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25 April 2018


The #KovsieCyberSta Search finalists have been chosen. It is now up to the Kovsie community to decide who they would like to see as their next #KovsieCyberSta’s. Visit our voting page, watch the videos and choose your favourite candidate.

The finalists are:

1. Sakhile Miya

2. Bokang Deogratiaus Kole

3. Karabo Katlego Lekomanyane

4. Zonke Nogwaba Zoe
 
5. Kagiso Jantjies 
 
6. Samukelisiwe Msimang
  
7. Lindiwe Moeletsi
  
8. El Nino Matthew
 
9. Bhoodoo Sisters
 
10. Georgina 

Voting closes on Tuesday 1 May at 17:00, and the winners will be announced on Wednesday 2 May 2018 at 13:30 across all the UFS social media pages.

Vote for your favourite 2018/2019 #KovsieCyberSta Finalists from University of the Free State on Vimeo.

News Archive

The impact of personal care products on water resources in the Free State
2015-12-14

Jou-an Chen
Photo: Charl Devenish

Water is of the utmost importance in personal hygiene. Most people can hardly have a day go by without taking a shower in the morning and at night. However, it is this very habit that is increasingly polluting the water resources in South Africa.

Contaminants found in pharmaceutical and personal care products have been accumulating in water masses in recent years. These contaminants especially refer to hormones in medication, as well as colouring agents and fragrances used in soap, shampoo and body lotions.

“Little information and data are available on the prevalence of these contaminants, and on how high the level of pollution really is,” says Jou-an Chen, researcher in the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the UFS.

Her research particularly focuses on the prevalence and impact of those contaminants.

“Because these substances have not been properly investigated, we are not sure how widely it occurs and whether it is harmful to the environment. It was precisely the lack of information that has inspired me to investigate further.”

“If we could identify the contaminants and what it is doing to the environment, it could make a valuable contribution to directives on water quality standards.”


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