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18 April 2018
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Gerda Steyn, former Kovsie student and winner of the Two Oceans ultramarathon this year, with her trophy.
Gerda Steyn, female winner of this year’s Two Oceans ultramarathon, says her life has changed for the better in a very short time.
The former Kovsie received an invitation to a world-renowned marathon at the end of the year. She may not reveal the details yet.
Steyn, who studied Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the University of the Free State (UFS) between 2009 and 2012, was just the third South African to win the Two Oceans since 1994. Her time of 3:39:31 was the second-best in the past seven years. For many she was a surprise winner because she didn’t compete last year and only managed a 14th place in 2016.
“Things really took off since the race (in Cape Town at the end of March). I received a lot of exposure. People say you must try and win the race, but they don’t tell you what will happen after that with all the media attention.
“My next goal is the Comrades for which I started training in the third week of April. I will only decide on my specific goals for the race two weeks beforehand.” She obtained a fourth place last year.
According to Steyn, who is a full-time athlete, she only did a couple of cross country races while she was studying.
“I played a bit of soccer and hockey for my hostel (Soetdoring). I have very fond memories from my university days. A couple of our hostel friends had a reunion after the race in Cape Town and had reason to have a big party.”
Prof. Van Coller elected to panel of the Humanities
2008-12-04
 Prof. Hennie van Coller, Head of the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French at the UFS, was recently elected to the consensus panel of the Humanities, under the guidance of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa (Assaf). The panel will investigate the situation in the Humanities that resulted from the perception that it is experiencing crises worldwide. In certain circles it is not regarded as a science, remuneration systems within the Humanities compares poorly with other sectors and funding is difficult to obtain. This whilst issues pertaining to humanities are in the foreground in South Africa, such as the issues regarding the handling of Aids, crime, illiteracy, violence and unemployment.
The panel’s work will stretch over the next 18 months and a report will be handed to government. The panel of experts from across South Africa is under chairmanship of Prof. Jonathan Jansen, former dean at the University of Pretoria, and also includes among others two international experts.
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