04 February 2026
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Story Lunga Luthuli
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Photo Kaleidoscope Studios
Pictured at the official cutting of the ribbon to open the Student Governance and CSRC building (from left to right): Prof Ylva Rodny-Gumede (Executive Director: Advancement), Dr Temba Hlasho (Executive Director: Division of Student Affairs, Sport, Arts and Culture), Ogorogile Moleme (CSRC President, Bloemfontein Campus), Prof Hester C. Klopper (Vice-Chancellor and Principal), Prof Bulelwa Nguza-Mduba (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People and Operations), and Dr Molapo Qhobela (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Strategic Initiatives, International and Institutional Affairs).
Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State (UFS), officially opened the new Student Governance and Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC) Offices on the Bloemfontein Campus on 3 February, marking the transformation of the former Roosmaryn Residence dining hall into a dedicated student governance space.
Speaking at the opening, Prof Klopper said, “This is indeed a milestone that speaks directly to what we value dearly at the University of the Free State: our students, their voices, and their active participation in shaping our institutional future. The building stands as a powerful example of thoughtful repurposing.”
The transformation of the dining hall into a student governance space was an intentional decision by the UFS, to “align with the institution’s commitment to sustainable use of existing resources”.
“Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, we chose to reimagine and adapt,” Prof Klopper said, noting that sustainability at the UFS extends beyond environmental considerations to “how we responsibly use existing resources to meet evolving institutional needs”.
Prof Klopper added that the transformation of the space mirrors the university’s broader approach to institutional change. “This mirrors our approach to transformation itself – building on what is solid, while reshaping what no longer serves us.” She described the project as part of the UFS’s commitment to advancing “responsible societal futures where sustainability, equity, and impact become lived realities”.
There are also plans in place to expand student governance facilities at both the Qwaqwa and South campuses. According to
Pholla Mbalane, Deputy Director in the
Institutional Student Governance Office, the next phase includes expanding the South Campus offices to meet the SRC’s growing needs, while ISGO is also developing a new project for the Qwaqwa Campus SRC. “This is to ensure that SRCs have functional spaces that enable them to work effectively and serve their constituency,” Mbalane said.
Ogorogile Moleme, CSRC President of the Bloemfontein Campus, welcomed the allocation of a dedicated building to the SGO staff and CSRC. “The new building allows for unrestricted cultural expression and provides a sense of independence, which was previously compromised by shared occupancy with the management of DSA-SAC. The spacious and well-defined offices facilitate effective interaction with the student body.”
Prof Klopper highlighted the importance of housing student governance structures together, explaining that the co-location of staff and student leaders strengthens collaboration and partnership. “When those who serve students work alongside student leaders themselves, collaboration becomes natural rather than forced,” she said. According to Prof Klopper, the shared space allows for continuous communication and helps “break down hierarchies and create the conditions for genuine partnership in advancing student interests”.
Addressing student leaders, Prof Klopper challenged them to use the new building with purpose and integrity. “This building provides you with tools. But it is your character, your commitment, and your collective vision that will determine what legacy this space creates,” she said, adding that leadership is developed not only in lecture halls, but “in spaces like this, where difficult conversations happen, where decisions must be made, and where accountability is practised daily”.