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31 January 2018
Photo FNB Varsity Cup
Lubabalo Dobela, Shimlas flyhalf (with the ball), played a key role in the Shimlas’ win over Tuks in the first round of the 2018 Varsity Cup.
The Shimlas made a huge statement in their opening match of the 2018 Varsity Cup when they defeated last year’s champions at the Tuks Rugby Stadium in Pretoria.
The Free State students won the encounter against Tuks by 19-17 on Monday.
Tuks, who beat Shimlas twice last year, first in the group stage by 65-19, and then by 28-21 in the semifinals, were regarded as the hot favourites. The match was played in wet conditions which many thought would suit the home team better.
Determination carries team to win
But a young and inexperienced Shimlas team with 11 players making their debut in the competition proved that big hearts and guts count for just as much. It was only their third win in Pretoria in the 11th year of the competition and their second victory over Tuks since 2012.
As expected, both teams tightened up their approach. Shimlas struck back from a 0-5 deficit soon after the first strategy break as big and speedy wing Francois Agenbag stormed down the touchline to score a seven-point try. Flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela was on hand to convert and hand his team a 9-5 lead at the break.
Flyhalf stars in debut
The Shimlas extended their lead within five minutes of the restart as flank Benji Janse van Vuuren crashed over in the corner for a converted try. Dobela, one of the debutants who was named Player that Rocks (Player of the Match), controlled the match like a seasoned veteran. Apart from two difficult conversions from the touchline, he also slotted a penalty goal.
Education is the key to the unification of black and white masses of South Africa
2015-11-13
From left are Dr Victor Teise (Head of School of Higher Education), Dr Mafu Rakometsi (CEO of UMALUSI), and Prof Sechaba Mahlomaholo (Dean of Faculty of Education).
Photo: Valentino Ndaba
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In view of the divisive nature South Africa’s (SA) schooling system during the pre-1994 period, education appears to be one of the most potent unifying mechanisms of the democratic dispensation. With the elimination of Bantu education and the subsequent gain of access to basic and higher education by the historically-disadvantaged of this country, the schooling system is said to be building and reconstructing bridges which were burnt by the apartheid administration.
This opinion was shared by Dr Mafu Rakometsi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UMALUSI – the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training. Dr Rakometsi, a University of the Free State alumnus, presented a guest lecture titled: “Educational transformation in South Africa – lessons for the future” on Thursday 5 November 2015 at the Bloemfontein Campus.
The discussion of salient matters regarding education and transformation was hosted by the Faculty of Education in collaboration with Institutional Advancement: Alumni.
According to Dr Rakometsi, the transformation of education in SA can be viewed in the same light as that of government; where the nationalist policy was succeeded by democracy. “Education promoted the agenda of ensuring that there was no integration of the South African population,” he said of the past.
“Simply put, in SA, the black person was denied, and deprived of, human rights,” he added. Nonetheless, the declaration of human rights as enshrined in our constitution, and the conviction held by lobby groups, such as the Black Sash, that the young should seek and receive education led to transformation within the education sector.
Although that transformation has been accomplished, poverty continues to hinder access to education. Approximately 80% of the black students in higher education are from poor families, meaning that their parents are unable to fund the completion of their studies. Financial exclusion then translates to social exclusion, which relegates these underprivileged students into narrow enclaves. This results in a counter-transformation situation as a consequence.