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23 May 2018 Photo Thabo Kessah
Choose excellence and moral uprightness graduates told
Dr Mantwa Lephoto graduated with a PhD in Physics. With her is Dr Kamohelo Tshabalala, her supervisor
It was joy all over at the Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) on Thursday 10 May 2018 when over 650 degrees, diplomas, and certificates were conferred on deserving academic achievers. Among the degrees conferred were seven PhDs and seven master’s degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and one doctorate in English in the Faculty of the Humanities.

Speaking to the proud graduates was the Honourable Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Tati Makgoka, and the Chancellor of the UFS, Dr Khotso Mokhele, who both congratulated the graduates on their success.

Immeasurable joy and pride
“In African culture, a child is a vessel of the community. And today you have not only brought immeasurable joy to your families, but also pride to your communities. You have also opened a window of opportunities and inspiration to the school learners in attendance here today,” said Justice Makgoka, referring to hundreds of invited school learners from as far as Rekgotsofetse Secondary School in Paul Roux.

“You have now assumed the roles of pathfinders among your people. You should therefore continue to share your talents, as well as moral and spiritual gifts, with your communities. Your qualifications today set you on a journey of lifelong learning and scholarship. It is so because your chosen fields of study are dynamic terrains constantly evolving and demanding a lifelong scholarship. We must also pay special tribute to those who contributed towards your success,” he said.

Support system is important
Dr Mokhele also encouraged graduates to thank their support systems that kept them going through the hard times of studying.

 “There are many other people who deserve to be thanked for your success and you must thank them accordingly,” he said, and asked graduates to stand up as a gesture of appreciation for their families and friends who filled up the Rolihlahla Mandela Hall.
He further edged all graduates to ‘choose excellence and moral uprightness’.

“Honest and excellent hard workers in our government are more likely to be constructively dismissed, as they prevent the stealing of state resources. It’s your responsibility to choose the kind of South Africa you want to live in and make it happen,” he said.
 
This year’s graduations also saw the first cohort of Bachelor of Administration students from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences graduating.

UFS Qwaqwa Campus May Graduation highlights from University of the Free State on Vimeo.

News Archive

Breeding of unique game requires a balance between conservation and sustainable use
2014-05-20

 

Game bred for qualities such as unconventional hair colour or horn quality, may on the long term have unexpected consequences for biodiversity and game farming.

This is according to the inaugural lecture of Prof Paul Grobler from the Department of Genetics at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Prof Grobler feels that the consequences of selective breeding should be examined carefully, as there is currently much speculation on the subject without sound scientific information to back it.

“At the moment, colour variation invokes much interest among game farmers and breeders. Unusual colour variants are already available in different game species. These unusual animals usually fetch much higher prices at auctions compared to prices for the ‘normal’ individuals of the species.”

Examples of these unusual variants are springbuck being bred in white, black or copper colours, the black-backed or ‘saddleback’ impala, and the gold-coloured and royal wildebeest.

A black-backed impala was recently sold for R5,7 million.

“Based on genetic theory, good reason exists why these practices need to be monitored, but one should also take care not to make the assumption that selective breeding will inevitably lead to problems,” warns Prof Grobler.

Grobler says that negative characteristics in a species can sometimes unwittingly be expressed during the selection process for a unique colour. “It is seen, for example, in purebred dogs where the breeding of a new race sometimes brings underlying genetic deviations in the species to the front.” He also believes that some of these animals may not be able to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

“However, one should also look at the positive side: because of the good demand for game, including unusual variants, there is much more game in South Africa today than in many decades. Balance should be found between the aims of conservation and the sustainable utilisation of game.”

Research at the UFS’s Department of Genetics is now trying to establish the genetic effects of intensive game breeding and predict the impact on biodiversity.

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