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08 May 2018 Photo Reg Caldecott
Yet another victory for Kesa
Kesa Molotsane crossing the line at the second Spar women’s challenge in Port Elizabeth on Saturday morning. She also won the first race in March.

Kesa Molotsane, ace distance runner of the University of the Free State (UFS) continued her rich vein of form on Saturday (May 5) by registering yet another win.

Molotsane coasted to victory in the Spar women’s 10km challenge in Port Elizabeth. Her winning time was 33:46 minutes, 15 seconds ahead of rival and reigning South African cross-country champion, Glenrose Xaba.

Molotsane also reigned supreme in the first race towards the end of March in Cape Town in a time of 34:10. There are six races in total and last year Molotsane was crowned the overall champion in which she achieved her personal best of 32:59.

Just a week before, the 26-year-old smashed the national student record in the 10000m by a massive three minutes and five seconds at the University Sport South Africa champs. The record now stands at 34:49.16.

She was one of two Kovsies to walk away with two gold medals (in the 5000m and 10000m).

“I wasn’t in the right frame of mind and I couldn’t run according to my original plan. It was only at about 5km that I really felt I was in the race. I’m a fighter and at 7km I felt I had to go for it,” Molotsane said about Saturday’s race.

8108 runners entered the 10km challenge and the 5km fun run.

According to Molotsane she is struggling to juggle her track running, cross-country and Spar races.

“I’m trying to qualify for the 5000m at the African championships. I still want to do all three disciplines, although I will eventually have to decide on one.”

News Archive

Meet our Council: MEC Tate Makgoe – A proud vision for all
2016-06-07

Description: Tate Makgoe  Tags: Tate Makgoe

MEC Tate Makgoe
Photo: Stephen Collett

The MEC of Education in the Free State, Mr Pule Herbert Isak Makgoe, is serving his third term on the UFS Council.

MEC Tate Makgoe, as he is known, holds a Chemical Engineering degree from the Technikon Vaal Triangle, a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Unisa, an Honours in Commerce degree from the UFS, and a Master’s degree in Business Leadership from Unisa.

Early years
From an early age, he was acutely aware of the delicate and volatile political landscape in the country caused by draconian apartheid policies. He has been active in the political realm since 1984, when he left the country to join the ANC’s military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, in exile.

“I have devoted my life to the disadvantaged and marginalised in order to realise fully the objectives of true political transformation, and the total eradication of grinding poverty,” he says. His political activism landed him in Sun City prison from 1986 to 1991.

After the unbanning of the ANC, MEC Makgoe became a Northern Free State regional executive member and, in 1994, he was appointed as the ANC’s election campaign manager in the Free State. He has also served as provincial treasurer, and as a member of the executive committee of the ANC in the province.

MEC Makgoe’s current position

After serving as MEC in five portfolios in the Free State Province at different times - Finance, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Agriculture, Public Safety and Security, and Finance – MEC Makgoe was appointed as MEC for Education in 2009, a position he has held ever since.

In 2014, he received the prestigious Ubuntu Award for Education by the Turquoise Harmony Institute for his outstanding leadership role in steering the department to produce the highest matric pass rate in the country of 87,4%. Previous recipients of the Ubuntu Award include late former president, Nelson Mandela, and anti-apartheid struggle icon, Ahmed Kathrada.

Recipient of Kovsie Alumni Cum Laude Award

MEC Makgoe is also a former recipient of the Kovsie Alumni Cum Laude Award. The Cum Laude Award is bestowed occasionally on an alumnus for outstanding service or achievement on regional, national, or international level in his/her field of work. He is married to Ivy, and the couple have three children: Palesa, Maki, and Junior.

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