Political parties and students union government elections in South Africa’s tertiary institutions: The case of university of Zululand

Throughout South Africa’s institutions of higher learning, student bodies aligned to political parties dominate the campus landscape, and over the past 10 years, political politics have exerted significant influence over the functioning and policy direction of student unions at universities. The study, using the University of Zululand as a point of reference, intended to explore the connection between political parties and student unions who are affiliated with these political parties. To accomplish this, the study employed a strict systematic review of the literature. The study revealed that student unions at UniZulu are, largely, influenced by political parties and this compromises their ability to carry out their mandate, which is to be the voice of students via their engagement(s) with the University management.