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24 May 2018 Photo Supplied
UFS alumnus wins National Liberty Radio Award - Thabang Moselane
At the Liberty Radio Awards, Thabang Moselane winner in the Night-Time Show category.
“When I started studying at the University of the Free State in 2015, I told myself I would not be an ordinary student. I knew the university offered many opportunities and I intended to take advantage of that,” says Thabang. The young radio personality, Thabang Moselane hails from a small town called Christiana in the North West. He is the recent winner of the Liberty Radio Award in the night-time show category.
 
“I still cannot explain how I felt when I was announced as the winner, happiness is an understatement. Winning this award is a recognition of my talent and efforts to change and impact lives of many people through the medium,” he said. Thabang is a Media Studies and Journalism graduate from the UFS and is currently studying his Honours degree in Film and Visual Media. “The university through Kovsie FM made it possible for me to develop and get experience,” added the award winner.

The UFS alumnus started his career in radio at Kovsie FM and later joined an online publication called The Journalist as a contributing writer. He now works at OFM where he hosts ‘A touch of Thabang’, the award winning show. “The show is quite unusual, it reflects my personality. It is a show for the people, about the people and the conversations are never light-hearted,” he said.
 
Asked what drew him to radio, Thabang said with a chuckle, “I have always wanted to be a psychologist but one morning five years ago, I woke up and told my mother I wanted to be a star. I believe my love for interacting and engaging with people drew me to radio.”
Apart from radio and writing, Thabang is also a motivational speaker, MC at events and an aspiring businessman.

News Archive

UFS involved in project to light up the townships
2006-06-06

The parties involved with the project are from the left: Prof Hendrik Swart (Departmental Chairperson of the UFS Department of Physics), Dr Thembela Hillie (CSIR), Prof Neerich Revaprasadu (Department of Chemistry at the University of Zululand) and Dr Wynand Steyn (CSIR).

UFS involved in project that could light up the townships   

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Department of Physics is involved with a project that could make life easier in the townships through the use of artificial light.

“The project is based on the use of sunlight to activate nano material in for example cement and paint during the day. At night the cement or paint can then radiate light,” said Prof Hendrik Swart, Departmental Chairperson of the UFS Department of Physics.

According to Prof Swart an amount of R3,9 million has been made available by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for the further development of the project.   

Prof Swart visited the University of Florida in America in 1995 for a year where he researched luminescent phosphor material that is suitable for flat panel television screens.  The red, green and blue spots on the television screens originate from these kinds of phosphor materials.  “At that stage plasma television screens were only a dream.  Today it is sold everywhere,” said Prof Swart. 

“Upon my return I started a research group at the UFS which investigated the degrading of phosphor material.  We also started to concentrate on the effectiveness of nano phosphors.  In the mean time our cooperation with the Americans was strengthened with follow-up visits to America of my colleagues, Prof Koos Terblans and Mr Martin Ntwaeaborwa,” said Prof Swart.

“Nano phosphors are basically luminescent powders that consist of particles that are 1 millionth of a millimetre.  These particles can provide light as soon as they are illuminated with, for instance, sunlight.  The amount of time these particles can provide light, is determined by the impurities in the material,” said Prof Swart.

According to Prof Swart nano particles are developed and linked to infrastructure materials in order for these materials to be excited during the day by sunlight and then it emits light during night time.

“The nano material is of such a nature that it can be mixed with materials, such as paint or cement. The yellow lines of roads can for example emit light in a natural way during night time,” said Prof Swart.

About a year ago Prof Swart and Dr Thembela Hillie, a former Ph D-student of the UFS Department of Physics, had discussions with Prof Neerich Revaprasadu from the University of Zululand and the CSIR about the possibility of mixing these nano phosphor particles with other materials that can be used as light sources in the building of roads and houses.

“Prof Revaprasadu is also actively involved in the research of nano materials.  Our efforts resulted in the CSIR approving the further extension of the project,” said Prof Swart.   

“The UFS and the University of Zululand are currently busy investigating ways to extend the light emitting time,” said Prof Swart.  

“There are eight M Sc and Ph D-students from the UFS and about five students from the University of Zululand working on this research project.  The Department of Physics at the Qwaqwa Campus of the UFS, with Francis Dejene as subject head, is also involved with the project,” said Prof Swart.

According to Prof Swart the further applications of nano materials are unlimited.  “Children whose parents cannot afford electricity can for instance leave any object such as a lamp, that is covered with these phosphor particles, in the sun during the day and use it at night as a light for study purposes,” said Prof Swart.

According to Prof Swart the further extension of the project will take about two years.  “During this time we want to determine how the effectiveness of the phosphors can be increased.  Discussions with the government and other role players for the possible implementation of the project are also part of our planning,” said Prof Swart.


Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
6 June 2006

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