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22 February 2018 Photo Thabo Kessah
Pakiso aims to conquer the world
Pakiso Mthembu will be representing South Africa in Mauritius and Algeria.

This year, the University of the Free State’s Qwaqwa Campus will unleash a running sensation that is equally comfortable on track, cross-country, and road running and is on a mission to conquer the world. His name is Pakiso Mthembu from Tweeling in the Eastern Free State. Pakiso has recently qualified for the Junior Men’s Southern Region cross-country championships that will be held in Mauritius on 24 February and in Algeria on 17 March 2018.

“I am glad that I managed to run my personal best time of 24:02 during the qualification trials held in Bloemfontein in January, which set me on the road to Mauritius and Algeria,” said Pakiso, a BEd FET first-year student.

His personal best in the 10 km road-running category and in the 5 000 m track are 30:55 and 14:29, respectively.

Praise for Soke
“It is only through dedication, hard work, and listening to my coach that I can achieve my dreams of representing South Africa at the International Association of Athletics Federations World Junior Championships (IAAF) to be held in Finland in July, and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I have one of the best coaches in this part of the world and it gives me great pleasure to work with him, having grown up admiring him during his days,” he says in reference to Boy Soke, who identified his talent and recruited him to the Qwaqwa Campus.

Pakiso has already represented South Africa in Uganda.

News Archive

Elizabeth Molapo crowned Miss South 2016 First Princess
2016-03-22

Description: Elizabeth Molapo  Tags: Elizabeth Molapo

From the left are Anri Powell (Elizabeth Molapo’s mentor), Miss South Africa 2016 First Princess, Elizabeth Molapo, and designer/Miss SA judge Casper Bosman at Carnival City after the crowning.

“I remember feeling very happy and humbled,” said Elizabeth Molapo, Miss South Africa 2016 First Princess, about the moment she was crowned on Saturday 19 March 2016 at Carnival City, Johannesburg.

Molapo has been overwhelmed by the support she received since making the Top 12 last year. “It’s one thing to enter Miss South Africa and believe in yourself but it’s another to know that the judges, South Arica, and all the stakeholders believe in you.”

The Kovsie community is absolutely thrilled and delighted by the achievements of the former University of the Free State (UFS) BCom Economics student. "Elizabeth's talent, commitment, and grace are known to us and it is not surprising that she has fared so well in this national competition,” said Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS.

“Coming in the wake of the achievements of medical student, Rolene Strauss (Miss South Africa 2014 and Miss World 2014), Elizabeth has proven once again that the UFS is a place where beauty and talent are deployed in the service of humanity,” Prof Jansen added.

Molapo congratulated the winner of Miss SA 2016, Ntandoyenkosi Kunene. “I believe in Ntando, she’s such a beautiful and amazing woman and I believe she will carry that crown with the utmost honour and respect.”

The road ahead for Molapo holds a possible move to Johannesburg for a job offer by Cell C. She also plans to enrol for an honours degree in either Economics or Marketing, and hopes to represent South Africa at the Miss Universe contest.

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