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27 July 2018
Tennis the bright spark at USSA
The Kovsie Tennis team was crowned as USSA victors for the eighth consecutive time at the recent University Sports South Africa tournament
Even though some Kovsie sport codes came close, it was eventually only the tennis team who were able to grab hold of a gold medal at the various USSA (University Sport South Africa) tournaments taking place in numerous cities across the country during the student winter holidays.

It was the eighth consecutive USSA crown for the Kovsie tennis team. They won all their matches with ease and even the final against Tuks was a one-way affair, winning eight games to one.

The other sport that came close to winning their tournament, was the netball girls. They came unstacked in the final, losing 30-48 to Tuks. It was the first time since 1998 that Kovsies hosted the USSA netball tournament.

The Kovsie female hockey team claimed third spot and the men, playing in the B section, ended second. They only lost once (against the University of KwaZulu-Natal by a single goal), which denied them promotion to the A section.

The Shimlas nearly obtained bronze, but a penalty try for Wits in the closing minutes cost them in the play-off match for 3rd/4th position.

Both the men and women’s football teams ended sixth, but more importantly, the women qualified for the 2019 Varsity football competition. The women improved by two positions and the men by four places from the 2017 tournament.

The table tennis team didn’t have an official final position. They lost in the quarterfinals.

The basketball men ended ninth and the women tenth, improving by ten and six places respectively.

The volleyball men’s team finished in 11th position and the women took 15th spot.

News Archive

First-year wellbeing a top priority at Harmony residence
2017-06-07

Description:First-year wellbeing a top priority at Harmony residence Tags: First-year wellbeing a top priority at Harmony residence

Ladies from the House Harmony, a unique residence
that focuses on first-years’ experience.
Photo: Supplied

A unique residence that focuses on first-years’ experience, is exactly what Harmony sets out to provide for all first-year students at the University of the Free State.

A residence focusing on mentoring

Entering the adult world can be a daunting experience, but Harmony, unlike other residences on campus, focuses on mentoring. Harmony came to life in 2014 and has assisted many first-years in adapting to the university environment.

According to Pulane Malefane, Residence Head of House Harmony, they have witnessed a significant change in the pass rate of first-year students. “We have realised that first-years gain confidence much quicker than in other residences where they still need to find their way around seniors,” she says.

Adapting to the varsity environment

Harmony makes use of a Residence Assistants (RA) system, not Residence Committees (RC). The RA stay in corridors with their mentees in order to have close contact with them. An RA’s primary role is to be a mentor to first-years and also expose them to different co-curriculum activities on campus. They assist them in adapting to the varsity environment quicker, so as to be able to focus and concentrate on their academics.

Nicole Rabe, RA First-years, says the Harmony belles never cease to amaze her. “Watching these first-years grow from the high school girls that arrived at the start of this year, to the independent women they are now, has truly been a blessing.”

Malefane mentions that they intentionally try to place students from one faculty in the same corridor. In that way, mentors and residence assistants are in close proximity to them. “We have study rooms in each and every corridor of Harmony, making it easy for students to study close to their rooms at any time,” she says.

Phathutshodzo Nekhavanmbe, a first-year LLB student, says she could not have asked for a better house to be placed in. “The Harmony experience has been great so far, as the people living there are approachable and eager to lend a helping hand.”

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