​The Students' Representative Council (SRC) of Stellenbosch University (SU) recently received a donation of R800 000 from the Motsepe Foundation to spend on SRC-driven initiatives that benefit students. The cheque handover took place at an event held in Sandton in Johannesburg.

The SU SRC was one of a number of student governance structures at 26 universities across South Africa to benefit from the overall donation of R30 million made by the Foundation.

SRC President Phiwokuhle Qabaka, and Thulani Hlatshwayo, Coordinator: Student Governance at SU, received the cheque from Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, CEO and Co-Founder of the Motsepe Foundation, and Dr Rejoice Simelane, Executive Director at Ubuntu-Botho Investments and non-executive Director of African Rainbow Capital Proprietary Limited. Hlatshwayo works in the Unit for Student Governance in the Centre for Student Life and Learning, which forms part of the Division Student Affairs (DSAf).

The donations form part of several financial commitments the Foundation has made to SRC-driven initiatives focused on student debt, student mental wellness, and gender equality efforts and women's wellbeing – all issues that align with the Foundation's work. 

In an invite issued to the SU SRC by Melissa Anthony, Manager: Education and Projects at the Motsepe Foundation, the Foundation believes that SRCs play “an important role in ensuring a balance between students' academic performance and their social support".

“Whilst the Motsepe Foundation has initiated several interventions to support the access, throughput and wellbeing of our bursary recipients, we believe that supporting student-led initiatives adds value to the various interventions deployed by diverse stakeholders," wrote Anthony.

​Photo: SU's SRC President (third from the left), Phiwokuhle Qabaka, and Thulani Hlatswayo (far right), Coordinator: Student Governance in the Unit for Student Governance, received a cheque donation of R800 000 from Dr Rejoice Simelane (far left), Executive Director at Ubuntu-Botho Investments and non-executive Director of African Rainbow Capital Proprietary Limited, and Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, CEO and Co-Founder of the Motsepe Foundation.