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06 July 2018 Photo Pixabay
Safety tips for the road ahead
Obey the rules of the road and be safe

The second semester has officially drawn to a close. Many people will be making their way to various destinations across the country. Arrive Alive has useful tips designed to ensure your safety on the road these holidays:

Keep these safety precautions in mind:

• Obey the rules of the road and carry your driver’s licence with you.

• Do not get stranded without fuel – Always plan ahead where you are going to re-fuel.

• Always ensure that a friend or family member who is not travelling with you, is aware of your planned route. 

• Take safety breaks every two hours or every 200 km.

• Do not drink and drive – if you intend to consume alcohol, make alternative arrangements so that you will not be behind the wheel.

• Remain alert at all times and avoid driver distractions such as cellular conversations, texting, etc.

• South African law requires that each passenger transported in a motor vehicle should make use of a seatbelt and strap themselves in.

• Stay within the speed limit at all times.

• Be especially alert when approaching traffic lights, intersections, and level crossings.


Stay safe on the roads and look forward to the beginning of the second semester on 23 July 2018.

News Archive

Equipment worth R23 million to carry out research at nanometer level
2009-05-28

The Department of Physics at the University of the Free State (UFS) has just received equipment to the value of R23 million that will be utilised for research at nanometer level.

By purchasing the NanoSAM and VersaProbe XPS systems, the UFS also became the only university in Africa that has both these instruments at its disposal.

This also places the UFS at the forefront of surface characterisation at nanometer scale.

Prof. Hendrik Swart, Head of the UFS’s Department of Physics, described the acquisition of this research apparatus as an amazing event for the department. Prof. Swart said this meant that the department would now become a national facility for research on surface characterisation, and that this would also help to ensure that the department’s publication contributions would be included in higher-impact publications.

According to Prof. Swart, this apparatus would not only be valuable for fundamental research on nanophosphors and segregation, but in particular would also assist in the industrial development of better catalysts to synthesise petrol and chemicals from gas or coal supplies. Prof. Swart continued to say that Sasol was one of the industries that would benefit from this, and that Prof. Jannie Swarts from Chemistry was closely involved in the latter.

The equipment was purchased with funds donated by the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the University, the National Research Council and Sasol. Technicians from the manufacturing company are currently visiting the department to assist with the installation and to train staff.

Media Release:
Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
28 May 2009

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