On 17 March 1909, Dr Reinik, UP's management representative at the time, called a general meeting for UP students (In that year there were only 66 students enrolled).

In that meeting, Dr Reinik stated that, '...the senate desired the students to select a certain number of students to represent them and act as an intermediary body between the senate and the council.' It was decided that the council would consist of eight students- three women and five men.

The composition of the councilchanged many times over the years as the university evolved.

In 1930, the first year students were allowed to join the Student Representative Council (SRC) for the first time. They were given two seats, one to be filled by a male and one by a female. The rest of the SRC included three juniors (two men) and seven seniors (four men), one student form Onderstepoort campus and another from Normaalkolle campus.

In 1942 the composition of the council changed. The first years were removed form the SRC because the rest of the council said that they did not know enough about student life to make informed decisions.

The emergence of the SRC as a political body began in the 1980s when politics became prominent on campus. Potential members of the SRC were allowed to include political affiliations in their campaigns in 1990 (the year Nelson Mandela was released from prison and peace talks between the then ruling party, the National Party and the African National Congress (ANC) began).

Some of the students showed their political choice by inviting then president FW de Klerk to come speak to the students. Many students were against the government at the time and protested during his speech.

The SDS (Students for a Democratic Lifestyle) invited the then leader of the ANC, Nelson Mandela to speak to the students a year later. His speech was cut short by protesting students.

Politics on campus became more prominent as South Africa neared democracy and began having more of an influence on student governance. Political affiliations became so extreme among the SRC members that by the early 2000s it all fell apart because of in-fighting and conflicting political loyalties. In 2007 the SRC underwent another change, divorcing campus and national politics from the SRC which was never meant to be a political structure.

In 2006 the SRC was reconstructed again. The UP council approved a new constitution for student governance. The decision to do this was made after general consultations with students and other stakeholders. According to the council, the new constitution, 'offers a constituancy-based student representation and a participation of leaders elected in their individual capacity based on their leadership capabilities and track record rather than the ideologiesof an externally-funded party.'

The aim of the system is to ensure proper representation of UP student interests and an agenda that addresses real student issues, while at the same time eliminating the inherent divisiveness of a party-driven system.

In 2007, Mr Chilu Chani became chairperson of the SRC. Chani was the first non-white person to be elected as chairperson in 97 years. The following year, Miss Yolandi van der Westhuizen was elected as chairperson, she was only the third female to fill the position.

In 2009, the new system experienced difficulties realting to problems with the ballot papers in a limited number of constituencies. Complaints were also received regarding the conduct of candidates contesting the election.

In 2010 the elections went more fluently, but only time will tell whether or not the new system will continue to work.