SASPU National was one of two publications produced by the South African Students Press Union (SASPU), the other being SASPU Focus. A non-profit newspaper, about 25 000 copies of SASPU National were distributed mostly through organisations. The National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) was founded in 1924 at Grey College, Bloemfontein. It began as an apolitical organisation, which aimed to further national cooperation between students, and cooperation with student leaders in other countries. In 1933 Afrikaans students broke away after a debate about the affiliation to NUSAS of the first black campus, Fort Hare. After the war NUSAS remained apolitical, believing it should only oppose discrimination in education.