07 August 2025
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Story Precious Shamase
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Photo Supplied
The Enactus UFS Qwaqwa Campus group – winners of the Early-Stage National Exposition – celebrating their national victory.
The University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus is alive with pride as Enactus Qwaqwa’s groundbreaking project, Root Rescue, secured a momentous victory at the Enactus 2025 Early-Stage National Exposition. This remarkable achievement not only showcases the exceptional talent being fostered at the UFS but also serves as a prime example of the university's commitment to Vision 130, paving the way for Root Rescue to represent South Africa at the Enactus World Cup in Thailand in September.
Root Rescue: Cultivating a sustainable future aligned with Vision 130
Root Rescue emerged from a pressing need to address critical challenges in agriculture: over-reliance on chemical fertilisers, unsustainable farming practices, inadequate power supply, and water shortages for irrigation. This direct engagement with societal needs and the pursuit of innovative, sustainable solutions aligns with Vision 130's tenets of ‘maximum societal impact with sustainable relationships’ and ‘academic excellence, quality, and impact.’
The solution: Biochar fertiliser and renewable energy
At the heart of Root Rescue's innovation is its biochar fertiliser. This cost-effective and sustainable solution, derived from agricultural waste, offers a multitude of benefits:
- Exceptional water retention: Improves the soil's ability to hold water, crucial for arid regions, contributing to environmental sustainability – a core value of Vision 130.
- pH balance and enhanced fertility: Optimises soil conditions for healthier plant growth.
- Increased crop yields: Leads to more productive harvests for farmers, directly impacting livelihoods and food security, thereby generating societal impact.
- Nutrient retention and carbon sequestration: Keeps vital nutrients in the soil and helps combat climate change by capturing carbon, showcasing environmental stewardship.
Beyond the fertiliser, Root Rescue takes its sustainability commitment a step further by utilising pyrolysis gas – a byproduct of biochar production – as a clean, renewable energy source for electricity generation.
The powerhouse team behind Root Rescue
Root Rescue's success is a demonstration of the collaborative spirit and entrepreneurial drive of the UFS Enactus team. The project was conceived by MaNtombi Molefe (Research Officer). She was soon joined by Ntombinkulu Khumalo (Project Leader and Finance Officer) and Asanda Mpinga (Secretary). Later additions included Thembinkosi Mkhwananzi (Corporate Relations) and Chauke Mosebijadi (Media and Marketing) in June 2024, followed by first-year student Nthabiseng Lebina (Sales Officer). Each team member's unique strengths and dedicated portfolio have been instrumental in the project's development and success.
Dr Grey Magaiza, the faculty adviser, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the team, highlighting how they perfectly exemplify the UFS graduate attributes. "The team has not only demonstrated resilience, critical thinking, and an entrepreneurial spirit," Dr Magaiza stated, "but also a profound rootedness in relevance." He concluded by wishing them well on their upcoming journey to Thailand, expressing his hope that they will continue to exhibit the same exceptional qualities that have propelled them to this point.
Overcoming challenges and earning accolades
Like many budding enterprises, Root Rescue's primary hurdle was securing startup capital. The team ingeniously overcame this by actively participating in various competitions, accumulating a string of impressive victories:
- AIV
- Amrut Foundation
- EMS UFS Incubator
- Enactus UFSQ Intra-Competition
- And now, the prestigious Enactus 2025 Early-Stage National Exposition
This journey of resilience and innovation underlines a key message that Enactus aims to convey, and which resonates strongly with Vision 130: you do not need a fully developed business idea to join. Enactus provides the guidance and platform to nurture and shape aspiring entrepreneurs, fostering the skills and mindset vital to achieving the UFS' strategic goals of academic excellence and societal impact.
Acknowledging exceptional leadership
Adding to the Qwaqwa Campus' accolades, Ntombinkulu Khumalo, the dedicated Project Leader and Finance Officer for Root Rescue, was honoured with the Evan Poulos Student Leader Excellence Award for the year 2025. This award recognises her outstanding leadership qualities as Enactus Team President and her impactful implementation of community empowerment projects that have positively transformed lives. Her dedication and ability to drive change perfectly embody the values of care, social justice, and leadership that are central to the UFS' Vision 130.
While celebrating their national victory, the Root Rescue team is focused on their next steps. A current challenge is getting their Biochar fertiliser lab tested and SABS-approved – a crucial step for wider market acceptance and impact. This commitment to quality and real-world application is an integral part of the UFS' drive for ‘academic excellence, quality, and impact’ as outlined in Vision 130.
The team is also in full preparation for the Enactus World Cup in Thailand from 25 to 28 September, where they will once again present their innovative project in the early-stage round. This international platform offers an incredible opportunity to showcase UFS Qwaqwa's talent and make a global impact, contributing directly to Vision 130's aspiration of being ‘acknowledged by peers and society as a top-tier university in South Africa, ranked among the best in the world.’