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21 September 2018 Photo Charl Devinish
Abe Bailey Bursary victor
“I believe in self learning,” says 2018 UFS Abe Bailey victor, Nkahiseng Ralepeli.

The Abe Bailey Trust is a leadership-development opportunity that targets university students or junior lecturers who are academically strong and have shown exceptional qualities of leadership and service. Recipients of the bursary are required to have a good record of accomplishments, not only on campus but also in a broader social context, where they function as an integral piece of a select and highly-skilled group of individuals.

Ralepeli, the over-achiever

Final-year Law student, Nkahiseng Ralepeli, embodies this exact description and exemplifies the essence of distinction and merit when it comes to who he is. Ralepeli  who has represented the university at various international debate platforms, an alumni of the F1 programme to Thailand and other leadership programmes such, recently, International Youth Leadership Conference (IYLC) programme in Prague, will represent the University of the Free State (UFS) during the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary tour in the UK in December 2018. He, along with 16 other candidates from other South African tertiary institutions, will participate in the tour for its full duration and will take part in the exciting developmental programme that is planned.

With an intense but fruitful leadership-training schedule, he said he was looking forward to meeting the British members of parliament as well as other persons of stature in the British government.

Travelling: A catalyst for critical thinking


Ralepeli, who was also 3rd overall Kovsie Dux student, underlined that he truly enjoys travelling. He has subsequently mastered the art of constantly positioning himself among the best academically and socially, and this has aided his mission to trot the globe extensively, which he has been doing since his junior years.

A man of value

“I have a small yet select and impactful network of people in my life who play an influential role in reminding me during times of triumph that, while it is important to celebrate, each win is just a step towards the ultimate goal of success,” said Ralepeli. 

He emphasised the importance of the roles played by those close to him, describing them as “my double-edged sword who played a crucial role in carving out the inner Nkahiseng, who, hopefully, will do great things”. The Kovsie Dux believes that those you surround yourself with, channel the kind of energy that will either make or break you.

News Archive

UFS Faculty of Health Sciences opens student residence in Trompsburg
2017-07-06

Description: Trompsburg read more Tags: Trompsburg read more

Official unveiling of the memorial plaque by
Prof Gert van Zyl, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences,
and Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor
of the University of the Free State.
Photo: Charl Devenish

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Faculty of Health Sciences has, as part of its commitment to student and community development, established a student residence in the town of Trompsburg in the Kopanong Local Municipality. The faculty officially opened the Rural Community Initiative and student residence in June 2017. The newly developed student residence has 10 apartments which could each accommodate six individuals.  A housemaster resides on the premises and acts as manager of the facility.  All areas of the residence are Wi-Fi covered and it has a 24-hour security service.

Importance of the residence
The goal of the Kopanang le fodise – Unite to heal programme is to develop a community-centred collaborative framework for sustainable, holistic healthcare and social development which is incorporated in the curricula of the faculty. During 2016, a total of 324 fourth-year students have each spent at least a week in primary healthcare facilities on a Community Based Education and Inter-Professional Education platform in Trompsburg and Springfontein in the Kopanong Municipality.

“This programme was commissioned to fulfil a specific goal. We are connecting our students with the community. The support of everyone coming together caused this to move from being just a spark, to a blaze. This is all our project,” said Dr René Botha, coordinator for Community-based Education and Rural Health in the faculty.

Community outreach a priority
“This is an innovative project that has been able to bring health and health-related issues to the community. One of the UFS’ three focus areas is community engagement. This project is primarily focused on serving the community, but also on the academic element, which is student development,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

Prof Petersen commended the project on being the first of its kind in the South African Health Sciences sector. The platform will also be used for research purposes that will enrich the sector. Prof Petersen challenged the Kopanong community to give their input by answering two questions: What is the UFS good at? What is the UFS good for?

Reaching for the stars
“I am a dreamer and I have to reach, and if I reach, I reach for the stars. Today we are very lucky, because we have grabbed that star,” said Prof Gert van Zyl, Dean of the UFS Faculty of Health Sciences.

Prof Van Zyl reminded the audience that they possess the power to change challenges into stars by approaching them with careful thought, planning, and motivation. Prof Van Zyl concluded by stating that the rural community initiative is for the community, and that the faculty is just the facilitators.

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