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Raynard named captain of the Team of the Tournament at U-19 World Cup
Raynard van Tonder, right, is congratulated by fellow player Hermann Rolfes after scoring his second century against Bangladesh at the U-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.

Raynard van Tonder was rewarded for an outstanding U-19 World Cup in New Zealand when he was named as the captain of the Team of the Tournament, announced by the International Cricket Council on Sunday.

The Kovsie cricketer, who captained the South African team to fifth place, ended with the third-most runs in the tournament; 348 in six matches at an impressive average of 69.6. He scored two centuries (one of three players to achieve this) and one 50. It included a knock of 143 against Kenya, which was the fifth-highest in the tournament. With that, the 19-year-old also recorded the third-highest score ever by a South African in an U-19 One Day International.

Van Tonder is studying a BSocSci at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Congratulations from CSA

“It is heartening to know
that we continue to produce
quality players and leaders.”
—Thabang Moroe
Acting Chief Executive
of Cricket South Africa

“Raynard deserves a special commendation for being chosen as the best leader at the tournament. This follows on our 2014 captain, Aiden Markram (currently leading the Proteas in the one-day series against India), who was chosen as Player of the Tournament back then.

“It is heartening to know that we continue to produce quality players and leaders through our talent pipeline system,” commented acting chief executive of Cricket South Africa (CSA), Thabang Moroe.

The Team of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup was selected by a panel that comprised former Windies fast bowler Ian Bishop, former India women’s captain Anjum Chopra, former New Zealand captain Jeff Crowe, journalist Shashank Kishore and former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody.

News Archive

UFS celebrates establishment of a new department
2008-09-26

 

 At the celebration of the establishment of the Department of Genetics are, from the left: Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS, Prof. Johan Spies, head of the Department of Genetics at the UFS, Prof. Chris Viljoen, associate professor at the UFS Department of Haematology and Cell Biology and previously associated with the Department of Genetics; seated: Prof. Paul Grobler, associate professor at the UFS Department of Genetics.
Photo: Stephen Collett

UFS celebrates establishment of a new department

The establishment of the Department of Genetics in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (FS) was recently celebrated on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

The department, which formed part of the Department of Plant Sciences, is the only of its kind in the country that conducts research in behavioural genetics. “With behavioural genetics we try to determine if certain human behaviour is hereditary or if it is as a result of the environment. Although this is the fastest growing field of specialty in the United States of America, it is still an unknown field in South Africa,” says Prof. Johan Spies, head of the Department of Genetics.

The other specialty fields of the department are forensic genetics and conservation genetics. “Forensic genetics looks at the compilation of the DNA of animals. Because of our academics’ expertise, the department is regularly requested by the South African Police Service to assist them with establishing the origin of animals – especially in the case of game poaching. We recently completed a research project on cheetahs where we had to establish if they were acquired illegally of part of the farmer’s game. The research showed that the cheetahs were part of the farmer’s own breed,” says Prof. Spies.

Another specialty field of the department is conservation genetics where the genetic variance of animals is researched. A lot of research is done on vervet monkeys to determine from which area in the country they originate. The study must be completed before the 3000 vervet monkeys currently in rehabilitation centres are set free. The behaviour of monkeys in rehabilitation is also being researched.

Prof. Spies says: “Student figures in Genetics show an annual increase of 8% per year for the past five years. The first group of master’s degree students in Genetics will start their studies next year.” The department is also regarded as a leader on Clivia research.


Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
25 September 2008
 

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