Nust heads to Joburg for staff games

The Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), through the NUST Staff Sports and Social Association (NSSSA), has sent a 70-member delegation to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the 2026 Inter-University Staff Games.

The Games are scheduled for 11–12 September and will be hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). The event brings together university staff from across the region to promote employee wellness, healthy competition, networking and institutional collaboration through sport.

Participating institutions include Wits University, the University of South Africa (UNISA), NUST, the University of Namibia (UNAM), Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), North-West University (NWU), Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

Nust will compete in 10 sporting disciplines, namely aerobics, darts, football, netball, volleyball, tennis, pool, tug of war, relay and marathon.

Head of delegation Gabriel Mbokoma said Nust’s staff sport programme has made significant progress, with the university now aiming to compete for top honours rather than simply participate.

“The state of staff sport at Nust has improved significantly. We are no longer merely participating; we are competing for top honours. We are grateful to the Nust management for its continued support and for recognising the important role that sport plays in promoting staff wellness, teamwork and institutional pride,” Mbokoma said.

Nust played a key role in establishing the Inter-University Staff Games and was the inaugural host. The competition has since developed into a platform for university employees to compete while strengthening professional and social relationships. The previous edition was hosted by the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN).

The Johannesburg Games will also serve as preparation for the Southern African Universities Staff Sports Association (SAUSSA) Games, giving Nust teams an opportunity to assess their competitiveness, improve cohesion and identify areas requiring attention.

Beyond competition, the NSSSA Executive Committee is expected to engage with Wits Sport as part of a benchmarking exercise on staff sport, recreation and employee wellness.

The visit could also open opportunities for future sporting exchanges and institutional partnerships.