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03 April 2018
Photo Google royalty free images
Known to many as the Mother of the Nation, Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela-Mandela has died at the age of 81 on Monday 2 April 2018. She passed away after a period of illness that saw her in and out of hospital.
In honour of this struggle icon, the University of the Free State will fly its flags half-mast as a symbol of respect.
The university conveys its condolences to the family and friends of the late Ms Madikizela-Mandela.
The contributions made by Mama Winnie in the struggle against apartheid will live on, and the world will treasure her fierce spirit forever.
Rest in peace Mbokodo, Mother of the Nation.
Louzanne smashes world record despite strong wind
2017-04-13
Louzanne Coetzee and her guide
Khothatso Mokone.
Photo: Johan Roux
Despite the terribly windy conditions at this year’s Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled, Louzanne Coetzee managed to improve her world record in the 5 000 m race.
Record improved by almost 40 seconds
Last year, Coetzee, who works at the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice at the University of the Free State (UFS), was the first blind athlete to complete the 5 000 m race in less than 20 minutes.
Her own record in the 5 000 m race (T11 category) was 19:17.06 and with the help of her guide, Khothatso Mokone, she improved it by almost 40 seconds. The new national record now stands at 18:37.23.
Coetzee says the evening before the race the winds were terrible, and she started to wonder what would happen during her race. “Even though the wind was a bit tough, overall it was a good race,” she says.
Overjoyed by exceptional time
She says that when she heard her time was a new record, she was completely overjoyed and could not believe it. “I was aiming to run just under 19 seconds but when I heard that my time was not only a personal best but also a new world record, I was over the moon.”
The Championships took place from 31 March to 4 April in Port Elizabeth. Coetzee and Mokone will be in action in a Grand Prix in Switzerland next month.