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09 April 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Valentino Ndaba
William Kandowe, principal of the Albert Street School in Johannesburg, Dr Faith Mkwananzi, the author, and DR Chris High
From right: William Kandowe, principal of the Albert Street School in Johannesburg, Dr Faith Mkwananzi, the author, and DR Chris High, Senior Lecturer at Linnaeus University in Sweden, at the book launch.
Dr Faith Mkwananzi’s road from secondary school to university has been paved with challenges. After repeating her matric five times in Zimbabwe, she became an international university student in South Africa in 2006. Some years later, on 3 April 2019, the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus witnessed the launch of her excellent book titled: Higher Education, Youth and Migration in Contexts of Disadvantages: Understanding Aspirations and Capabilities, which was informed by these and many circumstances.

Aspirations formation

The book speaks to her own life. “Born and raised in Zimbabwe in KwaBulawayo, I had my own aspirations. I knew I did not want be a nurse   my mother’s earnest interest and desire for me,” said Dr Mkwananzi as she related the fluid dreams her seven-year-old self had that culminated into aspirations to enter academia.

Aspirations enabled Dr Mkwananzi’s capabilities to pursue a PhD in Development Studies at UFS, and then write her book. “Higher education aspirations are worth pursuing,” said the current postdoctoral researcher at the university’s South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in Higher Education and Human Development Research Programme, as she reflected on her academic journey.

Voices of marginalised migrants
 
Dr Mkwananzi has focused her book on the lives, experiences and the formation of higher education aspirations among marginalised migrant youth in Johannesburg. She gives these young people a voice to narrate their own story, making this research an essential work for understanding the conditions necessary for youth to live valuable lives in both local and international contexts. 

News Archive

Our 2014/15 male and female Rag finalists announced
2014-11-10

More than 100 applied. Only 20 remain.

From the ranks of the semi-finalists – who managed to raise an astonishing R250 000.00 for the Kovsie Rag CS (Receive and Give Community Service) – we now have the names of our 20 finalists.

The Brutal Fruit UFS Rag CS Queen finalists are:

  • Ansunel Schutte
  • Carla de Bruyn
  • Chante Marais
  • Charissa Venter
  • Diederi Venter
  • Erne van Wyk
  • Karen Janse van Rensburg
  • Mia van Rensburg
  • Selebogo Lekalake
  • Stephanie Enslin

The Brutal Fruit UFS Mr Rag CS finalists are:

  • Marcques Fourie
  • Americo Lottering
  • Brandon van Wyk
  • Danzel Rademan
  • Kabelo Mashabe
  • Ludwig Dohne
  • Marius Croucamp
  • Thomas Kolathu
  • Spurgeon Pijoos
  • Wilmar van Niekerk

These 20 finalists had to choose a charity or organization for which they will continue to raise funds. With the support of the public and business sector, these young men and women will be able to continue to make a difference in our community.

With a current turnover of about R5.5 million, we are today reckoned as the largest Rag CS per capita in South Africa. Goods and/or money to the value of R2 million were distributed by Kovsie Rag CS during the 2013/14 book year – to the benefit of numerous charities.

The annual Brutal Fruit UFS Rag CS Coronation Ball has become a highlight on the Free State’s social calendar. The UFS RAG CS Queen and UFS Mr RAG CS 2015 will be crowned at this lustrous event on 13 February 2015.

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