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17 December 2018 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Supplied
Sport ablution South Cam
Sports ablution facilities at the South Campus will ensure universal access.
As part of its 2018 infrastructure expansion, the University of the Free State (UFS) launched three solar farms earlier this year. The solar farm in Bloemfontein is large enough to power up to 300 houses, while the Qwaqwa and South campuses had 750kWp ground-mounted solar systems installed. 

“The power generated from the solar systems will always take preference over the conventional Centlec power supply meaning less power will be used from the national grid,” said Maureen Khati, Assistant Director at Facilities Planning.

All these sites will be connected directly to the university’s medium voltage electrical grid, thus the power can be distributed to areas where needed. 

The year that was 

The solar farms formed part of 274 new developments which were planned for the year by the Department of University Estates. These covered all three campuses and the off-campus environment in some cases. Areas including sports and recreation, academic spaces, security, energy, electrical, property, and landscapes experienced major upgrades.

By the virtue of being an institution and given the growing population of the university, study areas have ascended to human rights status. This has warranted an additional 24/7 study space on the Bloemfontein Campus. This new development provided a necessary diversion of traffic from the Sasol Library Study Labs during the year-end exam period.

According to Khati: “The space accommodates 80 students and is a collaborative learning facility since it is divided into different compartments such as discussion rooms and a larger open study space which is safe to study for longer hours.”

A student housing unit with 268 beds was built in the South Campus to accommodate undergraduate students. A new University Estates building, sports ablution facilities on the South Campus, which includes universal access, and tutorial venues on the Qwaqwa Campus were also successfully completed.

Projects currently under way

A 252- and 255-bed student housing project that will be connected to the existing grey water system is in progress on the South Campus. The new intake of students for the next academic year will be treated to luxury student living equipped with a heat pump.

In addition, a new hockey Astro Turf field was constructed at the Bloemfontein Campus to supplement the already existing facility, and the Naval Hill telescope sculpture and a viewing platform were installed.

Looking to the future

The university has been granted funding by the Department of Higher Education and Training for three projects on the Qwaqwa Campus and an additional three at the Bloemfontein Campus. These projects include residences, Student Lecturing Assessment Centres, as well as Language Development Centres.

Safety and security is at the core of developments at the UFS.
Safety and security is at the core of developments at the UFS.
World-class study space for improved learning efficiency.
World-class study space for improved learning efficiency.
Harvesting natural resources to power Qwaqwa Campus.
Harvesting natural resources to power Qwaqwa Campus.
Solar energy is the future: new solar farm propels UFS into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Solar energy is the future: new solar farm propels UFS into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Game time upgrades: Hockey on a brand new Astro Turf field for our star athletes.
Game time upgrades: Hockey on a brand new Astro Turf field for our star athletes.

News Archive

Moshoeshoe's legacy lives on in university's project: City Press - 2 May 2004
2004-10-14

 CITY PRESS                           2 MAY 2004   P8  

NEWS
JOHANNESBURG FINAL 

Moshoeshoe's legacy lives on in university's project

MATEFU MOKOENA


 

DRUMS were beaten and the sounds of traditional songs reverberated through corridors of the University of the Free State (UFS) as Basotho students gathered at the campus over the weekend to launch a project honouring their late great king, Moshoeshoe.

The launch was organised by the Lesotho Students Association and UFS management and was blessed by King Letsie III of Lesotho.

According to UFS rector and vicechancellor, Professor Frederick Fourie, the aim of the project is to make the legacy of Moshoeshoe a living part of the university.

He said the Moshoeshoe project will include a television documentary on his life as well as an anthology of creative writings, including prose and poetry, about him.

A television documentary is already being filmed and will be screened during an international conference at UFS in October.

Fourie said the university, as part of the project, is looking at the possibility of starting an annual Moshoeshoe memorial lecture that will focus on African leadership, nationbuilding and reconciliation.

He said the university would introduce a PhD-level research course into the life and legacy of Moshoeshoe.

The university management has also taken a decision to erect a statue of Moshoeshoe on the campus.

Fourie said the project was launched after the UFS delegation, led by him, met Letsie III.

"He wanted us to ensure the legacy of Moshoeshoe is honoured and treated with the respect he deserves."

His legacy "must live on -- not only for the Basotho, but for all South Africans, black and white, and for the entire African continent", he said.

"Living out such a legacy is indeed a fitting contribution to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) and to the maturing democracy that is being built here in South Africa," said Fourie.

He emphasised Moshoeshoe was and remains a model of African leadership.

Fourie said Moshoeshoe's diplomacy and commitment to peace put him on a par with former president Nelson Mandela as a statesman.

It is Fourie's dream that, through this project, the UFS will be able to give real meaning to words such as reconciliation, respect for the diversity of languages and cultures and the unity that is needed to build a democratic nation.

The Lesotho Students Association secretary, Sofonea Shale, said for an institution like the UFS to honour Moshoeshoe demonstrates that he was a great leader. "For Basotho students, the project is very significant as it clearly defines who we are and what we stand for.

"We believe the research into the legacy of our great king Moshoeshoe will open doors for more research into the life of Basotho in general.

"Africa as a whole can learn from his leadership style," he said.


 

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