Mapping Student Politics in Higher Education in South Africa

Abstract

Student politics in Higher Education in South Africa is contested and fraught with persistent annual student protests due to unresolved funding issues even in the wake of the # FeesMustFall protests of 2015 and 2016. The persistent issues of student indebtedness, increasing inequality and social justice concerns are the backdrop to this study.

The scholarship on student politics is disparate, focuses mainly on protest movements and activism and located in social movement studies, while student organisations are in organisational studies, with some consideration in student development and student engagement studies. In recent years, there has been greater integration of the scholarship on student politics. The proposed conceptual model is a student politics ecosystem, which builds on these recent developments by integrating context and levels of engagement with conceptions of power, student agency and student impact.

The purpose of the study was to map student politics in South Africa through the lens of politically aligned student organisations (PSOs). The broad research question is to explore the focus, interactions and activity of politically - aligned student organisations (PSOs) in universities in South Africa.

The research philosophy that underpins the study is critical realism, that aims transcends the binary of agency and structure. The design is a qualitative approach, providing a thematic mapping of the student politics terrain that includes both organisations and activists. Sixteen (16) semi-structured interviews were conducted and formed the primary data, complemented with key documents that formed the secondary data sources. The data was analysed utilising a Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) approach through NVIVO software.

There are seven core findings. Firstly, there is a need to reconceptualise student politics in South Africa. Secondly, there are multiple journeys and motivations for student involvement in student politics and there are opportunities and significant risks of involvement. Thirdly, student debt and indebtedness linked to the fees and costs of higher education is prevalent and a main motivation for political agency. Fourthly, student politics is relational, and the nature of interactions with internal and external stakeholders is multidimensional underpinned by power, trust, collaboration and competition. Fifthly, organisations are sites of identity development and socialisation where positionalities of race, gender and class are promoted and socialised. Sixthly, PSOs are generators of political habitus, including spaces of belonging for some students. Seventh is the concerning trend of the spectre of violence in student politics.

The significance of the study is to extend the scholarship on student politics and make policy and practice recommendations to address the current challenges in higher education in South Africa.

Date of Award	10 Dec 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Rajani Naidoo (Supervisor)