Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State (UFS), recently met with Councillor Gregory Nthatisi, the Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional partnerships and address pressing social issues within the province.

Members of Councillor Nthatisi’s Executive Council as well as City Manager Sello More also formed part of the delegation. Additionally, senior municipal leadership, including members of the Mayoral Committee and heads of departments, attended the meeting, which took place on the Bloemfontein campus on 3 June 2025.

The engagement, which served as an introductory meeting following Prof Klopper’s recent appointment, primarily reaffirmed a shared commitment between the university and the municipality to work together to address challenges that both students and the broader community face. Key areas of focus included student and community safety, youth unemployment, capacity development and access to suitable accommodation. 

A shared vision for safety, development and accountability

Both UFS and the Metro echoed the need for structured collaboration in responding to the needs of the city’s residents and the student population.

“Critical issues like economic development, unemployment and student accommodation are not challenges we can solve alone,” Prof Klopper said. “The university is unlocking its immense expertise and looking at how we can really use it to our advantage – not just for the city, but also for the country.”

“If we as leaders give a clear indication of commitment, bringing our teams together to see what contribution we can make for our communities, it will change that dynamic. My personal wish is to formalise a structure I’d call a VC-Mayor Forum, through which we can meet regularly and touch base on the big issues.”

Councillor Nthatisi welcomed the renewed collaboration and emphasised the role of the university in helping to shape responsive, informed services across the city. 

“We must begin to advance our services at a mutual level in taking the city forward,” he said. “This interaction shows that joint activity between institutions can ensure that the needy and the poorest of the poor are attended to, whether in terms of job creation or safety, or making certain that students in our care are protected.”

Among the concerns raised, student safety and security stood out as an urgent priority. Both the Metro and the university expressed strong alignment in ensuring that students, especially those far from home, are protected from crime, unsafe living conditions and exploitation within the city. This includes long-term solutions related to infrastructure, law enforcement collaboration and accountability.

Describing UFS as a “big brother in the knowledge economy,” Councillor Nthatisi added: “We are going to come out guns blazing and say to the institution, ‘Come in, and come in handy’ – whether it’s [related to] water, sanitation, engineering or skills. We need lasting solutions that are informed and scientific, and that will have meaning and impact for our tomorrow, today.”