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'The closest I will come to doing magic’

12 April 2019 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Johan Roux

The post-school life of Francois de Beer, one of the graduates in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences who obtained his qualification in Chemistry and Biochemistry during the April graduation ceremonies, can be seen as one great act of ‘magic’. Other people may describe it as coincidence with a couple of miracles as the end result.

An opportunity

After completing his schooling at Hoërskool Fichardtpark in 2008, Francois decided to study at the University of the Free State (UFS). “Kovsies gave me the opportunity when nobody else would,” said Francois.

He did not have Maths subjects at school but wished to study in a Science field. “It is the closest one will ever come to doing magic,” he said.

The human element

Francois, who initially did not perform very well academically, did a bridging course in Mathematics and since then achieved distinctions in all his subjects. He related his story: “I did not have any Maths subjects at school, therefore it was very difficult for me to get to this path. The big difference was that Ms Elzmarie Oosthuizen from the UFS bridging programme saw something in me when nobody else did. She gave me the opportunity to do the Mathematics course, after which I was able to further continue on the Science path.”

“I would definitely recommend the UFS to other prospective students. I think Kovsies has a human element that really looks after students,” Francois said.

Francois is currently pursuing his postgraduate studies in Chemistry. He wants to make a difference in the lives of other people, just as others made a difference in his life.

News Archive

UFS appoints new council members

2004-06-07

The council of the University of the Free State (UFS) last week appointed two new council members. One of the members, Mrs Busiswa Tshabalala, will represent the Qwaqwa community. It is the first time since the incorporation of the Qwaqwa into the UFS campus last year that a council member was elected to represent the Qwaqwa community.

Mrs Tshabalala obtained her BA Hons in History from the University of the North’s Qwaqwa campus in 1992 and a B Ed degree in leadership management from the UFS in 1998. She was the first female deputy principal at the Harrismith Secondary School (1989-1992) and principal of the Forty Second Hill Teachers’ Centre in the Vrede area office of the Free State Department of Education. In 2001 she was seconded by the Free State Department of Education to coordinate programme 1 and 2 for Link Community Development. She is currently the director of the Thabo Mofutsanyana education district of the Free State Department of Education.

Dr Susan Vosloo, international acclaimed cardiologist, is the other new member of the council. Dr Vosloo, old Kovsie of the year 1989, obtained the MB Chb degree in 1980 at the UFS, an M Med cardiothoracic surgery and in 1998 the FCS (SA) qualification in cardiothoracic surgery at the College of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). Dr Vosloo’s career extends over a wide spectrum and she specialises in pediatric and adult cardiothoracic surgery. In 1993 she took part in the first heart transplant in Johannesburg at Milpark Hospital, in 1997 she did the first hear-lung transplant at City Park Hospital in Cape Town and in 1997 a heart transplant on a 3-year old child.

She has a cardiothoracic surgery at the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town since 1991 and in also part-time involved with the Red Cross Memorial Hospital in Cape Town.

“It is a great honour for the UFS to welcome two women with so much expertise and experience on the council. Their presence strengthens the UFS’s continued effort to transform the council,” said judge Faan Hancke, chairperson of the UFS council..

Both Mrs Tshabalala and Dr Vosloo’s appointments are until June 2008.

The following council members have been re-elected until June 2008:

Prof Dines Gihwala - vice-chairperson of the council
Dr Nathan Bagarette
Dr Frans Kotzé

Dr Kobus Laubscher was elected by the donors as representative for a further term until June 2008. Me Winifred Hoexter was elected by the Alumni as the third representative. She has been a foundation donor of the UFS since 1997 and committee member of the Kovsie Alumni Trust since 2000. Me Hoexter’s term is until June 2008. The other Alumni representatives are judge Faan Hancke and Mr Jan Grobler, whose term is until June 2006.

Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

7 June 2004

Mrs Busiswa Tshabalala

Dr Susan Vosloo

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