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14 September 2018
Honouring great African leadership
Celebrating the legacy and leadership of the founder of the Basotho nation. From left are: Prof Itumeleng Mosala, Prof Puleng LenkaBula and Prof Francis Petersen, who attended the Moshoeshoe 1 memorial lecture delivered by Prof Mosala.
Prof Itumeleng Mosala, author, academic, public intellectual, researcher and business consultant, delivered the fourth King Moshoeshoe memorial lecture at the University of the Free State (UFS), Bloemfontein Campus. The lecture attracted audiences from as far as Lesotho including representatives of the Bakoena royal house. Ralechate Mokose, the High Commissioner of Lesotho also graced the lecture with his presence.

The King Moshoeshoe 1 memorial lectures are organised by the Department of Community Engagement and form part of the initiative to demonstrate the university’s commitment to transformation.

An example for global leadership

“I believe that throughout his reign, King Moshoeshoe demonstrated the power of ethical leadership. Not only as a model for African leadership but surely providing an example for leadership globally,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, in his welcoming message. He added that it was an integral part of the university’s mission to produce and disseminate knowledge on African affairs as well as to preserve the heritage and history of the country and the continent.

Leadership in times of battle

The keynote address by Prof Mosala was inspired by an article titled; 8 Facts about King Moshoeshoe I: The Razor of Southern Africa by Bill Humphrey. In his lecture, Prof Mosala focused on King Moshoeshoe’s leadership skills and resilience in battles. “King Moshoeshoe never lost a major battle. He was able to withstand insults and assaults but where there was no major battle, he would decide to retreat,” Prof Mosala said.
 
Drawing from King Moshoeshoe’s leadership, he said it was important for leaders to have the wisdom to allow insignificant battles to pass and focus the energy on winning major battles. Prof Mosala emphasised that King Moshoeshoe defended the land and built the Basotho nation. Leaders today need to learn such leadership qualities from this great Basotho king.

Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Vice-Rector: Institutional Change, Student Affairs and Community Engagement said in her closing remarks that the youth needed to draw from King Moshoeshoe’s ethical leadership, generous hospitality and understanding of coexistence.

Read full speech here

News Archive

5 things you might not know about Elizabeth Molapo: Miss SA 2016 finalist
2015-11-20

Kovsies’ own beauty queen, Elizabeth Molapo

Elizabeth Lihotetso Molapo is a final-year BCom Economics student at the University of the Free State. The impeccably-beautiful 23-year-old is the only Bloemfontein representative among the top 12 contestants who have their eyes fixed on the Miss South Africa 2016 crown.

You might not know that:

1. Elizabeth was named after Queen Elizabeth 2, with whom she shares a birthday. Her middle name, “Lihotetso”, translates as “Fire”. Suffice it to say, her burning desire to learn - the pull factor for her embarking on the Miss SA 2016 journey - is a manifestation of her fate.

2. This is not her first time in the Miss SA competition. Last year, Elizabeth gave the Miss SA competition a try but unfortunately did not make very far.

3. Her childhood dream was to become a pediatrician. Economics won when she had to shadow at a hospital when she was in high school, and was horrified at the sight of blood. Elizabeth then decided: “This isn’t for me!”

4. “Enter Miss SA,” she recalls Rolene Strauss saying. The former Miss SA and current Miss World encouraged her to follow her dreams, and to aim for the most prestigious tiara in the country.

5. The last book she read was Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It is also the next one she might read, as she has read it three times already.

Other Kovsies who have made strides in the beauty pageant realm include Rolene Strauss who was crowned Miss SA 2014 and Miss World 2015. Earlier this year, Relebohile Kobeli was also crowned Miss Lesotho 2015 and is now en route to Miss World International 2015 in China.

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