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David Abbey
David Abbey is also serving on the UFS Council’s Finance, Audit, Risk and IT Governance Committee.

David Abbey, a senior banker and transactor in the Acquisition and Leveraged Finance Division at Rand Merchant Bank in Johannesburg, was appointed to the UFS Council.

An undergraduate student of Rhodes University, David is also a proud product of the UFS, having completed his Accounting honours degree at this university. For the past few years, he has also guest lectured on investment banking and financial instruments to Accounting honours students as part of the PwC Financial Instruments Programme.

Large-scale impact

Therefore, his appointment to the Council is particularly special to him.

“Being a member of the Council gives me the platform to have a more large-scale impact on the institution, academic community, the economy, and society. I’m thrilled to be serving alongside an astute body of incredible individuals from whom I will undoubtedly learn,” he says.

Realising his full potential

David is serving on the Council’s Finance, Audit, Risk and IT Governance Committee and his experience in, and knowledge of finance, technology, and audit skills will stand him in good stead. When he’s not developing and structuring innovative, multidisciplinary, and integrated financial solutions for his corporate clients, he loves to be active. He is a regular gym-goer and plays and watches all kinds of sport. Travel, the arts, and motoring are some of his other passions. 

On a personal level, there is still much he wants to achieve. “I want to continue to work hard, using my God-given talents to realise my full potential and to make a humble mark in society and in people’s lives.”

News Archive

UFS takes the lead in solar heating in the Free State
2010-06-03

In the “engine room” of the solar heating system of the Vergeet-my-nie Residence with the big hot water tanks in the background. From the left are Mr Anton Calitz, Electrical Engineer of the UFS, and Mr Nico Janse van Renburg, Manager: Physical Planning at the UFS.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar


The University of the Free State (UFS) took a further step in reducing its carbon footprint and its dependency on coal fired electricity with the installation of a solar heating system at one of its residences. The contractor handed the system over to the UFS on Wednesday, 2 June 2010.

The system installed at the Vergeet-my-nie Residence is the first commercial solar water heating project in both Bloemfontein and at the UFS. It is estimated that it will provide in 70% of the residence’s energy needs and save approximately R101 000 per annum in electricity cost. The project was completed at a cost of R2,4 million.

More residences at the UFS will be refurbished with solar systems as the existing heating systems in the rest of the twenty residences are due for replacement.

The energy crisis of 2008, and the challenges and necessity to reduce the use of electricity, sparked the initiative around the installation of solar heating systems at the UFS. The UFS is the second largest energy user in Bloemfontein.

Mr Nico Janse van Rensburg, Manager: Physical Planning at the UFS, says the management of the UFS saw an opportunity in the crisis and pro-actively embarked to become a market leader. Solar heating would not only alleviate the electricity problem of South Africa, but will impact the ever increasing electricity bill of the UFS.

“Protecting the environment and being on the cutting edge of technology are core issues to the UFS,” says Janse van Rensburg. “We are an educational institution and take pride in practicing what we preach.”

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (acting)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za  
3 June 2010
 

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