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18 April 2018 Photo Varsity Cup
Vishuis crowned Varsity Cup Residence Rugby champs three consecutive years
Heinrich Nieuwenhuizen, flanker of Vishuis, was named the Player that Rocks in the final of the Varsity residence competition.
Vishuis players are prepared to do whatever it takes to be successful, even if it means practising on Friday evenings or on Saturdays. 

According to head coach, Zane Botha, this is one of the reasons behind the residence’s success on the rugby field.

Vishuis defended its title as the country’s rugby residence champions when they smashed Patria from the North-West University with 55-29 in the final of the Varsity residence competition on Monday 16 April 2018. It was their third consecutive national crown, and their sixth overall. 

The winning margin was the biggest ever in a final of the competition. 

“The players play for each other and have a huge work ethic. Nothing will hold them back from striving to be the best,” said Botha, who captained Tuks to the Varsity Cup crown in 2012. This is his second year as Vishuis coach.

Strong brotherhood
Captain Henco Posthumus, who played in his fifth final, said there is a strong brotherhood in the hostel. “We are a very small residence with a rich history spanning over 111 years, and all of us know each other. People such as our coach, Zane Botha, played a big role. I have a world of respect for him for what he has done with the team, so all the credit to the coaching staff as well.”

The University of the Free State has dominated the competition since its inception in 2008, proving just how strong hostel rugby is here.

Apart from the six titles for Vishuis, Armentum (2009) and Heimat (2014) both won the trophy before, while Vishuis was also the runner-up in 2015.

News Archive

UFS to get transformation plan for African context
2005-02-04

The University of the Free State is to draft a comprehensive Transformation Plan to give impetus to the process of making the UFS an inclusive, non-racial, non-sexist, multi-cultural and multi-lingual university within the African context.

Delivering a keynote speech at the Official Opening of the UFS today, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, said the Transformation Plan would include aspects such as employment equity, institutional culture, academic excellence, and other elements.

He added that another aspect to be considered in the academic element of the Transformation Plan was the issue of the African context, of a university for Africa, in Africa, of the African university.

According to Prof Fourie, the best way of understanding the role of the UFS in Africa and for Africa, is for the university to become a truly engaged university that bridges the gap between the institution and the community. He said the UFS had for more than 10 years been at the forefront of transformation in higher education, and had gone through several phases of transformation. However the UFS needed to embark on a new phase of transformation which would be guided by a comprehensive Transformation Plan.

The Transformation Plan would be the result of an inclusive consultation process involving staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders. It would also be based on a review of current policies and practices.
The process would be led by a Transformation Plan Team, co-ordinated by the Vice-Rector: Academic Operations, Prof Teuns Verschoor, and the Vice-Rector: Student Affairs, Dr Ezekiel Moraka.

“Obviously we should also not underestimate the complexities of transformation and of building a new society, given our complex history and the legacies of poverty, underdevelopment, colonialism and apartheid.

“We must consider support for staff involved in these transformation steps, including appropriate staff development, capacity to support transformation processes, as well as flexible and supportive administrative practices,” Prof Fourie said.

He said the UFS management understood the urgency of transformation in the current democratic South Africa and the changing global environment and appealed to staff and students to participate fully in drafting the Transformation Plan for the UFS.

“Transformation at the UFS has been and will continue to be a process with many facets that seek to enhance excellence in all spheres of university life, and is much more than merely ensuring employment equity,” he said.

Prof Fourie said: “We have reached a historic moment in the life of the UFS where innovative thinking and bold steps yet again are necessary because failure is not an option.”

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
4 February 2005

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