DUT post-graduate student and former SRC Secretary Menzi Ngcobo has been elected as the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Vice President.
Ngcobo is not new in the USSA leadership roles; in 2015 he was elected at the organisation’s National Executive Committee (NEC) member. Ngcobo, a Faculty of Arts and Design Alumnus whom after completing his National Diploma in Journalism, pursued studies in Bachelor of Education and is currently registered at DUT for his Master’s degree in Management Sciences.
USSA is the official custodian of all University students’ sports in South Africa. An organisation with a rich history that has seen it go through various transformations which mirror the foundation the country is built on. USSA has been at the forefront of sports transformation since the early 90’s. USSA was established on 8 December 1992 but in 1994 it was re-constituted as SASSU and in April 2008 it was constituted to USSA. 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 societies guided by the historical mission of tertiary education institutions, being centres for the acquisition of life skills and the imparting of knowledge and research.
Ngcobo was elected as a second Vice President at the Special General Meeting (SGM) held at Stellenbosch University in April 2017 after he had served as an assessor for three consecutive years. “After the previous (2015) NEC was dissolved, I was unanimously elected by 20 universities to be Vice President,” said Ngcobo.
In his time as DUT student, Ngcobo made a name for him as SRC Secretary and also represented the University at the 2015 G20 Youth Summit Committee as Secretary. Ngcobo attended and participated in the G20 10th International Youth Forum which was targeting young leaders from around 200 countries, with over 500 students, academics, young leaders and business leaders.
Speaking about his current success, Ngcobo said his achievement was a culmination of years of hard work and learning. “I have compiled many years of dedication, hard work and learning from some of the best University sports administrators in the country. This really means a lot to my family, friends and of course I am delighted that I can still proudly shine the DUT name, the university that has been very instrumental in exposing me to various platforms,” he added.
Amongst other achievements in the sports sector, he has also been appointed as Communications Co-ordinator for team South Africa going to the 2017 Summer Universidad in Taipei in August and during his time as DUT student in the Midlands, he was the sports union chairman (2012 to 2013).
Pictured: Menzi Ngcobo DUT Post-graduate student and former SRC Secretary.
—Noxolo Memela
