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The special task team met today (23 April 2018) to discuss the feedback received from the Free State Provincial Heritage Resources Authority (FSPHRA) regarding the task team’s submission to obtain a permit for the possible covering of the statue until the formal review process on the position of the statue in front of the Main Building on the Bloemfontein Campus has been concluded.
The special task team submitted a submission to the FSPHRA on 17 April 2018, in which the following three possible options were proposed to make the statue topical in a way that would symbolise the seriousness and urgency of the review process and stimulate engagement on the issue:
1. fencing in the statue;
2. creating an exchange of information around it; and
3. covering the statue.
Options 1 and 2 emanated from the consultation process with the university community on the possible covering of the statue.
The Permit Committee of the FSPHRA approved Option 2 during its meeting on 17 April 2018, as it cultivates opportunity for scholarly engagement. The committee indicated that the statue should still be visible, ‘uncovered’, and accessible and granted the UFS a permit on 20 April 2018 to make the MT Steyn statue topical while the review process is underway.
Permit document
The special task team welcomes the decision of the Permit Committee and supports the conditions stated in the permit, as it protects the credibility of the review process.
According to the National Heritage Resources Act No 25 of 1999, members of the university community and other stakeholders have 14 days from the date of issue of the permit (i.e. 17 April 2018) to appeal directly to the Permit Committee regarding its decision to grant the permit.
The way forward regarding the review process:
- While the decision of the Permit Committee is open for appeal, the special task team is refining the detailed feedback and alternative suggestion/view on Option 2 made by the FSPHRA to ensure the practical execution thereof. This conceptional framework of Option 2 (creating an exchange of information around it) will be shared with the university community once completed.
- The UFS has appointed a heritage consultant to conduct a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA).
- Once a preliminary report from the HIA has been submitted by the heritage consultant, it will be made public for a minimum period of 30 days for input from the university community and other stakeholders, during which a public participation process will commence in order for the university community and others to deliberate about the preliminary report. During this time, various opportunities for engagement will be created on all three campuses to afford the university community and other stakeholders an opportunity to engage with the report.
- The heritage consultant will submit a final report to the special task team after the engagement period has been completed.
The specific dates and timelines of the public participation process will be shared when finalised.
Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director: Corporate Communication and Marketing)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393
Future Kovsies explore Qwaqwa Campus
2017-05-26
Learners from Molapo Secondary School in
Makoane, Qwaqwa, during Open Day.
Photo: Thabo Kessah
AMAZING! This is just one of the words used by prospective Kovsies to describe their experience, when thousands of learners visited the Qwaqwa Campus for this year’s Open Day on Saturday 20 May 2017.
“Spending time on campus and learning what the university offers even beyond academics was such an amazing experience,” said a prospective Political Studies and Governance student, Kamohelo Mofokeng from Bluegumbosch Secondary School in Qwaqwa.
“We explored both academic and support services, and getting to see and listen to motivating words from eTV stars was unforgettable,” she added. “The event was informative and many of our learners even managed to apply online using university facilities,” said Modiehi Masita, Life Orientation teacher at Tsebo Secondary School in Boiketlo, Qwaqwa.
First step in the right direction
Talking to learners, Campus Principal Prof Prakash Naidoo said their visit was the first step in the right direction.
“This is the first step towards attaining your dream qualification. You have to work hard to build yourself a career, and not aspire to be what is commonly known as a tenderpreneur,” he said. “You have come to this campus when men need to stand up and not bury their heads in the sand, as we are faced with abuse and killings of women and children. We must all stand up to abuse,” he said under resounding appreciation from learners and their teachers.
Also talking to the learners were TV stars from eTv’s Rhythm City and Scandal.
I can and I will make it
‘I can and I will make it’ led by Mapula Mafole was adopted as the war cry towards the examinations and success in life for the class of 2017. Mafole plays the role of Mapula in the TV series Rhythm City. She was accompanied by Ishmael Sango and Nkosi Cengane, who respectively play Sabelo and Emmanuel in Rhythm City, and Mbulelo Katise who plays Scelo in Scandal.
Qwaqwa Campus alumnus and hip-hop artist, TactixSA, provided entertainment.