity process in sport at South African tertiary institutions started on
27 February 1990 when representatives of the South African Universities
Sports Council (SAUSC) and students of the South African Tertiary
Institutions Sports Council (SATISCO) met at the University of the
Witwatersrand in Johannesburg to investigate the possibility of achieving
unity in universities sport. Numerous meetings followed during which matters
of mutual interest were identified and ways and means were sought to solve
matters of difference in opinion.
Because SATISCO involved tertiary institutions over the broad spectrum of
universities, technikons, colleges of education and even agricultural
colleges, it was nonsensical for the SAUSC to negotiate unity with SATISCO
without involving the Sports Councils of the South African Technikons and
Colleges. This led to the first ever conference on unity in tertiary sport
held at the University of Cape Town on 22 and 23 April 1991 organised by the
then interim SAU/SATISCO Commission with the assistance of the then
Committee of University Principals (CUP).
At this conference, Chaired by Dr Sam Ramsamy, the need was identified to
establish a unified tertiary sports structure which would eventually be
responsible for the co-ordination of all tertiary sport in South Africa. It
was envisaged that this body would act as a consultative and representative
body for South African student sport, liaise with national and international
bodies, and be responsible for the organisation of national tertiary
tournaments and the selection of teams for participation in the activities
of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). This body would
also have the responsibility to address the needs and imbalances of students
in tertiary sport through national and international development projects
and activities.
The Conference recommended the setting up of a Tertiary Sports Conference
Commission (TSCC) consisting of two representatives each from the following
student sport structures:
1. |
South African Tertiary Institutions Sports Council
(SATISCO); |
2. |
South African Tertiary Institutions Sports Association (SATISA); |
3. |
South African Universities Sports Council (SAUSC); |
4. |
South African Technikons Sports Council (SATSC); |
5. |
Sports Council of the SA Teachers' Colleges (SCSATC); |
6. |
South African Inter-Colleges Sports Association (SAICSA). |
The TSCC chaired by Mr John Donald, was given the task of attending to the
general philosophy of tertiary sport, the structure and constitution for a
unified tertiary sports organisation, the sporting needs of students in
tertiary institutions, and addressing the sports imbalances in tertiary
institutions. The Commission further agreed to co-opted Louis Nel, Sports
Secretary of the CUP as General Secretary of the Commission.
The TSCC met three times (8 August; 30 September and 13 November 1991)
during which agreement was reached upon the principles on which unity should
be based. The TSCC also attended to the formation of regions and the
implementation of an acceptable competition and administrative structures
for the proposed umbrella body for tertiary sport. During this time, SATISCO
and SATISA unified to form the South African Tertiary Institutions Sports
Union (SATISU) while SCSATC and SAICSA unified in the South African Colleges
Sports Association (SACSA).
The TSCC completed its work by the end of 1991 with the submission of a
document containing a report on their activities. The Commission recommended
that each tertiary sports structure should nominate three representatives to
serve in an Interim Committee for South African Student Sport (ICSASS) with
the mandate to draft a constitution and finalise unity in order to establish
a unified umbrella structure which would be responsible for the coordination
of sporting activities amongst tertiary institutions.
The year of 1992, was characterised by a series of long debates within the
various tertiary sports structures on the issue of establishing a unified
umbrella student sport structure. On 21 August 1992, the TSCC met for a
fourth time to discuss the report back received on their proposals. All
delegates reported that their respective structures supported the concept of
an umbrella structure for tertiary sport and that their members are
committed to the unity process. The TSCC then handed over to ICSASS to draft
a constitution for a unified student sports movement in South Africa.
ICSASS met three times (23 September; 17 October and 7/8 December 1992)
during which motions for a constitution were thoroughly debated. On 8
December 1992, ICSASS completed its work with the submission of a first
draft constitution for the establishment of the South African Student Sports
Union (SASSU). The Committee also came up with a proposed administrative
structure for such a structure. It further agreed that the delegates
mandated by each tertiary structure, should carry on as the Interim
Committee of SASSU until such time as the first Biennial General Meeting of
SASSU was held. All representatives then signed the draft constitution which
marked the official birth date for the establishment of SASSU. The draft
constitution together with a memorandum regarding the foundation of SASSU,
were then circulated to all tertiary institutions for their comment.
The Interim Committee of the South African Student Sports Union (ICSASSU)
met four times (10/11 March; 30 April; 11 June and 17 September 1993) during
which the Committee discussed feedback received from institutions. ICSASSU
also attended to:
1. |
the establishment of an office and administrative
infrastructure for SASSU; |
2. |
the formulation of a final draft constitution for SASSU which
would serve before a Special General Meeting of all tertiary
institutions; |
3. |
the establishment of contact with and affiliation to the
International University Sport Federation (FISU); |
4. |
the seeking of national and international recognition for SASSU
as the official umbrella body for tertiary sport in South Africa; |
5. |
the establishment of subcommittees; |
6. |
facilitating unity in the various sports codes practised at
tertiary institutions; |
7. |
an emblem and colours. |
On 11 June 1993, ICSASSU completed its work when all the delegates of the
four founder members (SATISU, SAUSC, SATSC and SACSA) agreed upon and
accepted the final draft constitution of SASSU. The delegates in the Interim
Committee further agreed that:
1. |
the final draft constitution would be circulated to
all tertiary institutions for their comment; |
2. |
they would promote this constitution amongst their respective
members; |
3. |
the constitution would serve at a Special General Meeting (SGM)
where all institutions will have the opportunity to debate and adopt
the constitution; |
4. |
the SGM be called for 18 September 1993. |
On 18 September 1993, sports administrators and students representing
tertiary institutions from all over South Africa, assembled in Durban with
the intention to constitute SASSU. This meeting could however not reach
consensus on motions submitted by individual members of SACSA aimed at
changing the proposed structure of student sport as agreed by the TSCC,
ICSASS and ICSASSU in the months and years of negotiations. This led to a
heated debate which eventually ended in a vote of no confidence in the
Interim Committee and the disbanding of ICSASSU.
With an obligation towards FISU and the student sports fraternity in South
Africa, and after broad consultation with various tertiary bodies, the
General Secretary of SASSU requested the founder members of SASSU to
nominate persons to serve on a reconstituted Interim Committee in order to
continue and finalise the unity process in tertiary sport. After a series of
negotiations which also involved the Executive Committees of the CUP and the
Committee of College of Education Rectors of South Africa (CCERSA), the
various founder members came to an agreement that:
1. |
the unity process should continue; |
2. |
the reconstituted Interim Committee should finalise the SASSU
constitution; |
3. |
the previous draft constitution of SASSU be used as a point of
departure; |
4. |
that Prof G J Gerwel, the then Chairperson of the CUP and the
Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape, should chair
the initial meetings of the newly constituted Interim Committee. |
On 8 February 1994, the newly constituted Interim Committee of the SASSU (ICSASSU)
chaired by Prof Gerwel met at the University of Johannesburg (the then Rand
Afrikaans University). At the meeting three main points of difference and/or
concern were identified, i.e. the issue of a student being the president of
SASSU, the composition of the council and the three tiered structure as
favoured by the colleges versus regional structures. The Chairperson however
made it clear that future deliberations had to be done against the
background of national developments in tertiary or higher education which
will have a direct effect on sport at a tertiary level. After another three
meetings which included broad consultation (14 February 1994, 4 March 1994
and 14 March 1994) the Interim Committee finally reached agreement on a
final draft of the SASSU constitution (Draft: 14 March 1994).
On 16 April 1994, at a historic meeting held at the University of Port
Elizabeth chaired by Prof J W Grobbelaar (Chief Director: CUP), the major
role players in tertiary sport unanimously agreed to join forces when
seventy-eight (78) tertiary educational institutions officially constituted
the South African Student Sports Union (SASSU). After four (4) years of
negotiations during which many compromises were made, agreement was finally
reached on the establishment of a united non-racial national umbrella
structure that will represent and protect the sporting interests of all
students at tertiary educational institutions.
SASSU has based its founding principles on a commitment to promote a
peaceful, united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society through the
medium of sport and sporting contact, where all persons are equal, where all
students may compete equally in sporting competition and where the tenets of
affirmative action apply based on the equitable provision and distribution
of sporting facilities. Attention was also given to the fact of system
differentiation in South African tertiary education reflected in the
existence of distinct university, technikon and college sectors.
While the establishment of SASSU marks the start of a new era in South
African tertiary sport, it simultaneously concludes the final chapter in the
long history of old establishment sport structures like the Sports Councils
of the South African Universities, Technikons and Colleges which have made
way for consultative sports forums in order to advise the Committee of
University Principals (CUP), Committee of Technikon Principals (CTP) and the
Committee of College of Education Rectors of South Africa (CCERSA) on
sporting matters of mutual, professional and technical interest.
THE EARLY YEARS
The early years of SASSU was marked with negotiations at various levels with
stakeholders in government, sport and higher education in order to establish
SASSU’s position within the National Sports and Education Framework. By
June 1996, it became clear to SASSU that the Department of Education had
other important priorities and that it would not consider the funding of
students sport. The NEC of the time then recommended that SASSU should be
established within the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA)
with a strong link to the tertiary education sector since SASSU’s
responsibility and clientele is within that sector. SASSU’s patience
eventually paid off and on 28 January 1997, when an agreement was reached
between the Minister of Education, Minister of Sport and Recreation,
Committee of University Principals (CUP), Committee of Technikon Principals
(CTP) and the NEC of SASSU, that SASSU be placed under the care of SRSA who
will take responsibility for the various development and international
projects of SASSU. The CUP and CTP further agreed to continue with their
present financial assistance towards the SASSU administration and to provide
for the salaries and benefits of two (2) staff members, i.e. Secretary
General and Administrative Assistant.
On 27 May 1998, the National Department of Sport and Recreation released the
White Paper on Sport and Recreation which determines that: “The
recognised co-ordinating body for the organisation of sport at tertiary education
level is SASSU (South African Student Sports Union). SASSU’s functions
include the following:
a) |
Implementation of government policy on sport and recreation
at tertiary level; |
b) |
Its core business involves sharing of its specialised
resources (both human and infra-structural) with the community,
maximising participation and co-ordinating intra- and
inter-institutional competitions; |
c) |
Making representations to the macro-bodies (NSC & NOCSA) and
relevant government departments, with respect to tertiary sport; |
d) |
Liaising with national and provincial federations with
respect to tertiary sport; |
e) |
Liaising with its international parent body, the
International University Sports Federation (FISU); |
f) |
Facilitating South Africa’s participation at international
tertiary education institution sports events.” |
SASSU BECAME USSA
During 2003, the Minister of Sport & Recreation South Africa (SRSA)
appointed a MTT Steering Committee, entrusted with the responsibility to
establish a Section 21 company to focus on high performance sport in South
Africa and to ensure harmonization of the activities of SRSA (who will take
on the responsibility for mass participation) with the new body, i.e. SASCOC.
On 2 November 2004, the MTT recommended that USSASA, SASSU and DISSA should
continue with their activities, except for the presentation and preparation
of “Team South Africa” which will participate in multi-sport international
events and which will become the responsibility of SASCOC. The MTT further
recommended that the future positions of these organizations shoud be
resolved through negotiations with SASCOC.
In April 2008 and after four years of intense negotiations, SASSU and the
South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) reached
consensus on the way forward for university sport in South Africa. SASCOC
agreed that, due to the unique nature of student sport universally, that
university sport should continue to exist independently in its current
format and that the name of SASSU is changed to University Sport South
Africa (USSA). It was agreed that USSA will proceed as the official
national co-ordinating umbrella sports structure for the regulation and
organisation of all university sports activities in South Africa, while
SASCOC will take responsibility for the preparation and delivery of teams to
all high performance multi-coded international events, i.e. FISU
Universiades, FASU and CUCSA Games. USSA in association with National
Federations will however still remain responsible for the preparation and
delivery of teams that will participate in individual FISU World University
Championship events. The selection of national university sports teams
shall be in accordance with FISU Regulations as well as the USSA and SASCOC
selection policies.
On 19 April 2008 at the Annual General Meeting of SASSU, the membership
unanimously agreed to the way forward and re-constituted SASSU as USSA. The
current NEC was retained in office. USSA and SASCOC further agreed to the
establishment of a SASCOC Student Sports Commission that will serve as a
link between the Executive Board of SASCOC and the NEC of USSA. The
function of this Commission shall be to make representations to SASCOC,
National Federations and Government Departments regarding student sport
matters at tertiary education institutions in South Africa.
On 13 March 2009, the CEO of SASCOC informed USSA that after a meeting
between the Minister of Sport and the President of SASCOC, a decision was
taken in relation to the management of student sport, i.e.
-
That USSA takes care of the administration of student
sport matters in South Africa;
-
That USSA apply for associate member status to SASCOC;
-
That USSA will then be responsible for all issues
around student sport including the preparation and delivery of its teams
to multi-sport events;
-
That USSA secure its own resources towards these
obligations;
-
That SASCOC will ensure through its federations that
the USSA sport codes function within the guidelines of the National
Federations;
-
That SASCOC will ensure that its federations monitor
the systems used and the quality of performance of the selected
athletes.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
On 7 July 1993, SASSU's application for affiliation with the International
University Sports Federation (FISU), backed by the National Olympic
Committee of South Africa (NOCSA) and the Department of National Education (DNE),
served before the General Assembly of FISU held in Buffalo, USA. The General
Assembly unanimously accepted SASSU's application and draft constitution
which resulted in SASSU being granted full membership of FISU.
On 17 September 1996 at a meeting held in Zomba, Malawi, SASSU became a full
member of the Africa Zone VI student sport family when the Organisation's
application for membership was unanimously accepted by the General Meeting
of the Confederation of University and College Sports Associations (CUCSA).
In May 2001, the Secretary General of SASSU presented the Organisation’s
credentials to a steering committee of the Africa University Sports
Federation (FASU) at a meeting held in Lagos, Nigeria. SASSU’s membership
was confirmed by the General Assembly of FASU at a meeting held in Abuja,
Nigeria on 19 May 2002. |