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26 October 2018 Photo Stephen Collett
Parks Tau at JN Boshoff lecture, believes that the state should assume role as leader
Parks Tau, who delivered this year’s JN Boshoff lecture, believes that the state should assume its rightful role as leader of all citizens.
The state entered into a covenant with society. The state is therefore obliged to provide essential services to the people. Holding into account the public sector is the White Paper on Local Government which was implemented at the birth of democracy. Now that the post-apartheid period has matured, leaders are unpacking the loaded subject of public service.

In his capacity as the South African Local Government Association president, Parks Tau delivered the 2018 JN Boshoff Memorial Lecture. He shared his views on: ‘What is the significance of the Public Service in nation-building within a democracy?’ 

The lecture was hosted by the Department of Public Administration and Management, at the University of the Free State’s Bloemfontein Campus on Wednesday 17 October 2018. Tau reiterated that the founding principles of social development and economic growth, integration, empowerment, and learning should be treated as a commitment by the government to the citizens of South Africa.

Constitutional rights reserved

In addition to communities being entitled to basic services such as the provision of water, sanitation, and safety, it is necessary to “move beyond merely stating the principle of Batho Pele. It requires of us to appreciate the role of the state in promoting equity and development in all communities”, Tau said.

Rights coupled with responsibilities 

Citizens and communities are responsible for safeguarding public property and making certain public officials are held accountable. “This covenant therefore goes both ways. It is about a relationship of mutual interest and benefit, and one that promotes both community and nationhood,” said the former Executive Mayor of the city of Johannesburg.

Tau stated that much work needed to be done through effective policies, legislation and investments to return the country to the levels of investor confidence that our national economy enjoyed during its highest rating from Moody’s in the 2008/9 financial year. This would ensure that the state assumed its rightful role as leader and organiser of different stakeholders and “takes its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations”, as enshrined in the constitution.

News Archive

Researcher takes home gold at international Famelab competition
2017-06-26

Description: Famelab competition Tags: Famelab competition

UFS researcher nabbed a top international award for
her ground-breaking metallurgical research in the UK.
Photo: Supplied

Recently, University of the Free State (UFS) Centre for Environmental Management master’s student, Tshiamo Legoale, was announced the FameLab International champion at the Cheltenham Science Festival in the United Kingdom. She is probing methods to use wheat as a gold hyper-accumulator – or, as she puts it, “grow gold from wheat”. The young researcher made South Africa proud by winning both the audience’s and the judges’ vote.

Coming back home a hero
“Winning was a surprise to me, because all 31 contestants had wonderful research. They all had really good presentations. I’m very grateful for all the support that I received from home. Social media showed me a lot of love and support. When I felt unconfident, they gave me ‘likes’ and that boosted my confidence a bit,” said Legoale about her win.

As South Africa celebrates Youth Month in June, Tshiamo represents hope for thousands of young South Africans to overcome difficult circumstances and follow careers in science.

The human impact is crucial, because Legoale’s win is not only scientific. It is also social and political. As a young female scientist in South Africa, she represented one of three African countries making it to the finals of FameLab, which has grown to one of the largest science communication competitions internationally.

With this in mind, Legoale says it may, in the end, be necessary to balance the needs of communities with the desire to increase yield. “Are we looking to make a fortune or are we looking to put food on the table?” she asks. “These are all things we consider when we conduct such research.”

World-class research from Africa
In South Africa, an estimated 17.7 million tons of gold is wasted. “All this gold was mined out previously, but tiny amounts remain in the dumps,” Legoale explains.

Her research focuses on the uses of wheat as a gold hyper-accumulator, which essentially means wheat plants are used to harvest gold from mine dumps. Simply put, the wheat is planted in the dumps, where enzymes found in the roots react with the gold and the plant absorbs it. The gold is then absorbed by every part of the plant, except the seeds, which means the next harvest can be used for food if need be.

“South Africa's world-champion young scientist, Tshiamo, represents all that is good about this country – brilliant, bright, and set for a fine future. I'm so proud that British Council SA, together with our partners SAASTA and Jive Media Africa, can help her along the way. Huge congratulations to her from all of us – it is a big win for Africa on the world stage,” said Colm McGivern, British Council South Africa Country Director.

The research represents a win on multiple levels. First, there are the obvious potential socio-economic benefits: food production, job creation, and phytomining is more economical than other contemporary mining methods.

Then there is safety. It is a more environmentally friendly practice than methods like heap leaching, carbon-in-leach or carbon-in-pulp. It is also safer for miners themselves, who will not be exposed to dangerous chemicals like mercury, which has been responsible for a great deal of toxicity in mine dumps. And it is safer for those living in the surrounds.

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