Bult Magazine 2019 Issue 2 Afrikaans by Chrysalis

bult

news magazine 2019 #2

Inspiring excellence. Transforming lives.

PUBLISHED BY Department of Communication and Marketing PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa www.ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za Tel: +27 51 401 2584 | Cell: +27 83 645 2454

EDITING AND TRANSLATIONS Editing English: Elize Gouws Translation Afrikaans: Elize Gouws Sesotho: Dr Edwin Mohatlane IsiZulu: Khetha Kwarenge

PRODUCTION DESIGN Chrysalis Advertising & Publishing www.chrysalis-advertising.co.za Opinions expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the university. Bult is sent to alumni, donors, business and government leaders, opinion formers, and Kovsie friends. With the necessary acknowledgement, articles can be published elsewhere. Contact the Editor in this regard.

Dear Bult reader T

he late founder of Apple, entrepreneur and

sludge, making water remediation crucial for ecosystem

business magnet, Steve Jobs, said innovation

and industries. Read more about this project, with a

distinguishes between a leader and a

follower. This is also where the University of the Free State would like to find itself – as a leader, making a positive difference in people’s lives. Staff, students, and alumni are working hard to make this a reality. Bult is showcasing only some of the projects where innovation is employed to not only progress and move forward, but also to improve the lives of communities. Great examples of innovation at work are the infrastructure development projects of University Estates. Read how typical standard projects such as student accommodation get an innovative flair by

specific focus on a new treatment for mine drainage. Innovative ideas are also implemented in the dayto-day activities of the university, celebrating multilingualism and multiculturalism to ultimately promote a culture of inclusiveness and understanding. Read more about the Kovsies Multilingual Mokete that took place on the university’s Bloemfontein Campus. The university embraces the value of innovation in the research its scientists conduct, in creating an inclusive and diverse space to welcome students, staff, and visitors, and in promoting academic excellence – all with the aim of improving the quality of people’s lives in the province, the country, and internationally.

using greywater systems to adapt to the new normal

As Jobs also said: “I want to

caused by climate change. Other measures employed to

put a ding in the universe”

align with global standards of eco-friendliness, include

– the university wants to

waterwise gardens and solar energy.

make a difference on a

Addressing water scarcity on another level, is the work of

big scale.

Dr Mariana Erasmus, SAENSE Platform Manager. Industrial

Greetings

processes often contaminate water with heavy metals,

Leonie Bolleurs

harmful chemicals, radioactive waste, and even organic

Acting Editor

ED I TO RI AL | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Prof Philippe Burger: Leapfrogging people right into the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Kovsie wins prestigious Sasol merit art prize

First Kovsies Multilingual Mokete part of UFS multilingual strategy

News

The unique UFS Innovation Strategy

First Kovsies Multilingual Mokete part of UFS multilingual strategy

2019 Rector’s Concert celebrates UFS musical talents

FARMOVS, a hub of innovation

New way for staff and students to learn third language

Changing palates, one beer drinker at a time

2019, the year that was

Patented product possibilities

Community

Meet our Council: David Noko – bringing vast corporate experience to the council table

Preparing the next generation of innovative problem-solving leaders

UFS ropes in more universities for Maths and Science training

UFS steps up, making the First 1000 Days Count

Innovating the lived environment

Doing higher education right for all

Community Engagement launches Digital Storytelling project

UFS anti-doping lab is doing it for Africa

2019 Rector’s Concert celebrates UFS musical talents

After 35 years of teaching, Kovsie wins prestigious Sasol merit art prize

UFS Chancellor honoured by the NRF

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

Research Back to the future: Drones take centre stage in fossil research in the rural Eastern Cape

Quest for research excellence brings new training opportunities

Innovating the lived environment

One-on-one with the youngest PhD holder in Africa

Opportunity is knocking; research ensures that pecan industry thrives

UFS steps up, making the First 1000 Days Count

‘Success is tied to the company you keep’

Meet our Council: David Noko

Opportunity is knocking; research ensures that pecan industry thrives

When academics and economics meet

Staff

SPROUTing hope

Burning desire for change

Alumni

‘Success is tied to the company you keep’

UFS Alumni honoured at Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Awards

Mental-health run brings awareness to doorstep of ordinary South Africans

UFS alumni Karabelo and Thulani talk innovation and the future

One-on-one with the youngest PhD holder in Africa

A story of never giving up, dedication, and helping others

Prof Philippe Burger: Leapfrogging people right into the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Sport

Cutting-edge research can improve Africa: Dr Richard Ocaya 60 Glolooks CEO on the importance of education in business

Students Refilwe co‑convener for EDHE Studentpreneurs Community of Practice

Big opportunity for Franco at Azzurri

Getting to know the planet’s best netballer

World Cup coaching bond dates back to UFS days

UFS provides platform for hockey alumnae in Aus

Ex-Kovsies at highest level of netball umpiring

NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

The unique

UFS Innovation Strategy

B Y C H A R L E N E S TA N L E Y

“Innovation can never be the core business of a university.

and Management Sciences to establish whether there is a real

That position belongs to research,” says Gerard Verhoef,

need in the market for a product or service, and to help with

Director in the UFS Directorate: Research Development.

marketing strategies.”

“But at the UFS, our research is completely integrated with our

Aligning policies

innovation and entrepreneurship strategies. And that sets us apart from many other universities.” Google is a classic example of how the stimulating academic environment of a university campus and the accompanying exposure to the latest technology and research can spark innovative initiatives. The company was formed by two PhD students while still studying at Stanford University in the USA. Stanford initially acquired a less than 10% share, while the company went on to become the major commercial success it is today. “Cultivating a culture of innovation and equipping students with an entrepreneurial mindset and skills, give them the tools that they need to make a success of a business endeavour. At some point, however, the university has to let go, allowing them to grow independently,” Verhoef explains. He points out that it is innovation-focused research that allows

The UFS approach towards innovation lines up with global realities, such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its effect on the world of work. On a national level, policies are underpinned by the draft White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) of 2018, which advocates moving beyond research and development to a broader conceptualisation of innovation and to increase coherence in critical areas such as education and skills development, the economy, and social development. On an institutional level, the innovation strategy lines up with the university’s Integrated Transformation Plan (ITP), which requires the development of a clear, engaged scholarship strategy that incorporates career development and opportunities for doctoral students.

the ‘Googles’ to happen.

Engaged scholarship

The UFS also employs the principle of combining ‘technology

Engaged scholarship refers to the utilisation of an academic’s

push’ with ‘market pull’.

scholarly and/or professional expertise, with an intentional

“With all our innovation projects, we first of all make sure that

external, non-academic constituencies, trade and industry, and

it’s good science, with the help of the expertise in each of the

other stakeholders that can directly contribute to, and benefit

relevant faculties. We then bring in our Faculty of Economic

from, the UFS research-led strategy.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

public purpose or benefit that demonstrates engagement with

“Our innovation projects aim to make a real difference in our region – uplifting lives in the communities around us by creating local enterprises,” Verhoef says.

PHOTO: ANJA AUCAMP

“It is innovation-focused research that allows the ‘Googles’ to happen.”

Gerard Verhoef believes research is completely integrated with innovation and entrepreneurship strategies at the UFS.

“But ultimately, they’re also aimed at having a global impact.” • Read more about our innovation projects on page 10: Patented product possibilities; page 34: Changing palates, one beer drinker at a time; page 50: When academics and economics meet; and page 63: Refilwe co-convener for EDHE Studentpreneurs Community Practice. NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Eerste Kovsies

deel van UV

eur middel van die Geïntegreerde Transformasieplan (ITP) het die universiteit verskillende projekte aangepak om die doelstellings van die werkstrome

wat in die ITP uiteengesit is, te bereik. Een van hierdie projekte was die eerste Kovsies Veeltalige Mokete wat op 18 September 2019 gehou is.

FOTO’S: CHARL DEVENISH

Die mikpunt van die mokete, ’n viering van veeltaligheid en multikulturalisme, was om op die ou end ’n kultuur van inklusiwiteit en begrip op die drie UV-kampusse te bevorder.

Die mokete-program was die beliggaming van veeltaligheid en multikulturalisme in die vorm van beeldende kunste, poësie, storievertelling, drama en musiek in die dominante tale van die UV, naamlik Engels, Afrikaans, Suid-Sotho en Zoeloe. Die bekende kunstenaar Early B het saam met Simple Stories vir die hoofvermaak gesorg. “Die mokete het gedien as ’n institusionele iniasiatief wat daarop gemik was om ’n gekoördineerde en inklusiewe viering van die streektale en kulture wat deel van die UV-taalbeleid vorm, te bevorder,” het dr Engela van Staden, Viserektor: Akademies, gesê. U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

Read in:

isiZulu

English

Sesotho

Veeltalige Mokete

se veeltalige strategie

Watch

DEUR RULANZEN MARTIN

’n Kunsinstallasie deur studente van die Departement Beeldende Kunste het die woord ‘veeltalig’ uitgebeeld, in afsonderlike stukke geskilder.

NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Die universiteit wil hê almal moet voel dat hulle behoort en dat hulle trots kan wees op hulle taal en kultuur. “Ons wil ook hê hulle moet weet dat elke persoon tel; dat elkeen ’n stem het en dat hulle kan bydra tot die bou van ’n kultuur wat uitnemendheid inspireer,” het sy gesê. Die bevordering van Suid-Sotho en Zoeloe as akademiese tale aan die UV behels die vertaling van kernbegrippe en teks in veeltalige geletterdheidswoordelyste. “Ons ondersoek die ontwikkeling van Suid-Sotho as ’n akademiese taal, maar fokus ook op die verdere ontwikkeling van Afrikaans en Zoeloe,” het prof Francis Petersen, die UV se Rektor en Visekanselier, gesê. Met Engels as die pragmatiese taal aan die UV, is die instelling ook bewus van die belangrikheid daarvan om die ander tale, asook Suid-Afrikaanse Gebaretaal, te bevorder. Die UV ontwikkel tans ’n meer doeltreffende veeltalige tutoriaalstelsel, sowel as beroepspesifieke taalopleiding, om ons studente basiese woorde en frases te leer sodat hulle met mense van verskillende kulture wisselwerking kan hê. “Daar is ses tale binne die UV, en dit is belangrik dat ons dit altyd sal onthou en erken,” het prof Petersen gesê. Dit is dus belangrik dat die UV hierdie tale op so ’n manier ontwikkel dat dit die waarde vir die universiteit maksimeer. Die Kovsies Veeltalige Mokete sal ’n jaarlikse rotasiegeleentheid op al drie kampusse wees.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

Dr Engela van Staden en Prof Francis Petersen.

Tradisionele uitrustings het gesorg vir â&#x20AC;&#x2122;n baie kleurryke mokete, en die moketers het hulle unieke kulturele drag met trots vertoon. Early B en Simple Stories het die mokete-skare vermaak tydens die afsluiting van die 2019 Kovsies Veeltalige Mokete.

NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Patented product possibilities

Watch

BY DR CINDÉ GREYLING

research outputs in various ways – one of which is to protect the intellectual property and

to register patents where viable. This is in line with KovsieInnovation’s broader aim to create third-stream income for the university. Patent registration is a complex process and the UFS is proud to have the needed expertise to properly facilitate such an endeavour.

The SAENSE Platform South Africa is a water-scarce country, with many waterhungry industries (such as agriculture and mining). “Industrial processes often contaminate water with heavy metals, harmful

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

chemicals, radioactive waste, and even organic sludge,” Dr Mariana Erasmus, SAENSE Platform Manager, explains. Hence, water remediation is vital for both the ecosystem and industries. One of the key functions of the SAENSE Platform is to offer water-remedial solutions for the (bio)remediation of nitrates, heavy metals, and salts, among others. The platform’s activities and services are supported by undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers, using Technology

The pilot plant – B-DAS. This patented technology effectively treats the major contaminants found in acid, alkaline, or neutral mining wastewater.

OTHER PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

ovsieInnovation at the UFS supports innovative

Water before treatment.

Innovation Agency (TIA) funding. TIA is a national public entity that serves as key institutional intervention to bridge the innovation chasm between research and development.

From waste to water Through the joint effort of two mining companies and the UFS/TIA SAENSE Research Platform, a new treatment for mine drainage (MD) has been developed. This patented B-DAS (Barium â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dispersed Alkaline Substrate) technology effectively treats the major contaminants found in acid, alkaline, or neutral mining wastewater. The aim of the B-DAS system is to provide a passive water-treatment solution with minimum waste production; it can also be a potential pre-treatment for reverse osmosis (RO) to lower the requirements of the

Dr Mariana Erasmus, SAENSE Platform Manager, says water remediation is vital for both the ecosystem and industries.

PHOTO: ANJA AUCAMP

Contaminants (iron precipitate) removed from the water.

Cattle drinking from a trough filled with B-DAS treated water.

membranes and therefore potentially reduce the RO cost. The success of the patent is that it turns unusable water into water that is fit for agricultural purposes at a reduced cost and increased efficiency.

NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Meet our Council:

David Noko

– bringing vast corporate experience to the council table

BY ILSE SMALBERGER

David Noko is the newest member elected to the UFS Council. He has a long and distinguished corporate career, retiring in 2019 from his position as Executive Vice-President of AngloGold Ashanti, one of the largest gold-mining companies in Africa.

Advancing others He started his career at General Electric in design engineering

“My goal is always to make sure that I contribute to the development of self-sustaining communities, especially in Africa and other developing economies.”

and maintenance management. After completing stints at SAB (Pty) Ltd. In 2002, he joined the De Beers Group, where he was appointed Managing Director and CEO of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited in 2006. In 2010, after resigning from De Beers, he founded and headed up his own company, CelaCorp (Pty) Ltd.

Nation-building “This is a great honour for me. There is no better way for a corporate professional to contribute to nation-building than to be part of an institution with the history and stature of the University of the Free State. It is also a huge responsibility and I am committed to ensure that the institution grows and becomes stronger.”

He has accomplished much in his professional life, but his objective has always been to contribute to the advancement of people. His appointment to Council is his first interaction with the UFS.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

In his free time, he enjoys reading business literature and books on eradicating poverty. He is also an avid music fan, listening to Afrojazz, South African and South American music as his favourites.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

and Pepsi-Cola International, he was appointed CEO of Air Chefs

David Noko, the newest member elected to the UFS Council.

NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Read in:

English

Volgende generasie innoverende leiers voorberei vir probleemoplossing Kliëntgerig

ie sakewêreld is genadeloos en uiters mededingend. Lees enige sakeboek en jy sal vind dat jy behendig maar beginselvas, sterk maar buigsaam, waaghalsig

maar verantwoordelik, hoogtegnologies maar hoogs aanraakbaar moet wees … die lys gaan aan. Gegewe al hierdie skynbare teenstrydighede, kan ’n mens jou die uitdaging indink vir die mense wat ondernemings moet adviseer, opvoed en laat groei. Hoe dien ’n mens ’n kliënt met immer-veranderende behoeftes wanneer die eise styg en die tyd om te leer minder word? Die Hoof van die Sentrum vir Besigheidsdinamika in die UV se Sakeskool, Deon Barnard, benadruk dat ’n mens na elke kliënt se unieke behoeftes moet kan luister en dit verstaan. Dan moet ’n mens oplossings ontwerp op ’n manier wat die kliënt pas. “Ons ontwerp die oplossing nie net om te help om ’n sakeuitdaging op te los nie, maar moet ook die beste manier gebruik om die oplossing te lewer, hetsy dit aanlyn, van aangesig tot aangesig of ’n gemengde benadering is.”

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

Kortleerprogramme maak ook die deur oop vir formele programme (HSert, BML, PGDip, MBA) om kontak te maak met die immer-veranderende sakeomgewing.

Hou aan leer Wat begrip vir kliënte se behoeftes betref, kry studente dikwels opdrag om moontlike geleenthede te identifiseer, of om uitdagings te ondersoek wat deur bestuursbeamptes uitgewys word. Die inisiatiewe wat uit kennis voortvloei, is dikwels tot voordeel van die netto wins van die onderneming; dit ontwikkel egter ook die volgende generasie van innoverende, behendige, probleemoplossende leiers. Die Sentrum vir Besigheidsdinamika voed nie net ander mense op nie, maar hou aan om te leer en om behendig en beginselvas, sterk en buigsaam, waaghalsig en verantwoordelik te wees. Dit voldoen nie net aan kliënte se behoeftes en oortref dit nie, maar bied ook ervaring en ervarings – om immer innoverend te bly, grense uit te daag en die teenstrydige vereistes van die sakewêreld te verwesenlik.

F O T O : I G N O VA N N I E K E R K

D E U R I G N O VA N N I E K E R K

Ansie Barnard (Strategiese Vennootskappe) verduidelik dat hoewel die Sentrum vir Besigheidsdinamika die klassieke bestuurs- en leierskapontwikkelingsprogramme aanbied, dit steeds kliëntgerig bly deur middel van pasgemaakte oplossings. “Ons ontwerp pasgemaakte oplossings en verseker dat studente dit wat hulle leer prakties in die werkplek kan toepas. Waar moontlik doen ons voorspraak vir aksieleer, wat beteken dat studente werklike sakeprobleme oplos. Onmiddellike, praktiese toepassing.”

Ansie Barnard en Deon Barnard van die UV se Sentrum vir Besigheidsdinamika in die Sakeskool. NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Innovating the lived environment I

mproving access and promoting success through infrastructural development are priorities for the university, as reflected in the Integrated Transformation

Plan (ITP). The Names, Symbols, and Spaces as well as the Universal Access work streams of the plan speak to building an environment “that reflects a real commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and social justice.”

Residences and infrastructure A new student-housing unit on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus consisting of 248 beds, is expected to be completed by December 2019. This new residence, designed with undergraduates in mind, is valued at R66 million.

Also underway is the construction of a modular lecturing space and assessment centre. This multifunctional space will be the highest-capacity lecture hall the Qwaqwa Campus has ever seen, with enough space to accommodate 300 students, staff offices, discussion rooms, and ablution facilities. Registration will also take place in this building, seeing that it will house part of the Department of Finance. By December 2019, the Bloemfontein Campus will have a brand-new 248-bed student-housing unit, fitted with a heating pump and greywater system. In keeping up with the growing student population, a modular lecturing space and assessment centre for 860 students will also be a common feature on the Bloemfontein Campus by December 2019. Council meetings will now take place in a modern space which incorporates state-of-the-art technology – the newly revamped Coucil Chambers in the George du Toit Administration Building. In addition to the built environment, the outdoors is also experiencing a facelift. Part of the ITP implementation process involves the application of universal-design and access principles, which are instrumental in improving the institutional culture. Routes for

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

PHOTOS AND DESIGNS: DESTUDIO ARCHITECTS AND URBAN PLANNING

B Y VA L E N T I N O N D A B A

PHOTOS: BAREND NAGEL

Bloemfontein Campus Modular Lecturing Space and Assessment Centre.

Flexible social spaces on the Red Square area in front of the Main Building on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus. NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

people living with visual impairments are currently being fitted on all campuses. These universal-access features consist of concrete blocks that indicate directions and warn users about obstacles. Buildings without ramps are being equipped with universally accessible entrances and exits.

Saving water and going green The Red Square on the Bloemfontein Campus is being reconstructed to “create flexible social spaces that promote a collaborative campus community”. According to University Estates Assistant Director: Project Management, Maureen Khati, “Indigenous plants and trees were selected to create a lowmaintenance garden that provides greening and shade while promoting water conservation”. The project forms part of the waterwise and greywater initiatives that the university implemented in 2018 in response to climate change and drought conditions in the province. Also, more than 100 indigenous trees will be planted as part of the initiative. This will ensure that all available water sources are used for consumption and for maintaining a healthy ecological footprint.

PHOTO: BAREND NAGEL

Charging stations and energy efficiency Some of the ways in which the UFS is aligning to global standards of eco-friendliness, is by installing solar charging stations on the campuses. These stations also act as social spaces, with benches under a roof covering where students and staff can relax. Solar farms across all the campuses contribute 2 609 kilowattpeaks (kWp) of electricity under standard conditions. Between January and March 2019 alone, it helped to save a total of

Routes for people living with visual impairments are fitted on all campuses.

R1,4 million. According to Nicolaas Esterhuysen, an electrical

engineer in University Estates, the solutions lie in “either

University Estates is also setting the pace for property in

becoming more energy efficient or generating our own at a

the education sector. The department’s new building was

cheaper cost”. As a university, we are currently managing

used as a blueprint for infrastructure development by the

both of these solutions well, given that the three campuses

government. “We are used by the Department of Higher

have managed to save a total of R5,4 million in 2018 through

Education as a benchmark in terms of our estates and

producing power (solar PV) and actively managing the

developments,” said Vice-Rector: Operations, Prof Prakash

instantaneous load demand with building-management system

Naidoo, while unveiling the new building on the Bloemfontein

(BMS) software.

Campus earlier this year.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

Watch

At the official opening of the Council Chambers are, from the left: Dr Nthabeleng Rammile, Vice-Chairperson of the UFS Council; Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor; and Mr Willem Louw, Chairperson of the UFS Council.

Solar farms across all the campuses contribute 2 609 kilowattpeaks (kWp) of electricity under standard conditions.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

The newly revamped George du Toit Administration Building on the Bloemfontein Campus.

Modular Assessment Centre on the Qwaqwa Campus.

NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Doing higher education

right for all BY DR CINDÉ GREYLING

rom the outside, universities may seem like a student-life paradise, or a research and knowledge hub. But much happens behind the scenes to keep

these well-loved institutions afloat. “Since universities are publicly funded, the higher-education legislation is intended to protect the interests of the public and ensure adequate levels of accountability from those charged with running these institutions,” says Nikile Ntsababa, Registrar of the University of the Free State since May 2019.

Lessons learnt

From communication to regulation

Ntsababa explains the most valuable life lesson he has learned:

Ntsababa’s academic career began with a BA in Communication

on the lesson you learnt. In real life, you are given a test and

from the University of Fort Hare, followed by a Postgraduate

thereafter you will learn a lesson. You therefore need to push

Diploma in Records and Archives Management from the same

the boundaries to attain your vision or dream. You will surely

university, and a Master of Public Administration from Nelson

encounter obstacles and challenges on your way, but through

Mandela University. “My interest in university governance was

perseverance and patience you will ultimately get the prize.

sparked by my first appointment as the committee secretary

However, you also need to be realistic.”

“In the classroom, you are given a lesson and thereafter tested

of the highest decision-making structures at the University of Fort Hare in 1994, which introduced me to the inner workings

One of Ntsababa’s greatest joys are graduation ceremonies –

of higher-education institutions.”

especially witnessing those who traversed many difficulties to obtain a degree. It must be particularly rewarding, knowing

At the UFS, Ntsababa will fulfil two critical functions, one as the

that he played a part in putting proper systems in place to

secretary of the university’s governance structures, and the

facilitate the process. With his experience in institutional

other to put proper systems and processes in place to support

compliance, regulatory compliance, academic administration,

the student-life cycle from application, registration, and

and university records management, the UFS looks forward to

examination, to graduation.

his valuable input.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

PHOTO: SONIA SMALL

Nikile Ntsababa, Registrar of the University of the Free State since May 2019. He will put proper systems and processes in place to support the student-life cycle from application, registration, and examination, to graduation.

NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

PHOTO: ANJA AUCAMP

“SADoCoL se missie om die voorkeurlaboratorium vir Afrika se teenopkikkerontledingsvereistes te word, is verwesenlik; soos blyk uit die toenemende ontleding van groot sportbyeenkomste se monsters.”

Dr Marthinus van der Merwe glo dat SADoCoL vandag werklik as ’n nuwe laboratorium beskou word wat weer sy rol as die enigste WADA-geakkrediteerde laboratorium op die vasteland van Afrika kan inneem.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

Read in:

English

UV-teenopkikkerlaboratorium doen dit vir Afrika DEUR ZAMA FENI

ie UV-gebaseerde Suid-Afrikaanse Verbodemiddel-

’n voorstel aanvaar het waarin lede aangemoedig word om

toetslaboratorium (SADoCoL) – wat akkreditasie

hulle monsters na SADoCoL te stuur, aangesien dit “toenemend

deur die wêreldwye teenopkikkerliggaam herwin

het – het sy posisie as ’n invloedryke en geloofwaardige krag in die Afrika-teenopkikkerarena verder versterk. SADoCoL se Direkteur, Marthinus van der Merwe, het gesê ná vyf jaar van intensiewe ontwikkeling, opleiding en opgradering het die instelling sy akkreditasie van die Wêreldagentskap teen Opkikkers (WADA) op 21 September 2018 teruggekry. “Alhoewel SADoCoL, wat in die Fakulteit Gesondheidswetenskappe gesetel is, reeds sedert die laat 1970’s bestaan, kan dit vandag werklik as ’n nuwe laboratorium beskou word wat weer sy rol as die enigste WADA-geakkrediteerde laboratorium op die vasteland van Afrika kan inneem,” het hy gesê.

beskou word as Afrika se eie laboratorium wat vir Afrika ondersteun en onderhou moet word”.

Belangrike samewerking weer gevestig Hy het genoem dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Instituut vir Dwelmvrye Sport (SAIDS) – die land se nasionale teenopkikker-organisasie – se belofte om die laboratorium te ondersteun, ’n wesenlike faktor was in die herwinning van SADoCoL se akkreditasie. Sedert Oktober 2018 word al SAIDS se toetsmonsters weer aan SADoCoL gestuur, wat die belangrike samewerkingsband tussen die twee grootste rolspelers in die teenopkikkerbedryf in SuidAfrika herstel het. Hy het gesê SADoCoL se missie om die voorkeurlaboratorium

Verhoog invloedsfeer

vir Afrika se teenopkikker-ontledingsvereistes te word, is

Dr Van der Merwe het genoem dat die laboratorium sy invloedsfeer

sportbyeenkomste se monsters in hierdie streek en in die

in die teenopkikkerarena vergroot deur kennis met ander

verwesenlik; soos blyk uit die toenemende ontleding van groot buiteland. Dit sluit geleenthede in soos die Jeugspele in Botswana

streeksrolspelers te deel.

op 14 Desember 2018, die Cape Epic-fietswedren van 2019, die

SADoCoL het van 14 tot 16 Julie 2019 vir die eerste keer die

2019 Afrika-spele in Marokko gedurende Augustus en September.

Afrika-unie se Dinktenkforum oor Teenopkikkers bygewoon, waar afgevaardigdes van deelnemende Afrika-nasies die status

Indiese Oseaan Spele wat in Junie 2019 in Mauritius gehou is en die

Dr Van der Merwe het gesê, soos in vorige jare, deel SADoCoL

van teenopkikkerbedrywighede in Afrika bespreek het.

ook sy kennis op nagraadse vlak met UV-studente deur

SADoCoL se aanbieding oor ‘Perspektiewe van ’n WADA-

honneursprogram aan te bied, asook deur die departement se

geakkrediteerde Laboratorium’ het daartoe gelei dat die forum

MSc-studente op te lei.

’n module oor Teenopkikkers in Sport vir die Forensiese

NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Read in:

isiZulu

Rector’s Concert Watch

celebrates UFS musical talents

B Y X O L I S A M N U K WA

he university held its third annual Rector’s Concert on Friday 6 September 2019 in the Odeion Theatre on the Bloemfontein Campus. The event was

sponsored by Standard Bank. UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, hosted the concert, which showcased the musical talents of staff and students of all three campuses to alumni, donors, friends of the university, and other stakeholders. According to Prof Petersen, the concert provided a platform for the university to pay tribute to the exceptional musical capabilities of its staff and students. The audience was treated to several performances, among others the Free State Youth Wind Ensemble; Alumni Voices and the UFS Choir; Prof Neil Heideman; UFS Stimmen Choir; Odeion String Quartet; South Campus Choir; Talitha; Tharo; OSM Camerata; OSM Vocal Students; Lucy Sehloho; Roses of UFS; Tsimoloho Lekaota; Prof Gernot Osthoff and Johanré den Haan.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

Ella Kotze and Lucy Sehloho.

Carmenita Redcliffe, the Programme Director for the evening (left), and the UFS Stimmen Choir with their performance of Liphala.

South Campus Choir with Gali Malebo. They performed Liraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Something inside so strong.

PHOTOS: SONIA SMALL

Alumni Voices and the UFS Choir, directed by Leona Geldenhuys. One of their performances included Prayer by Richard Dubra.

The Odeion String Quartet performed the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana.

The Free State Youth Wind Ensemble with their performance of Halala Afrika.

Tsimoloho Lekaota performing Love like you do (left), and Tharo (Mario Lategan, Jacobus Silwer, and Thabo Hlongwane) and Talitha performing Perfect by Ed Sheeran. Far right, Prof Neil Heideman on electric guitar.

After 35 years of teaching,

Kovsie wins prestigious Sasol merit art prize BY RULANZEN MARTIN experiences through my art,” she said. Therefore, the ultimate

of the most prestigious art competitions in the

message of this installation artwork is simple: we have been

country, and this year, Cecilia Maartens-Van

Vuuren, a master’s student in the Department of Art History and Image Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS), was named the merit prize winner for 2019. Not only did Cecilia have the honour of being recognised as a merit winner, but it also provided her the opportunity to develop as an artist. “The fact that my work of the previous two years has been selected for inclusion in the respective Sasol New Signatures catalogues, has motivated me,” said Cecilia. This kind of competition also provides the opportunity to indicate whether her work is in line with trends in contemporary art.

Artwork represents the influence between man and nature The masterpiece earning her the prestigious prize is an

formed from the earth and we will return to the earth when our biological existence comes to an end. Her inspiration comes from the “mutual influence between nature and man” and this is why she has deliberately used the form of Bergson’s memory cone. “It represents the life of a person intertwined with nature and the environment.”

Former teacher becomes full-time Kovsie Art student Cecilia is a former teacher who obtained a BA degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA), as well as a University Diploma in Visual Art from UNISA in 2011. “This was my first experience with conceptual art, after which I decided to register for a master’s degree in Fine Arts at the UFS in 2013,” said Cecilia. In 2015, she decided to trade her working career of 35 years to become a student; currently, she is a master’s student at the UFS.

installation artwork consisting of a number of dried rootstock

“Therefore, my advice to emerging artists is to seize all the

or rhizomes from the reed plant hanging in a cone-shaped

opportunities to grow, and not to give up hope if your artworks

structure from the roof. “Rootstock with their wayward growth

are not accepted.” She also mentions that it is important to

is a fitting metaphor to express the spontaneous, casual

react positively to criticism, using it to raise the standard of

connection between a person’s thoughts, memories, and

artwork. She is planning to present art workshops in 2020.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

P H O T O : S A S O L N E W S I G N AT U R E S

he Sasol New Signatures Art Competition is one

“The fact that my work of the previous two years has been selected for inclusion in the respective Sasol New Signatures catalogues, has motivated me.”

Cecilia Maartens-Van Vuuren was named this year’s merit winner in the Sasol New Signatures competition, after 35 years as a teacher. Behind her is the winning artwork. NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

UFS Chancellor honoured by the NRF P H O T O : TA N K I S O K H U M A L O

BY LACEA LOADER

During the Chancellor’s Distinguished Awards, Dr Khotso Mokehele (middle) received the Honorary Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Chairperson of Council, Mr Willem Louw (right). With them is Mr Dan Mosia, member of the UFS Council.

r Khotso Mokhele, UFS Chancellor, received the

“With this award, the NRF has accentuated the immense

special 20-Year Recognition Award from the National

value Dr Mokhele has been bringing to not only science,

Research Foundation (NRF) during its annual awards

ceremony at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West, Western Cape, on 12 September 2019. Dr Mokhele was recognised for his extraordinary, impactful, and transformative contribution to the advancement of South African

but also to the many other areas he has been involved with for many years – including the UFS in his capacity as Chancellor,” says Prof Petersen. On 7 September 2019, Dr Mokhele was also named Honorary Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

science and its positioning globally.

during the UFS’s annual Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni

“On behalf of the UFS Rectorate and the university community, I

of five years from 4 June 2010. He was appointed for a

would like to congratulate Dr Mokhele on this fine achievement,”

second term and his term will come to an end on 3 June

says Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

2020.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

Awards. Dr Mokhele served as Chancellor for a first term

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Dr Khotso Mokhele conferred many degrees and diplomas at UFS graduation ceremonies during his time as Chancellor.

NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

FARMOVS,

a hub of innovation B Y C H A R L E N E S TA N L E Y

On top of the latest development “If requested, we must be able to do a complete restructuring

he FARMOVS bio-analytical lab on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus is the only facility of its kind in Africa that boasts a GLP (Good Laboratory

Practice)-compliant rating for pharmacokinetic analysis. This not only requires a strictly regulated environment;

of a trial – tracing batch numbers of substances used and even providing proof of the training qualifications of people who signed off on processes,” explains HB Theron, FARMOVS Director: Bioanalytical Services. “In this environment, only 100% is good enough.”

it also means that they have to stay abreast of the very

Currently, 70% of FARMOVS’s clients are from Europe. Around

latest innovations in bioanalytical instrumentation.

25% are from the USA and Canada, while South Africa, Asia,

can expect an unannounced visit by a local or international

“To be a player in the international bio-analysis arena, one

regulatory body. During such a visit, everything from archiving

also has to be on top of the very latest developments in

systems to storing of chemicals, waste disposal, even accuracy

equipment. That’s why we continuously have to invest in

of labels, study documentation, and most importantly – staff

new technologies. We have to show our clients that we are

training, are put under a scrutinising magnifying glass.

comparable to competitors in First-World countries,” he says.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

and Australia make up the remaining 5%. On any given day, at any moment, the FARMOVS facility

Leading international player Staying abreast of technology can be extremely expensive. Which is why FARMOVS has a dedicated research and development lab, where new instrumentation is thoroughly checked before it is purchased. “We first do a paper analysis – comparing the specifications, cost-effectiveness, and back-up services of each model. Then we ask selected suppliers for a demo model which we meticulously test drive to make sure it meets our standards,” Theron explains. Over the past 45 years, a substantial investment in technology has helped FARMOVS to remain a leading international player in bio-analytics. Here, innovation is embraced – and tested – daily, making sure it ultimately contributes to ever-increasing levels of accuracy and precision at sensitivity levels as low as single-digit pictogram per millilitre.

One has to be on top of the very latest developments in equipment, says HB Theron, FARMOVS Director: Bioanalytical Services. Photo: Anja Aucamp NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Read in: Sesotho

New way for staff and students to

learn third language BY EUGENE SEEGERS

or many years now, the UFS has been offering a one-year course in conversational Sesotho for staff members; this can then be followed up with the

one-year course in advanced conversational Sesotho. The conversational Sesotho for students in the Faculty of Education was introduced in 2018 at the UFS. The Central University of Technology (CUT) needed a conversational course for its first-year students and approached the Department of African Languages for the development of such a course. Living as we do in a multilingual country, this additional language skill opens doors and often hearts as well.

Using instructional design principles However, the need was identified by both CUT and UFS to present this crucial information in a way that would be more appealing to digital natives as well as to those less familiar with technology. The Department of African Languages on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus, together with relevant departments from the CUT, approached the IDEAS Lab located on the UFS South Campus, since they already have a reputation for being a specialist on broadcasting and repackaging curricular content for digital presentations. The IDEAS Lab provided technical advice and built the multimedia programme, which will help the user to hear and practice phrases in Sesotho, using instructional design principles. The course will be available to both staff and students belonging to the two universities.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

Room for growth Johann Möller, Director of the IDEAS Lab, says this pilot programme will give both institutions the opportunity to test the use of multimedia for language acquisition. He adds, “Language is extremely complex, and we would like to expand this learning aid in the future.” In fact, the original design has room for growth built into it. To keep things simple for the user and the building team, it was decided to start out with only four potential everyday scenarios where a staff member would like to speak Sesotho: Firstly, how to greet other persons from different genders; secondly, potential scenarios one might encounter in the university environment itself; thirdly, how to deal with situations at a hospital; and finally, how to use one’s language skills at a filling station.

Pronunciation is key

Further reading material and vocabulary lists are also provided,

Each scenario contains three to four conversations that the

learn at their own pace. The authoring software Articulate

with the result that people who are using the programme can Storyline was used to build the individual scenarios and each

the situation and assist with correct pronunciation. The system

conversation or lesson within it. The lessons are also not

does not allow the user to progress unless they have listened

dependent on an internet connection; they can be downloaded

to the pronunciations of the sample sentences or phrases.

onto a flash memory drive and used offline. PHOTO: ANJA AUCAMP

learner can revise, along with images and audio that illustrate

Spearheading the digital expansion of the conversational Sesotho course is IDEAS Lab Director, Johann Mรถller (middle). With him are from the left: Prof Pule Phindane, CUT; Dr Brenton Fredericks, CUT; Bahedile Letlala, UFS Department of African Languages; and Dr Elias Malete, UFS Department of African Languages. NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Changing palates, one beer drinker at a time

BY LEONIE BOLLEURS

he craft-beer industry is booming in South Africa. Many craft breweries are popping up all over the country, also bringing opportunities to produce

better beer. This is the thinking of Dr Errol Cason, project leader of Kovsie Brewery. “Our main focus with Kovsie Brewery is to produce a quality product.” In Bloemfontein and the greater Free State there are only three breweries, of which Kovsie Brewery is one. Thus, the market is still largely untapped.

Free State a unique market Dr Cason believes that the Free State is a unique market where people have certain expectations of their beer. “We would like to push the boundaries of those expectations, and slowly influence and change the beer palate in this province. Every time we can covert a ‘non-beer drinker’ to a ‘craft beer drinker’, is a highlight.” This small-scale experimental brewery, established in 2012 by the postgraduate student group of Dr Cason, Dr Jan-G Vermeulen, Christopher Rothmannn, and Eduan Hellmuth

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

from the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, is steadily growing. It recently experienced a highlight with the signing of a contract to open its doors on the UFS Paradys Experimental farm. Dr Cason detailed the recent contract with the UFS for a loan to commission the brewery. “This took a long time, but in the end a deal was struck that would benefit both the UFS and the brewery.” After a venue for the brewery was made available on the experimental farm by the Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Prof Danie Vermeulen, all the equipment (donated by SAB and ABINBEV) was moved to the new venue.

Up and running in eight months “Currently, we are in contact with various consultants on how to implement this process as quickly as possible within the allocated budget. We are hoping that the brewery will be up and running in the next eight months,” says Dr Cason.

“This market is exploding in South Africa and the UFS needs to make use of the opportunity to equip students to work in this industry.”

Every time we can convert a ‘non-beer drinker’ to a ‘craft beer drinker’, is a highlight.”

Not only is it changing the beer palate in the province, this

“A brewery is a business and has to be run as such. Since

microbrewery also exposes UFS students to brewing as a

most brewers are natural scientists, we lack the necessary

fundamental application of microbial and biotechnological

business acumen. Our contacts at the Department of Business

sciences. It is used as a vehicle for training postgraduate

Management has been a great help. In return, the brewery has

students and has been incorporated into various undergraduate

also featured as the cornerstone for some of their projects,” he

programmes within the Department of Microbial, Biochemical

says.

and Food Biotechnology. Kovsie Brewery will also function as a multidisciplinary platform

A career in brewing

to stimulate the interaction between students from various

Some of the students involved in the brewery proceeded to

fields of study. Dr Cason says three of its biggest partners are

pursue a career in the brewing industry. Bokang Mahlomaholo,

Microbiology, Biochemistry and Food Biotechnology; Marketing;

a former master’s student in Food Sciences and also part of the

and Business Management.

Kovsie Brewing team, went on to work at Maluti Brewery in Lesotho and is planning an internship with SAB/ABINBEV.

“One of the most important parts of brewing is the yeast, since it turns the sugary water you make during the brewing process

Dr Cason hopes to add value with the brewery by launching

into alcohol, aka, beer. Propagating yeast and maintaining

short- and long-term courses, not only around brewing, but also

good yeast cultures is a very big part of microbiology. We’ve

in other areas of the brewing industry. “The university currently

also been training students during practical sessions on how to

does not have any courses around brewing. Other universities in

work with yeast and to produce good-quality brewing yeast.”

the country have brewing programmes and there are institutions South Africa and the UFS needs to make use of the opportunity

and the Department of Business Management has been pivotal

to equip students to work in this industry.”

in helping us establish and promote the product. We also do an annual festival with UFS Startup Grind, where students design

“The UFS will own part of the brewery and receive royalties

projects around the beers. These designs are then displayed at

from sales – money which could be utilised in areas for the

the festival.”

improvement of student life,” he says. NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

in Europe dedicated only to brewing! This market is exploding in “A product is nothing without a market that wants to buy it,

2019 , the year that was COMPILED BY LEONIE BOLLEURS

“Universities have an important role to play in gaining collective knowledge to solve problems.” 1

- Minister Thoko Didiza

wenty nineteen saw many highlights, with well-

of the Vrye Weekblad, Max du Preez, facilitated the discussions.

known and popular personalities entering the UFS

Panellists participating in this year’s series included the Executive

gates to inspire, inform, and celebrate with university

Director at the Centre for Politics and Research and political

staff, students, alumni, graduates, and the community.

commentator, Prince Mashele; Vice-Dean (Strategic Projects)

The UFS presented the second Thought-Leader Series as part of

Philippe Burger; Director and Chief Economist at the Efficient

the Vrystaat Arts Festival in cooperation with Vrye Weekblad.

Group, Dawie Roodt; and Chief Economist at Investec, Annabel

The series unpacked Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship for

Bishop. Chief Executive Officer at Harambee Youth Employment

a Growing South Africa in two panel discussions which addressed

Accelerator, Maryana Iskander; Senior Banker at the Rand

the questions, ‘How can we fix the South African economy

Merchant Bank, David Abbey; and Head of the UFS Department

and create jobs?’ and ‘How can we establish a pro-youth

of Business Management, Prof Brownhilder Neneh, formed the

entrepreneurship strategy for South Africa?’ respectively. Editor

second panel.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

of the UFS Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Prof

Prof Jack Halberstam, Professor of Gender and English at Columbia University in the US. 2. Prince Mashele, political commentator, was a speaker at the 2019 Thought-Leader Series. 3. Also participating in the ThoughtLeaders Series were, from the left: Dawie Roodt, Annabel Bishop, Prof Francis Petersen, Prof Brownhilder Neneh, and Max du Preez, who facilitated the discussions. 4. Thapelo Chacha, Dr Tshepo Motsepe, and Prof Francis Petersen.

Professor of Gender and English at Columbia University in

graduation; some receiving awards, supporting our graduates or

the US, Prof Jack Halberstam, spoke at the Centre for Gender

acting as guest speakers – but all inspiring our graduates.

and Africa Studies’ Biennial Humanities and Gendered Worlds lecture. Prof Halberstam is known for his expertise on questions

Dr Tshepo Motsepe, the First Lady of South Africa, attended

of gender and queer theory, but also on what it means to

the graduation ceremony of Thapelo Chacha, a graduate in

pursue dignity in the diversity of humanity. He entertained the

the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Mme Tshepo

topic, ‘Exit Routes: After Gender, After Feminism’.

sponsored him from her own pocket until he became part of the Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust (CRET).

This year, the university was once again true to its tradition of inviting individuals to the graduation ceremonies who

Internationally renowned, award-winning film and theatre

are making a difference in their sphere of life. The university

artist, Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha, received an Honorary

community saw well-known faces fulfilling different roles at the

Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degree. Sharing the stage with NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

PHOTOS: DR MART-MARI DUVENHAGE, CHARL DEVENISH, SONIA SMALL, JOHAN ROUX

Makhetha, was Madam Justice Mahube Molemela, who received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree. Also on stage as guest speaker at this year’s (winter) graduation ceremonies, was former Minister of Finance and Chairperson of the Old Mutual Group Holdings, Dr Trevor Manuel. Speaking at this year’s Charlotte Maxeke public lecture, was the

“Not enough is being done on the continent to develop youth leadership.” - Dr Edith Phaswana

Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza. The topic of her lecture was: ‘Feminist Leadership,

Court, the university’s executive management, the Faculty of

Intergenerational Dialogue on Knowledge, Agriculture

Law, staff members, students, and members of the public.

and Sustainable Futures’. Minister Didiza said she believed universities had an important role to play in “gaining collective

Delivering the fifth King Moshoeshoe 1 Memorial Lecture, was

knowledge to solve problems”, and that agriculture should be a

Dr Edith Phaswana, acting Head of the Thabo Mbeki African

key focus area here.

Leadership Institute. She indicated that she saw the lecture as a platform to reflect on leadership in the country. “Not enough

Inspiring women during Women’s Month, was Kovsie alumna,

is being done on the continent to develop youth leadership. As

medical doctor, entrepreneur, and title holder of both the 2014

Africans, we should aspire to value our young people who have

Miss South Africa and Miss World competitions, Rolene Strauss.

valuable contributions to make in society.”

She spoke to 820 women during the annual Women’s Breakfast. Also paying a visit to the UFS in 2019 is world scientist, Prof

Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, the Chief Justice of the Republic

George Ellis, Professor Emeritus and Senior Research Scholar

of South Africa, spoke during a prestige lecture delivered in

in the Mathematics Department at UCT as well as visiting

the Faculty of Law. Hosted by Prof John Mubangizi, Dean of

professor at Oxford University. He presented two lectures:

the UFS Faculty of Law, the prestige lecture was attended by

The dynamical emergence of biology from physics: branching

approximately 800 guests, comprising senior members of the

causation via biomolecules and How downwards causation

Supreme Court of Appeal, the Free State Division of the High

occurs in digital computers.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | NE W S

10 5. Elzmarie Oosthuizen, Director: UFS Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; Jannie de Villiers, leader in the agricultural and food sectors; Dr Khotso Mokhele, UFS Chancellor; Dr Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha, internationally renowned, award-winning film and theatre artist; and former director of the SKA, Dr Bernie Fanaroff. 6. Dr Edith Phaswana. 7. Prof Prakash Naidoo, Vice-Rector: Operations; Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, the Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa; and Prof John Mubangizi, Dean: Faculty of Law. 8. Dr Trevor Manuel. 9. Rolene Strauss. 10. Minister Thoko Didiza. 11. Prof Matie Hoffman, Dr Samvir Menon, George Ellis, Prof Pieter Meintjes, and Dr Arup Kunti.

NEWS | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

UFS ropes in more universities for

Maths and Science training

BY ZAMA FENI

he UFS Faculty of Education presents a very exciting programme in which they collaborate with six other South African universities to expand its innovative

Mathematics and Science programmes to reach more teachers, learners, and parents.

The Science-for-the-Future (S4F) unit in the Faculty of Education has developed the Family Math as well as Key Concepts in Science programmes to address some of the factors that are preventing learners, especially in the rural areas of South Africa, to excel in Mathematics and Science. The programmes focus on influential factors such as teachersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; subject-content knowledge, teaching skills, teaching resources at school and at home, parental involvement, and the language of learning and teaching that differs from home languages.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | C OM M U NI T Y

PHOTO: ANJA AUCAMP

From the left are: Gwyneth van Wyk, S4F Project Administrator; Dr Cobus van Breda, S4F Programme Director; and Amaria Reynders, Family Math Project Manager. The S4F has signed collaboration agreements with the Nelson

professional development and community engagement,”

Mandela University and Walter Sisulu University – both in the

according to Dr Van Breda.

Eastern Cape, the University of Limpopo, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the country’s two newly-established

He said after the facilitators from the collaborating universities

universities, namely the University of Mpumalanga, and Sol

attended induction sessions at the training facilities of S4F, they

Plaatje University in the Northern Cape.

had already commenced with teacher training sessions at their institutions, followed by classroom implementation and parent

Dr Cobus Van Breda, who is the programme director for S4F, said

workshops.

the expansion of the programmes to other universities was due to the successful implementation of the S4F programmes in several

“One of the key elements in the success of the project is the fact

provinces over the past decade, the immense growth in the number

that S4F also manufactures and provides all project participants

of project participants, as well as an increasing demand from

with sufficient activity material for the classroom and parent-

different role players to be included in the activities of the project.

training sessions,” he said.

“It is envisaged that this collaboration will enable other

The S4F Universities Collaboration initiative is funded by external

institutions to serve as hubs for the implementation of the

funders and it is expected that collectively more than 30 000

two S4F programmes in different regions and provinces across

teachers, learners, and parents will actively take part in the

South Africa, and subsequently contribute towards teacher

project activities. CO MMUNI TY | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

UFS steps up, making the

First 1 000 Days Count COMPILED BY AMANDA TONGHA

rom pregnancy to the age of two, the first

1000 days Toddler

1 000 days of a child’s life are critical for their later development and achievement. To

ensure that every child gets a fair start in life, the UFS came up with a bold initiative to contribute to the optimal health of mothers and children in central South Africa. Planting the seeds for healthy child development, the university launched the ‘Make the First 1 000 Days Count’ initiative, a project that provides selected equipment, training, support, management, and research to improve care in the first 1 000 days of a child’s life. The initiative, led by the UFS Faculty of Health Sciences, delivers a community-based programme for the education of expectant mothers, highlighting the importance of nutrition, stimulation, and development of children. Based at the Universitas Academic Hospital, the project reaches over a million people in Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, Trompsburg, Springfontein, and Philippolis. Linked to the ‘Make the First 1 000 Days Count’ initiative, the university also contributes to other health-sciences projects, spending more than half a million on paediatric outpatient improvement. It also invested a quarter of a million on a Mother Lodger Unit for preterm babies at Universitas Hospital. Other initiatives include a fellowship in neuro development and an Autism Support Centre.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | C OM M U NI T Y

270 days Pregnancy

365 days Standing

The first 1 000 days What are the first 1 000 days? First 1 000 Days describes the time from the start of pregnancy to a child’s second birthday. The first 1 000 days of parenthood are now accepted as the most

infancy for the outcome of a child, because behaviour during pregnancy has such a strong impact on the developing foetus.

significant in a child’s development.

What happens if you don’t pay attention during these first 1 000 days?

Why are the first 1 000 days more important?

Malnutrition, risk of underdevelopment, effect on

The latest scientific research has established beyond any

brain development. This period can permanently affect

doubt that the first 1 000 days have by far the greatest impact on a child’s future capabilities, emotionally and socially. The early years are the greatest period of growth in the human brain. Babies are born with 25% of their

everything, from a child’s chances of developing diabetes or having a heart attack in old age, to their future weight and life expectancy. There are a series of critical stages in a child’s development. If conditions are not perfect

brains developed; by age three this has rapidly increased

at every step, problems can occur later. Many of these

to 80%. A child’s development progress at the age of 22

danger points are when the baby is still in the womb. Poor

months accurately predicts what the educational outcome

nutrition for a mother affects both the unborn baby’s

will be at age 26. The antenatal period is as important as

weight and how well the placenta works.

CO MMUNI TY | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Read in: Sesotho

Community Engagement launches

Digital Storytelling project

BY THABO KESSAH

“We have partnered with the Common Good First initiative to enhance the service that we provide as a department,” said Bishop Billyboy Ramahlele, Director: Community Engagement. “We challenge all academics, support staff, the SRC and students in general, to take advantage of this channel to communicate their stories to the world,” he said.

Histories of royal families “The digital documentation of the histories of the royal families in the Qwaqwa area is in the pipeline and will be conducted in partnership with the Department of History. We have come to realise that with times changing, the younger generation loses track of the precious histories, and this platform will help in

n an effort to broaden the storytelling horizons and to answer to the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Community Engagement on the UFS Qwaqwa

preserving that,” he added. Community Engagement coordinator, Moodi Matsoso, also revealed that space has been identified for the lab. “At the moment, we are operating on mobile digital storytelling devices, with all the necessary equipment such as tablets and cameras. However, we will soon have a fully-fledged lab on campus,” she said.

Campus recently launched the Digital Storytelling project,

This project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the

aimed at broadening access to good community stories.

European Union.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | C OM M U NI T Y

PHOTO: THABO KESSAH

Dr Deidré van Rooyen from the Centre for Development Support, Dr Jared McDonald (Department of History), Moodi Matsoso, and Bishop Billyboy Ramahlele with the mobile device.

Back to the future Drones take centre stage in fossil research in the rural Eastern Cape

Gavin Dollman is involved in virtual prospecting for fossils, using a drone.

BY THABO KESSAH

avin Dollman is one of the young researchers

took hundreds of pictures that were later put together to create

selected for the international research

a detailed map,” he said.

programme funded through the US-SA Higher

Education Network. This prestigious programme is aimed at giving PhD candidates and their supervisors the opportunity to regularly travel to the USA and

“The map allowed virtual prospecting by the team and will in the long term serve as the basis for a predictive fossil model in the area.”

spend time at participating US universities where their

“The University Staff Doctorate Programme (USDP) has allowed

co-promoters will be based.

me to bring my idea of collaborative science to fruition. It’s an exciting opportunity,” Dollman said.

and palaeontologists from the universities of Birmingham, Zurich and Oxford on a project site in rural Eastern Cape under the auspices of the University of the Witwatersrand’s Evolution

Prospecting for palaeontology Dollman added that his PhD studies would focus on the

Studies Institute (ESI).

machine and deep learning regarding prospecting for

Hundreds of pictures

University in the USA. Other participating universities are the

palaeontology. He will be studying at the Appalachian State Montana State University and Colorado State University.

“My role within this massive project is to perform a detailed survey of the sites and the surrounding area for later analysis.

Dollman is a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science

I used a drone known as the DJI Phantom 3 Pro, with which I

and Informatics on the Qwaqwa Campus. RESEARCH | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

PHOTO: THABO KESSAH

He also had the privilege to work alongside a team of geologists

Quest for research excellence new training opportunities B Y C H A R L E N E S TA N L E Y

n exciting new clinical trial at FARMOVS could eliminate the need for surgery in women with pre-cancerous conditions that could progress to

cervical cancer. A state-of-the-art piece of medical equipment was imported to assist in the trial. With it came the unique opportunity for medical students to get exposure to the very latest cutting-edge technology in the field of gynaecology.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

The Ferrari of scopes

Traditionally, the physician applied acetic acid to the cervix and then had to observe the tissue discoloration through a standard colposcope. Lesions could easily be missed, and you only had one chance to observe the reaction,” explains Jeanne-Annette Rossouw, biomedical engineering technologist at FARMOVS, who is in charge of sourcing, installing, and maintaining the medical equipment used in clinical research projects. “The unique feature of the DYSIS colposcope is that it accurately measures the reaction of the cervix using a proprietary technology called dynamic spectral imaging.” “This really is the Ferrari of scopes,” says an excited Dr Klaas Mangalo, registrar in the UFS Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, who assists with all clinical examinations during the trial. U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | R E S E A R C H

Reduction in cervical-cancer rate “Where doctors previously had to rely on the naked eye to make a diagnosis, we are now able to project and magnify a high-quality image, which reduces subjectivity. We can also record images and compare them at different stages of treatment.” A state-of-the-art cervical mapping system highlights suspicious areas and provides markers to guide biopsies. Prof Shisana Baloyi, Head of the UFS Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, says all registrars in the department will soon be given training on the digital colposcope, which is currently the only one in Africa. He sees it as an important innovation that should be implemented at all medical schools. “It drastically cuts down on the consultation time needed with patients, as a high-quality assessment and accurate biopsy can be done in one session. This improves early detection and will ultimately lead to a reduction in the cervical-cancer rate,” he says. “Investing in the very latest medical instrumentation is a prime priority for FARMOVS,” says Dr Michelle Middle, CMO of FARMOVS. “To see it also being put to positive use in the training of our medical specialists, is a wonderful return on that investment.”

brings

Dr YolandĂŠ Swart, Senior Clinical Research Physician at FARMOVS, and Dr Klaas Mongalo, registrar in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. They are both involved with the cervical cancer research trial, seen here with the digital colposcope that promises to revolutionise training for medical specialists.

RESEARCH | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Opportunity is knocking;

research ensures that pecan industry thrives

B Y I G N O VA N N I E K E R K

“When opportunity knocks, you must jump. The more opportunity knocks, the more you should jump.” Look closely, and you will notice the rise in pecan-nut plantations as you travel through South Africa. Do not be surprised if you find that the UFS’s pecan-nut project – steered by Dr Gert Marais, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Plant Sciences – is associated with those pecans.

Main exporter In an ever expanding and interconnected global economy, South Africa has joined the USA as main exporters of pecan nuts to China. We have several advantages; our seasons differ from that of the USA, and we have the benefit that we are harvesting and exporting pecan nuts at the time when they are most popular at Chinese festivals and events. Although it takes a long time to grow pecan trees (seven to eight years before they start producing), the long wait has extensive benefits. Dr Marais explains: “Unlike other crops, you do not have to prepare the soil and plant new crops annually. Rather than re-investing, you only need to do proper maintenance. Once planted, the pecan trees can produce for generations to come. And the UFS is involved in ensuring that the pecan industry not only survives but thrives.”

Empowering farmers

Stem rot of a pecan tree. decline, others from scab, and some others are infested by combinations of fungi not found in other countries. Dr Marais and his team have filed several ‘first reports’ of combinations between pecans and pathogens, leading to opportunities for MSc research projects and making a difference in the industry. He undertakes six field trips per year to visit all the production areas in South Africa, share information at farmer’s days, arrange courses to ensure best practices with regard to pecan cultivation; students also use these visits to collect samples for their research. Due to the systemic collaboration between the private sector and the university, farmers are empowered to manage their pecan crops better, the university benefits from cutting-edge research, and South Africa becomes a stronger player in the international economy.

As the pecan industry in South Africa grows, new challenges are identified. Some trees suffer from a condition called overall

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | R E S E A R C H

Opportunity is knocking. And the UFS is jumping.

Dr Gert Marais says the UFS is helping to ensure that the pecan industry not only survives but thrives.

Dr Marais undertakes six field trips per year to visit all the production areas in South Africa. Here he joined a group of farmers near a pecan orchard in Parys (Free State).

Photo: Igno van Niekerk

Pecan scab on nuts.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal.

RESEARCH | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

When academics and economics meet BY DR CINDÉ GREYLING

ovsieInnovation at the UFS is bridging the gap

the DRD wants to attract new and continuous research as a

between industry and academics with a powerful

renowned academic knowledge partner that can foster, drive,

force. For too long, research remained an academic

pursuit, with many innovative ideas stuck between the pages of a thesis – only to come alive during exclusive, short-lived conference proceeds.

KovsieInnovation Recently, Gerard Verhoef, Director in the Directorate: Research Development (DRD), and his team from KovsieInnovation finalised their Innovation and Commercialisation Strategy in order to create a structured pathway for good ideas. The primary objective of KovsieInnovation – the UFS Innovation and Entrepreneurship Office – is to achieve sustainable growth

and successfully commercialise innovative research activities; and in doing so, foster an entrepreneurial culture at the UFS.

Liquid Culture One such success story is the development of Liquid Culture into a business of choice, supplying liquid yeast to breweries and bakeries. Christopher Rothmann and Dr Errol Cason are the driving forces behind this company that produces their sought-after and stable yeast product in the Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Food Biotechnology at the UFS. With world-class equipment and laboratories, they house one of the largest yeast-culture collections in the world. Both Rothman and Dr Cason were home brewers for many

in third-stream income from innovative research activities

years before starting to produce commercial batches. They

stemming from the UFS. “Potential successful ideas must

believe it would not have been possible without the help of

be feasible, viable, and sustainable, and we formulated an

KovsieInnovation. This project was also one of the finalists in

eight-step plan to facilitate this,” Verhoef explains. Ultimately,

the National Entrepreneurship Intervarsity.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | R E S E A R C H

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Christopher Rothmann and Dr Errol Cason from LiquidCulture. Pictured with them is Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela.

Christo Strydom Nutrition (CSN) Another innovative way in which the UFS generates thirdstream income via the DRD, is by partnering with already successful commercial products. One such example is the recent successful royalty agreement with CSN. With this transaction, the university unlocked its brand potential to the benefit of both the industry partner and the UFS. Quality assurance remains the key success factor for deals like this. RESEARCH | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

‘Success is tied to the company you keep’ B Y I G N O VA N N I E K E R K

s a young girl growing up in the Cameroon, her

high, she finds the time to play with her 14-month-old baby

dad told her that once she had completed her first

every day. “When I arrive home and she sees me – that’s when

degree, she could choose where in the world she

wanted to study. Her first choice was the United States; she applied and was admitted. So, how did she come to complete her postgraduate studies

my energy soars – and we start playing. Where possible, I take her to conferences with me. As a working mother, I understand the challenge of finding the balance, and my husband is great in supporting me.”

and then became a professor and Head of the UFS Department

Finding the balance

of Business Management?

Having risen to the position of professor, being happily married,

A matter of timing Prof Brownhilder Neneh, Associate Professor in the Department of Business Management, tells the story. “It was a matter of timing. The new intake in the US took place in June; I started looking around and saw that there was an opportunity to come to the UFS. I did not want to waste six months; so, I came here, did my honours degree, and within one year and five months,

and apparently having found the balance which many people seems to strive for their entire lives, I ask Prof Neneh what her recipe for success is. She doesn’t hesitate: “Success is tied to who you marry (if you get married), the company you keep, hard work, consistency, and always trying to be the best at what you do – and, oh yes, failure is part of success; it teaches you to be persistent and resilient. I also believe that God’s grace and favour has added to my success.”

I completed my master’s degree (Cum Laude), and then went

At a conference in September 2019, Prof Neneh once again

home. I thought of doing my PhD in Germany but realised that

talked about her favourite topic – women entrepreneurs and

the language might be a challenge; I came back and within a

the challenges they face. She believes that there is a lot to be

year and a few months, I completed my PhD.”

done to lessen the load of entrepreneurial women. And as I get ready to leave, I ask for her definition of success. She doesn’t

Listening to Prof Neneh relate the story, one might think she

hesitate: “Seeing students fly above you – and shining. Yes, to

does nothing but study; although her academic workload is

see them shine.”

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | S TA F F

P H O T O : I G N O VA N N I E K E R K

Prof Brownhilder Neneh believes failure is part of success â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it teaches you to be persistent and resilient.

STAFF | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Mental-health run

Video

brings awareness to doorstep of ordinary South Africans BY RULANZEN MARTIN

he UFS Run for Mental Health to Stellenbosch fell

gets to interact with the community and educate them about

under the auspices of the university’s Project Care,

mental-health conditions,” said Prof Francis Petersen, UFS

which is demonstrated through this mental-health

awareness run by the Faculty of Health Sciences together with Organisational Development and Employee Wellness at the university.

the university to engage with communities in this way. “The two causes emphasised by this run are embedded in what the university stands for. One of the key priorities is the safety

On 21 September 2019, three teams took on the distance of 1 075 km between the City of Roses and the City of Oaks,

and well-being of our staff and students,” said Prof Petersen.

running through the night, carrying a symbolic baton of hope

Bringing hope to communities

for the many South Africans suffering from mental illness. They

As much as the run to Stellenbosch was intended to create

presented mental-health awareness campaigns in the towns

awareness of mental health and provide hope to the

they passed through on their way to Stellenbosch. “It is important to make communities aware of mental health. With this initiative, the university

Rector and Vice-Chancellor. He also said it was important for

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | S TA F F

communities, it also reinforced the importance of exercise to fight mental illness. “With this run to Stellenbosch, we want to make people aware of mental-health issues and

the importance of exercise,” said Burneline Kaars, Head: Organisational Development and Employee Wellness at the UFS. “I am speechless; it was an amazing experience to run this 1 075 km. The team spirit was great in getting through the mental toughness of the route,” said Arina Engelbrecht, organiser of the run and Employee Wellness specialist at the UFS, upon their arrival at the Coetzenburg Sports Stadium in Stellenbosch. “Taking part in this run made me aware of the privilege we have to be healthy, and I would like to emphasise the importance of exercise. Embrace it, because exercise is medicine,” she said.

The UFS team presented activities in the towns they visited to raise awareness about mental health.

Challenging other universities On 25 September 2019, Susan van Jaarsveld, Senior Director: UFS Human Resources, handed over the symbolic baton of hope on the Coetzenburg Stadium to Dr Pierre Viviers, Senior Director of Campus Health Services at Stellenbosch University. With this run, the UFS adds its voice to the many mental-health awareness campaigns and challenges that other universities are putting in place to create a culture of care within the higher-education sector. The initiative was sponsored by: BestMed, Standard Bank, Shell, Annique Health and Beauty, Xerox, Bidvest Car Rental, Media24, Kloppers, New Balance, Clover, Futurelife, Mylan, Pharma Dynamics, and the SA Society of Psychiatrists.

Pictured here with the baton of hope are, from the left: Susan van Jaarsveld, Burneline Kaars, Arina Engelbrecht, and Tertia de Bruin, one of the coordinators and Project Manager in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

STAFF | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

One-on-one with

the youngest PhD holder in Africa

B Y VA L E N T I N O N D A B A

r Musawenkosi Saurombe changed the age

alleviating much conflict as well as the potential for conflict to

perception associated with attaining a PhD when

emerge. This type of work is particularly pertinent in a country

she became the youngest PhD holder on the African

continent at 23. The Senior Lecturer in the Department of Industrial Psychology’s work continues to speak for itself, as the Mail & Guardian recently named her one of 200 Young South Africans for 2019 in the Education category. Prior to this most recent title, the Institute of People Management selected Dr Saurombe as the 2018/19 Youth Leader of the Year for her significant contributions to the talent-management field. Bult magazine gained more insight into the person behind all this success in an online interview with Dr Saurombe.

What are the innovative ways in which your work seeks to address pertinent questions within your field? My niche research area is talent management, and more specifically, talent value proposition. As we are all aware, the relationships between employers and their employees are some of the most important relationships in any economy. My research seeks to address the various ways in which the gap

such as South Africa where industrial action is highly prone.

What should employers of the future be screening for? “One of the phenomena that my research has uncovered is the significance of the advent of technology in facilitating the relationship between employer and employee. In attempts to keep up with the 4th Industrial Revolution that is currently underway, organisations have had to create more room for the incorporation of technology in their company operations.

How can individuals be more innovative in their professional lives? The greatest form of innovation is finding one’s ‘superpower’ and exploiting it to one’s own benefit. This concept has been largely accepted as ‘entrepreneurship’. The current generation, in particular, needs a mindset shift from job seeking to job creation. When individuals are aware of their strengths, they should be able to leverage them through the identification of societal needs which they can address with their strengths.

Is being innovative informed by nature or nurture?

between employer and employee can be bridged. Due to the

I believe that innovation has to a large extent to do with one’s

often insidiously diverging perspectives between employers and

inherent nature; however, innovation can also be taught, or

their employees, my research assists in identifying how both

evoked. In my personal case, acquiring my PhD merely afforded

parties can be made to see each other’s points of view, thus

me the opportunity to apply my innovation.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | S TA F F

“The greatest form of innovation is finding one’s ‘superpower’ and exploiting it to one’s own benefit.”

Dr Musawenkosi Saurombe, named by Mail & Guardian one of 200 Young South Africans for 2019 in the Education category.

PHOTO: SONIA SMALL

What words of wisdom do you always fall back on when the going gets tough? One of my favourite motivational speakers, Dr Eric Thomas, said, “talent will take you places that your character can’t keep you”. I’ve known these words to embody great veracity in life. I’ve seen and heard of many talented individuals failing to sustain their initially found success due to a deficiency in character. Young people in particular need to learn the importance of building good rapport and character. You may achieve the greatest of feats in life, but without character your success will be short-lived. STAFF | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Prof Philippe Burger:

Leapfrogging people right into the

Fourth Industrial Revolution B Y I G N O VA N N I E K E R K

rof Philippe Burger wears two hats. He is Vice-

programmes condensing essential learning into a year of study,

Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management

using a blended approach – making it accessible and efficient,

Sciences and the university’s Pro Vice-Chancellor:

Poverty, Inequality and Economic Development.

the challenges of entrepreneurs in previously disadvantaged

Taking into account the context of the economic situation

demands of the 4th Industrial Revolution, where Prof Burger’s

in South Africa, and specifically the Free State where unemployment, inequality, and poverty is rife, one realises that he has to wear many more hats, having to think creatively and innovate radically to ensure that the UFS plays a role in alleviating these challenges.

communities. At the same time, one needs to consider the vision is to “leapfrog people from excluded communities right into the 4th Industrial World”.

Tipping the economy Imagine a situation where three postgraduate students from

Investigating various opportunities

multiple disciplines co-operate. One does data analysis,

At present, Prof Burger is investigating various opportunities,

background in computer science to create an app. Such a

including multi-disciplinary research programmes in which postgraduate students from multiple disciplines could combine their research, leading to results that would stimulate entrepreneurship and the creation of new business startups. As it is unlikely that large corporates will create the bulk

and finding ways to promote inclusiveness by addressing

another understands marketing, and the third uses her co-creation of a business could lead to profits and create jobs, thereby strengthening the economy. Add to this the fact that these students might appoint a programmer who has completed one of the proposed focused short courses: a fast-tracked ‘mini degree’ in software programming.

of future jobs in the Free State, it is essential that small and

Systematically, more opportunities are created and with each

medium enterprises are successful. Entrepreneurs are the key

small step, progress is made in the direction of tipping the

role players in this.

economy into a faster growing curve.

Prof Burger distinguishes between high-growth

If this can happen, the UFS will be achieving the ultimate hat

entrepreneurship and micro-entrepreneurship. The challenge

trick: contributing to the alleviation of poverty, equality, and

with entrepreneurs is to create short, focused learning

unemployment.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | S TA F F

“It is unlikely that large corporates will create the bulk of future jobs

Prof Philippe Burger, recently appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor: Poverty, Inequality and Economic Development.

P H O T O : I G N O VA N N I E K E R K

in the Free State.”

STAFF | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Cutting-edge research can improve Africa: BY THABO KESSAH

Dr Richard Ocaya

ith the Fourth Industrial Revolution becoming a

areas of my research align closely with the millennium goals

reality, Dr Richard Ocaya’s research is receptive

of many governments globally, including the Republic of South

to the fact that Africa and the world need to re-

imagine their research. His research focuses on electronic instrumentation design for scientific measurements, computational physics on atomic nano-atomic structures, and semiconducting organic compound

Africa. These goals pertain to skills development and transfer that position us to better address the challenges of energy, water, and other priorities.” Dr Ocaya is currently co-promoting a PhD student, having previously supervised one PhD, two MSc, and more than

materials built on silicon to realise Schottky devices.

twenty honours students. He is a self-taught electronics and

Software developer

‘the voices and music coming from a box; a radio’. “In my

“I develop most of the instrumentation that I apply in my

devices, took them apart, and tried so many circuits, only

computer programmer, whose curiosity led him to question quest to satisfy my curiosity, I collected many discarded

research – both software and hardware,” said Dr Ocaya,

to have them fail because the theory was lacking. After

a Physics Lecturer and Programme Director: Physics and

thousands of failed projects and with me barely thirteen

Chemistry on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus.

and in lower secondary school, my first ever project actually

“I am active in scientific computing through the computing cluster and software development, mathematical physics for material science modelling, and embedded instrumentation

worked,” he said.

NRF-rating

design using microprocessors. I also have deep interest in radio

He is the author of the book Introduction to Control Systems

and data telemetry, in which I hold a South African patent issued

Analysis using Point Symmetries: An application of Lie

in 2013. My present international collaborations are with like-

Symmetries, which is available in all major bookstores such as

minded researchers in similar fields in Saudi Arabia, Turkey,

Amazon, in both print and e-book format. He is a C3 NRF-rated

Japan, Egypt, South Korea, and the United States,” he added.

researcher whose work makes a pioneering contribution to the new and growing field of phononics, an independent field of the

Quest to satisfy his curiosity

now established photonics.

“The driving principle of all areas of my research has always

“This field will someday lead to improved energy-storage

been to deploy cutting-edge research to actual, real-world

devices and faster processors due to more efficient heat

applications for the immediate betterment of Africans. The

removal from nanodevices,” he concludes.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | S TA F F

closely with the millennium goals of many governments

PHOTO: THABO KESSAH

“My research aligns

globally, including the Republic of South Africa.”

Dr Richard Ocaya’s research addresses the skills development and transfer millennium goal of many governments globally.

STAFF | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Read in:

isiZulu

Glolooks CEO on the importance of education in business B Y VA L E N T I N O N D A B A

efilwe Xaba, Senior Assistant Officer in

When she first developed the products, they were for personal

Entrepreneurship Development at the UFS Centre

use. Xaba evolved from an intrapreneur to an entrepreneur.

for Development Support, is the founder and

CEO of Glolooks. This Bloemfontein-based company manufactures and supplies an organic, natural hairproduct range.

She innovated a personal solution into a booming business idea. It was only in May 2016 that she decided to go into business, following growing interest in the way she maintained her hair. “I officially started in-depth research in October 2015, after years of making concoctions for myself.”

PHOTO: ANJA AUCAMP

Business and books Xaba reckons that a research background is beneficial for growing a business such as Glolooks that has a huge technical aspect. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Entrepreneurship Refilwe Xaba, the founder and CEO of Glolooks.

with a focus on marketing and is planning to use her business as a case study. Her undergraduate, honours, and master’s studies, which she completed at Kovsies, contributed to equipping Xaba with skills to grow her business. She believes in balancing education and business. “I have always been commerce-orientated. If there is a problem to be fixed, I fix it. However, people are at the centre of my heart.”

Growing Glolooks This year, Glolooks opened a salon in Westdene, where customers can receive a holistic experience above and beyond merely purchasing the product. Xaba says this is one of the ways her business is being innovative when it comes to creating relationships with customers.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | S TA F F

Refilwe co‑convener

for EDHE Studentpreneurs Community of Practice B Y X O L I S A M N U K WA

FS PhD (Chemistry) student, Refilwe Mogale, has been elected as co-convener for the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (HET)

Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Studentpreneurs Community of Practice. She was

“Being a leader is to be able to listen in order to understand the problem, and come up with solutions for it,” says Refilwe Mogale.

elected by a group of 18 studentpreneur leaders from various higher-education institutions in South Africa who participated in the Studentpreneurs Leadership Forum at the recent EDHE Conference Lekgotla 2019. Mogale represented the UFS with a presentation on her own business, Ahang Amalgamate (construction company), in possible solutions she has encountered for her business in the

listening as an instrument of critical problem-solving in any

university context.

given society.

Advocate for entrepreneurship

Inspiring others

As an advocate for increased entrepreneurship at the

Mogale believes that the UFS has played a critical role in aiding

university, her name became prominent in the university

the growth of her company through various entrepreneurial

student-entrepreneurial circles through her close working

competitions and opportunities that afforded them both capital

relationship with the KovsieInnovation and UFS Careers Office.

and exposure. She wants to use her position as co-convener to

These relationships were formed during Ahang Amalgamate’s

inspire students to take advantage of the opportunities made

winning streak of business-related competitions hosted by the

available to them at university.

university, as well as by Higher Education and Training.

PHOTO: ANJA AUCAMP

which she discussed the operational challenges, as well as

“One of the biggest problems that South Africa is facing right

“My job in the company is to bring about concepts and

now is unemployment,” explained Refilwe, who considers

ideas that will drive innovation in order to move it forward,”

the EDHE as a crucial role player in developing and driving an

explained Refilwe. She further reflected on leadership as a

entrepreneurial environment and incubator for students in

phenomenon that requires one to understand the essence of

higher-education institutions. STUD ENTS | UNI VER SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

SPROUTing hope Read in: isiZulu

B Y C H A R L E N E S TA N L E Y

basic business skills and helping them to find an outlet for

is paying off. Two years ago, a seed of resolve was

their produce. As part of the process, the women approached

planted in four young UFS women. They entered

the Enactus National Competition for entrepreneurship projects –and came stone last. But instead of giving up, they re-grouped, re-evaluated their priorities, and came up with an innovative agri-processing community-upliftment concept that has earned each of them a place on News24’s list of 100 Young Mandelas of the Future. “We asked ourselves what the big businesses out there were looking for when it came to community development. At that stage, we focused on arts and crafts and recycling. But we realised the need was for projects providing solutions around food insecurity, water management, and sustainable development,” explains Masabata Sebusi, final-year BCom Accounting student. Masabata and her three partners, Shadei Lepholletse, Tumelo Zondi, and Farai Mzungu, are all studying in different fields. They pooled their diverse insights, knowledge, and perspectives. And

potential business partners – from local supermarkets to big commercial companies – to negotiate on behalf of the farmers. This time, they seem to have struck the right nerve. Having won various grants while the concept was still an Enactus project, they have since registered Sprout Africa as a company. Various stakeholders have already shown interest to partner with them. Their main advice to fellow entrepreneurs: Think outside the box, find innovative ways to solve problems, learn from the communities you serve, and collaborate with people who have different skills from you. Except for Farai, who graduated earlier this year, all of them are in their final year of study. Next year, they won’t be job hunting like other new graduates. They’ll simply be stepping full time into their innovative enterprise.

Sprout Africa was born.

An enterprise that promises to keep on sprouting and growing.

The company’s aim is to give people in rural communities

And hopefully produce seeds of inspiration for other students

training in modern farming techniques, equipping them with

to pick up.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | S T U D E NT S

PHOTO: ANJA AUCAMP

ovsie students’ innovative agri-processing venture

Shadei Lepholletse, BSc Genetics and Physiology; Masabata Sebusi, BCom Accounting; and Tumelo Zondi, BCom Entrepreneurial Management; three of the directors of Sprout Africa, an agriculture and agri-processing company - the perceived potential of which has earned them each a place on the list of News24â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100 Young Mandelas of the Future. STUD ENTS | UNI VER SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Burning desire for change B Y C H A R L E N E S TA N L E Y

She came up with a much safer design that still uses wood and

was at school, she was deeply disturbed by the

coal (making it affordable), with an interior water-filtration

number of people who die in South Africa every

year as a result of shack fires. She decided to do something about it. No-one in her family had ever invented anything before. But many of the learners at Newcastle High School, which she attended, were involved in exciting science and innovation projects. She was inspired to try her hand at it.

Much safer design She did research in informal settlements and rural areas for three months before discovering that most shack fires were caused by ‘imbawulas’ – the crude metal cylinders using coal or wood to make household fires in. These are usually placed inside the house for cooking and heating.

system which ensures that the smoke produced during heating does not get released into the home and the air in general.

Invention well received Her invention has been extremely well received. It won several prizes in various competitions while she was at school – for best community development, best mechanical engineering, and best rural development. Recently, it also earned her a place in the national finals of the Entrepreneurship Intervarsity. “Being in the finals was really a blessing I never saw coming!” says Grace. “I was overwhelmed by the amazing ideas other competitors at the regionals were bringing to the table.” She notes that there are many young people with great innovation concepts. But they’re held back by a lack of funding. “New inventions often come naturally for us as young people

Fires were normally caused by coals falling through ventilation

– if we’re focused on the right things. Innovation for me is all

holes. Toxins were also released into the house, which led to

about finding positive solutions for the problems we see around

health issues.

us,” says Mthembu.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | S T U D E NT S

PHOTO: CHARL DEVENISH

hen fourth-year LLB student, Grace Mthembu

Grace Mthembu believes new inventions often come naturally for young people.

STUD ENTS | UNI VER SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Read in:

English

UV-alumni vereer by

ie ontvangers van vanjaar se gesogte UV

Dit is toegeken aan die gevierde skrywer, dr Riana Scheepers,

Kanselierstoekennings vir Uitnemende Alumni het

vir haar belangrike bydrae as ’n skrywer en taalopvoeder.

bestaan uit twee skrywers, ’n kunstenaar, twee

prokureurs, drie atlete, ’n dieetkundige en ’n omroeper. Nie net is hierdie oud-Kovsies se lewens en loopbane onherroeplik deur die UV gevorm nie; met die sukses wat hulle op hulle verskillende terreine behaal het, het hulle op hulle beurt weer eer terug weerkaats na die instelling. Vanjaar is daar ook vir die eerste keer ’n eretoekenning oorhandig.

Ere-Kanselierstoekenning vir Uitnemende Alumnus: Dr Khotso Mokhele Hierdie toekenning gee erkenning aan die buitengewone ondersteuning, leiding en prestasies wat ’n individu tot die UV gelewer het. Dit is toegeken aan die UV se Kanselier, dr Khotso Mokhele.

Kanselierstoekenning vir Uitnemende Alumnus van die Jaar: Dr Riana Scheepers

“Kunstenaars word nie altyd erken nie. Doen wat jy moet doen, maar bly geïnspireerd. Hoe harder jy werk, hoe groter sal die wonderwerk wees,” was dr Scheepers se raad aan aspirantskrywers by ontvangs van haar toekenning.

Jong Alumnus van die Jaar-toekenning: Karla Pretorius Hierdie toekenning erken die prestasies van alumni wat in die afgelope dekade gegradueer het en ’n groot bydrae op hulle gebied gemaak het. Dit is toegeken aan die Suid-Afrikaanse professionele netbalspeler en dieetkundige, Karla Pretorius.

Cum Laude-toekenning: Dr Janine AllenSpies, Ryan Craig Ishmail en Jaco Jacobs Hierdie toekenning word aan ’n alumnus gemaak om uitnemendheid op enige gebied te erken, hetsy op beroepsvlak of as vrywilliger. Dr Janine Allen-Spies: kunstenaar, beeldfilosoof en senior

Dit is die hoogste eer wat aan ’n alumnus toegeken word ter

UV-dosent in Beeldende Kunste, is vereer vir haar prestasies

erkenning van die ontvanger se uitnemende prestasies. Hierdie

op die gebied van beeldende kuns en vir haar akademiese

toekenning vier ’n uitnemende alumnus wat mede-alumni,

baanbrekerswerk wat die weg baan vir baie jong kunstenaars

huidige studente en die gemeenskap oor die algemeen inspireer.

in die Vrystaatse kunsgemeenskap.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | A L U M NI

P H O T O S : TA N K I S O K H U M A L O

D E U R C H A R L E N E S TA N L E Y

Kanselierstoeken vir Uitnemende

nningsgeleentheid Alumni Die ontvangers van toekennings vir hulle werk tydens vanjaar se gesogte UV Kanselierstoekennings vir Uitnemende Alumni, was van links, voor: Louzanne Coetzee, dr Riana Scheepers, Jaco Jacobs; agter: Marius Janse van Rensburg, dr Janine Allen-Spies, Angie Khumalo, prof Corinna Walsh en Ryan Craig Ishmail.

ALUMNI | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

F O T O â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S : TA N K I S O K H U M A L O

Om hulle sukses te vier, was van links: Kesa Molotsane, Louzanne Coetzee, Angie Khumalo; agter: Pieter du Toit, Voorsitter van die UV-Alumnivereniging; dr Khotso Mokhele; Willem Louw, Voorsitter van die UV-Raad; en prof Francis Petersen, Rektor en Visekanselier van die UV.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | A L U M NI

Ryan Ishmail: prokureur en waarnemende landdros by die

betrokkenheid by navorsing met betrekking tot voeding en

Departement van Justisie en Grondwetlike Ontwikkeling,

gesondheidsepidemiologie.

was op 31-jarige ouderdom die jongste landdros ooit in die Vrystaat. Hy het as toesighoudende prokureur by die UV Regskliniek, as dosent en as regsbeampte in die Direktoraat vir Studentedissipline en Bemiddeling gewerk. Jaco Jacobs: bekende skrywer, word gereeld erken as die suksesvolste skrywer van kinderboeke in Suid-Afrika. Hy het talle toekennings vir sy skryfwerk ontvang en besoek gereeld skole om motiveringspraatjies te lewer en skryfwerksessies aan te bied.

Hoofbestuurstoekenning: Marius Janse van Rensburg en prof Corinna Walsh Hierdie dienstoekenning word gemaak aan ’n individu wat uitsonderlike diens aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat gelewer het. Marius Janse van Rensburg: is vereer vir sy diens in die bestuurstrukture van die UV Rugbyklub vir ’n ononderbroke tydperk van 23 jaar. Sy inspirerende, onwrikbare leierskap –

Kovsie Ambassadeurstoekenning: Louzanne Coetzee, Angie Khumalo en Kesa Molotsane Die Kovsie Ambassadeurstoekenning word gemaak aan ’n individu wie se prestasies vir hom/haar onderskeiding gebring het, tot voordeel van die gemeenskap was, en vir die UV aansien gebring het. Louzanne Coetzee: atleet en koshuishoof van die Akasiakoshuis by die UV, hou die wêreldrekord vir die 5 000 m in die T11 (heeltemal blind) -kategorie en was die eerste heeltemal blinde vrou om sub-20 minute in hierdie afstand te behaal. Sy is ook die houer van die Afrikarekord in die 1 500 m. Angie Khumalo: gevierde radio-omroeper van Johannesburg, werk as ’n suksesvolle sport- en nuusleser en filmresensent. Sy was ook die mede-aanbieder van die TV-toerismeprogram Vaya Mzanzi wat die land op motorfietse deurreis het, en sy is ook ’n passievolle boer.

waarvoor hy deur die jare geen vergoeding ontvang het nie – het gehelp om die UV Rugbyklub te vestig as een van die

Kesa Molotsane: ’n professionele atleet, is beskryf as die land se

voorste amateurrugbyklubs in die land.

veelsydigste middelafstandatleet – presteer in baan-, landloopen padwedlope. Sy is ook bekend vir haar betrokkenheid in

Prof Corinna Walsh: Professor in Voeding en Dieetkunde aan

gemeenskapsprojekte, byvoorbeeld as ambassadeur vir die

die UV en ’n NNS C3-gegradeerde navorser, is vereer vir haar

Moeder en Kind Akademiese Hospitaal (MACAH). ALUMNI | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Read in: Sesotho

UFS alumni Karabelo talk innovation B Y X O L I S A M N U K WA

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Exemplary Kovsie alumni, Karabelo Maloi and Thulani Babeli, reflect on the Chevening Scholarship and innovation as integral stepping-stones to their futures, and realising the potential wellbeing of Africa.

FS alumni, Karabelo Maloi, BCom Investment

The Chevening Scholarship is a prestigious, fully funded UK

Management and Banking (obtained with distinction

Government Scholarship with an acceptance rate of only

2017), and Thulani Babeli, BScHons Actuarial

Science (2018), have both been selected by the Chevening Scholarship to complete their masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees in the United Kingdom (UK) for the 2020/2021 term.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | A L U M NI

2% that funds highly talented young individuals from across the globe to pursue masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studies at a UK university of their choice. Maloi and Babeli were chosen from 60 000 applicants and were part of only 1 300 applicants who were awarded the scholarship.

and Thulani and the future Maloi will be pursuing an MSc in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Warwick and is excited to fulfil his prospect of securing an opulent future for himself and

He further aims to propel innovation through green entrepreneurship to leverage the digital age and gain access to markets and funding in order to unleash potential that could

his family.

deliver the world into a new era of prosperity.

“I am passionate about using my skills to transform the lives of the most vulnerable members of my community.” – Karabelo Maloi “Innovation to me is represented by any instance in which creativity and technology intersect to improve the material nature of people’s everyday lives,” Maloi explained. He plans to employ the knowledge and skills that will reach and employ a wide range of commercialisation, climate-smart and drought-resistant agricultural technology solutions to curb the food crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. As co-founder of an online business/platform that connects African green technology entrepreneurs to mentors and funding capital, Maloi has sourced team members from Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, and the Democratic Republic

Thulani Babeli’s interest in finance was sparked in his highschool years, and ever since he envisioned himself becoming a qualified actuary. He hopes to take a step closer to realising this dream by completing his master’s degree in London. He currently works for the Central Bank of Lesotho as an actuarial analyst, is a student member of the Actuarial Society of South Africa and is also studying for his professional exams in order to become a qualified actuary.

“My family and friends are my biggest inspiration.” – Thulani Babeli Babeli’s long-term goal is to invest in learning and developing his actuarial and data-science expertise, which he believes are relevant in today’s emerging market and problem-solving skills. He reflected on innovation as a key to unlocking the financial industry. He went on to exemplify this analogy on

of the Congo (DRC).

the basis of how the insurance industry’s data technology has

“Sub-Saharan Africa is clamouring for its young people to rise

use of Telematics, which will lead to better understanding,

above adversity and to build an African society that future

assessment, and calculation of risk in various business-

generations will be proud to inherit,” said Maloi.

insurance industries.

enabled better ways to capture and analyse data through the

ALUMNI | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

BY LEONIE BOLLEURS

tanding at the scene of a terrible road accident – someone asked the paramedic on the scene, Markes Butler, if he ever gets used to this pain. “I

am human, I will never get used to this.” The story of Markes is one of dedication, never giving up, and

Markes (left) did humanitarian work with Gift of the Givers.

helping others.

Helping in the field

Preparing for the future

He had the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives

Earlier this year Markes enrolled for a PhD in Health Professions

of the disaster response team, and in Nepal (2014 during an

Education in the UFS Faculty of Health Sciences. This will be his

earthquake) and Indonesia, he did humanitarian and disaster

seventh qualification.

response work as part of a Gift of the Givers team.

Thirty years ago he registered at the UFS Faculty of Education

It is important to understand that you are part of a team

with the hope of qualifying as a teacher but he had to leave the

when you are out in the field. Gift of the Givers founder, Imtiaz

university because he did not have the financial means to finish

Sooliman, believes things happen through you, not by you. “In

his studies. But when the door closed on his hopes of becoming

this team, you are often required to not only search and rescue

a teacher, several other doors opened for him, leading him to

people, but to also perform humanitarian work, such as helping

pursue his life calling – to help others.

out in clinics and distributing food and clothes. Your small

both in South Africa and abroad. In Haiti (2002), he was part

contribution makes a big difference,” Markes states. Markes signed up for several courses to equip himself for

various aspects of emergency work. All these qualifications

In all these situations, emergency workers are working under

prepared him to address a great need in the world – to effect

very difficult conditions. “But in the end, we are instrumental in

change in the lives of people in less fortunate circumstances.

doing something good for others.”

U NI VE RS IT Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | A L U M NI

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

A story of never giving up, dedication, and helping others

Big opportunity for

Franco at Azzurri BY RUAN BRUWER

wenty-six years after first experiencing the country, Franco Smith will once again return to Italy

Franco Smith, former Shimlas and Cheetahs coach, will be at the helm of the Italian rugby team for four years.

at the end of 2019, but this time as the head coach

of the Italian rugby team. His term runs from 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2024.

Coaching the Springboks “Since first playing in Modena in 1994, I fell in love with the country. I returned to Italy for a short stint with the Bologna club in 2001, and from 2002 to 2005 I represented Teviso. I later coached the club for seven years,” said Smith, a UFS alumnus who was at the helm of the Shimlas when they won the Varsity Cup in 2015. He was assistant coach for the Springboks in 2016 and 2017, following in the footsteps of former Shimlas such as Rassie Erasmus, Neil Powell, Jacques Nienaber, Brendan Venter, Nelie Smith, and Gysie Pienaar, who all coached or assisted a

players, the coaches, the stadiums, the conditions, and the

national team.

challenges they face.”

Taking stock

Smith said he hopes to merge the playing styles of the two

“It is a big opportunity. I see opportunities as moments to

the Northern Hemisphere, as I believe it can develop.”

hemispheres. “I would like to challenge how rugby is played in

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

take stock of what you have and what you could get. I always wanted to coach in the Six Nations (in which Italy competes).

According to Smith, the two coaches who influenced him

Their eagerness to get me to accept the offer played a role in me

the most were André Markgraaff under whom he played for

taking it. I also had to be sure I’m doing it for the right reasons.”

Griquas, and Erasmus with whom he coached the Cheetahs.

“I always felt if there was one country abroad where I could

In 2017, Smith received the Ambassador’s Award from the UFS

make a difference, it was in Italy. I know the country, the

at the 35th Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Award function. SP O RT | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Getting to know the

BY RUAN BRUWER

planet’s best netballer

arla Pretorius has been in the news big time in 2019

And the question she gets most often in interviews?

after receiving the highest accolade in world netball.

“Thoughts on the game you just played?”

The former UFS netballer was the Player of the

Tournament at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool. She represented and captained the Kovsies between 2009 and 2015 while studying BSc Dietetics.

Appreciates kindness Pretorius’ netball achievements are well documented, so with

Prepared to serve and learn Netball coach Burta de Kock, who approached Pretorius in her matric year (2008) to study at the UFS, says the 2009 intake was probably the best ever, as Pretorius was one of them. “She was prepared to serve and learn. Karla was and still is extremely modest.

this article Bult tried to get to know the person better.

“Being there in Liverpool in person, seeing her receive the

She believes that she is both an introvert and extrovert. “I’m

is the very same person I got to know.”

leaning more towards extrovert, but only just.” Inconsiderate people frustrate her; however, she appreciates characteristics such as kindness, self-awareness, and

award, was a goose-bump moment. Also knowing that this

“We are grateful and proud to be associated with such a role model. The players out there are looking up to her.”

consciousness of others in people.

The UFS acknowledged Pretorius for her netball

Something that not many people know about her, is that javelin

the Year Award at the UFS Chancellor’s Distinguished

was her main athletics event at school. “Not high jump or long

achievements. She received the Young Alumnus of Alumni Awards in September 2019. This award

jump which people would expect! My hidden talent is that I’m

acknowledges the achievements of alumni who have

great in braai.”

graduated within the past decade and have contributed immensely to their fields.

When Pretorius was a kid, she wanted to become a coach or

a golf player. “The first job I got paid for was as a community

This year, Karla received the Sport Star of the Year award

dietician. Photos and feelings are what makes me nostalgic.

for the second consecutive year at the Free State Sport

Coffee and pedicure are my biggest treat.”

Star Awards.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | SNE P OR W ST

PHOTO: REG CALDECOTT

“Karla was and still is extremely modest.”

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Karla Pretorius and Chrissy Fice, brand director for Vitality, the main sponsor of the 2019 Netball World Cup.

Maryka Holtzhausen and Karla Pretorius. Holtzhausen this year received the Volksblad Sportswoman of the Year award.

SP NEWS O RT | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

World Cup coaching bond

dates back to UFS days

PHOTO: MORGAN PIEK, OFM

BY RUAN BRUWER

Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus.

rom friends serving in the South African Defence Force (SANDF) 28 years ago, to working together at the University of the Free State, to winning the

2019 Rugby World Cup by defeating England in front of a capacity crowd on 2 November 2019 in Yokohama, Japan. This is the remarkable tale of Rassie Erasmus (Springbok head coach) and Jacques Nienaber (Springbok defence coach), two UFS alumni. Apart from the World Cup, Erasmus also guided the Springbok Rugby Team to win the Rugby Championship in 2019 (the first time since 2009), and they defeated the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2018 (the first time since 2009). Under Nienaber, South Africa conceded the fewest tries (four) of all the teams at the World Cup. The duo has developed a strong working relationship since serving in the SANDF and then at the UFS, where Erasmus was the captain of the Shimlas U20 team, and Nienaber the physiotherapist.

Rassie Erasmus, UFS alumnus and Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year 1998, with the William Webb Ellis trophy.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | S P OR T

Nienaber later became defence coach and served as Erasmus’ right-hand man at the Cheetahs, Stormers, Munster in Ireland, and the Springboks. “Rassie was a very good tactician in the army and you can see how that has filtered through into his coaching. We have found that we work well together. We are friends on the one hand, but he is also my boss,” Nienaber said at a news conference during the Rugby World Cup.

UFS provides platform for

hockey alumnae in Aus

“Kovsies shaped me into the player I am now.” Two former UFS hockey players plying their trade abroad, attribute the opportunity for them to play in Australia to the foundation laid at the UFS. Australia is one of the leading hockey countries in the world. Tanya Britz and Liné Malan, former Kovsie teammates and both former Protea players (Britz reached over 50 test caps), are both playing club hockey in Australia. Malan represents the Hale Hockey Club and Britz the Aquinas Hockey Club in the Perth Premier Hockey League. Between October and November, Malan also played for the Western Australian team, the Perth Thundersticks, in the professional league called Hockey1. It is Malan’s third season in Australia and Britz has been playing

and ultimately ending up in Australia. I am very grateful,” said Britz.

Got to face each other in 2019 After playing in the lower division the past few seasons, Britz’s team was promoted to the Premier division, which meant that she and Malan faced each other (twice) in 2019.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

BY RUAN BRUWER

“The standard is very high, the Australian players are drafted evenly into each club team to strengthen the team,” said Malan. If not playing hockey, Britz is a hockey umpire, studying Marketing and Communication, and working in the same field.

there for four years.

Kovsies a close-knit family “I grew so much as a player at Kovsies, which shaped me into the player I am now,” said Malan, a former UFS captain. She and Britz were key members of the team that reached the Varsity Hockey final in 2015. The team did not lose once in the run-up to that final. “The UFS is such a close-knit family setting, which gave me many opportunities to receive a lot of individual attention as a player and also opportunities to play in big tournaments. This all played a part in reaching my goals, representing my country,

Tanya Britz (left) and Liné Malan, former Kovsie and Protea teammates who are now both playing club hockey in Perth. SP O RT | UNI VE R SITY OF THE FR EE STATE

Ex-Kovsies at highest level of netball umpiring BY RUAN BRUWER

Best seats in the house According to Edeling, it was mentally and physically challenging and stressful, but also wonderful to be exposed to the top teams in the world and being assessed by world-class assessors. “It was an opportunity to learn, to acquire skills, and adopt these into my umpiring armamentarium. Going forward, the goal is to be the best umpire I can be and to keep improving. The feedback and new skills acquired made every second of preparation worthwhile.” “Although we had little spare time between umpiring one game and reserving another almost every day, we had the best spectator seats in the arena,” said Edeling, who studied Janet Edeling (left) and Elizna van den Berg at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool where they were two of the 17 umpires officiating matches.

“The experience was invaluable in growing my umpiring skills.”

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

A record number of three South African umpires officiated at this

Medicine at the UFS from 1983 to 1988, and postgraduate Ophthalmology specialisation from 1992 to 1996.

Only the beginning for Van den Berg For Van den Berg, the intensity, pace of play, and speed were at a level she hasn’t experienced before. “Teams lifted their game day in and day out. Scores do not always reflect the

year’s Netball World Cup – two of them former UFS students.

intensity of a game. The experience was invaluable in growing

Janet Edeling, an eye surgeon from East London, and Elizna van

taken away.”

my umpiring skills. It was an experience that can never be

den Berg, an admin controller in Cape Town, were two of 17 umpires chosen for the tournament in Liverpool.

“Hopefully this was just the beginning of great opportunities ahead. My dream is to umpire at the next Commonwealth

Two UFS alumnae, Maryka Holtzhausen and Karla Pretorius,

Games,” said Van den Berg, who studied at the UFS between

were also playing there for South Africa.

1997 and 2000.

U NIVE RS I T Y O F T H E F R E E S TAT E | S P OR T

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.â&#x20AC;? - Steve Jobs. With this edition of Bult the focus is on innovation. Cover pages: Barend Nagel