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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

UFS arts are experiencing a boom
2013-09-03

 
Dot Vermeulen
3 September 2013

The arts at the University of the Free State are experiencing a boom, with several Kovsie artists achieving on a national platform. Dot Vermeulen, a junior lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts, is the latest UFS artist to be honoured nationally as the winner of the 2013 Sasol New Signatures art award. 

The award is rewarding emerging young artists. The winning entry, entitled “Desperately disciplined,” by Vermeulen, who is currently studying toward her master’s degree in Visual Arts, was chosen from approximately 400 entries. 

Earlier this year, Pauline Gutter, a former Kovsie, won the Absa L’Atelier competition, which is South Africa’s most prestigious art competition. The year before, another former student from our Department of Fine Arts, Elrie Joubert, won the competition. 

Vermeulen says there are brilliant people at the UFS who are active in visual arts at various levels. "People such as Janine Allen-Spies (lecturer in painting) and Angela de Jesus (curator of the Stegmann gallery) are not only good artists, they are also involved with the community and invest a great deal of energy into the development of young artists. From my own experience, I can say that I have benefited a lot from academic scholarships from the UFS in the course of my study career." 

She says her winning entry refers to the relationship between traditional tactile painting and contemporary digital media. "The focus is especially on hidden moments of absorption and correspondence during the art-making process. The painting installation depicts a reading nude figure on a couch. A computer screen is mounted on a stand in front of the painting, animating the same image, while at the same time blocking the view of the painting. In the animation, the nude figure pages through her book from time to time, with the paint and digital drawing marks moving around her. The text “Envoi is typing…” is also animated on the surface of the couch repeatedly. It is suggestive of internet chat boxes, which often pop up on the screen while I am working on my laptop." 

As winner of the Sasol New Signatures art award, Vermeulen won R60 000 and the opportunity of a solo art exhibition in the Pretoria Art Museum. 

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