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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

Pre-story: Inauguration of Prof F Petersen as 14th Rector of the UFS
2017-05-08

“At the UFS, we want to produce graduates for the world, and we need to ensure that we use our knowledge to uplift society”
— Prof Francis Petersen, 14th Rector of the University of the Free State (UFS)

This week marks the first stage of the official welcoming and inauguration of Prof Francis Petersen as the 14th Rector of the UFS, who assumed his duties on 1 April 2017. 

Proceedings will commence on our Qwaqwa Campus, with a function at which the community is to welcome the incoming Vice-Chancellor and Rector. The event on Thursday 11 May 2017 is expected to attract a wide spectrum of community leaders in the area. Speakers to welcome Prof Petersen will include representatives from the two trade unions, National Health Education and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and UVPERSU, as well as representatives from the Student Representative Council (SRC), Thabo Mofutsanyana Education District, and the House of Traditional Leaders.

On Thursday 18 May 2017, the South Campus in Bloemfontein hosts a welcoming ceremony for the new Vice-Chancellor and Rector, including a number of vocal performances and messages from various campus stakeholders. On Thursday afternoon, the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ) will also facilitate a panel discussion in the Albert Wessels Auditorium (AWO) on the Bloemfontein Campus.

The inauguration proceedings culminate in an event in the Callie Human Centre on Friday 19 May 2017 at the Bloemfontein Campus, with number of performances by musicians and school choirs to further embellish the function. Key stakeholders will also have the opportunity to convey their messages of welcome to Prof Petersen. The formal inauguration ceremony will take place on the Bloemfontein Campus on the same day.

As the above events take place, this article will be updated with the most recent photographs and other information. 

 

Inauguration Events

Qwaqwa Campus
Date:    Thursday 11 May 2017
Venue: Rolihlahla Mandela Hall, Qwaqwa Campus, Phuthaditjaba
Time:   10:00
South Campus
Date:    Thursday 18 May 2017
Venue: Mandela Arena, South Campus
Time:   10:00
Bloemfontein Campus
Date:    Friday 19 May 2017
Venue: Callie Human Centre
Time:   10:00

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