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27 August 2019
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Story Moeketsi Mogotsi
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Photo Johan Roux
Katleho Lechoo, newly elected SRC President on the Bloemfontein Campus and Sonawible Dwaba, outgoing SRC President.
The University of the Free State’s Student Representative Council (SRC) elections took place on the Bloemfontein,
Qwaqwa, and
South campuses during August.
The following candidates were successfully elected as 2019/2020 SRC members on our three respective campuses.
BLOEMFONTEIN CAMPUS SRC:President:Katleho Lechoo
Deputy President:Agobakwe Mboweni
Secretary:Nothabo Zungu
Treasurer:Zandile Makalima
Policy and Transformation:Kamohelo Thakheli
Student Development and First-Generation Students:Thobeka Buti
Commuter Students:Karabo Mtsweni
Associations Student Council:Mandilakhe Magalakanqa
Student Organisations Council:Dieketseng Motaung
Academic Student Council:Lebofsa Malete
Day Residence Council:Gert Terblanche
Campus Residence Council:Tyrone Willard
Postgraduate Student Council:Mahlomola Khasemene
International Student Council:Simba Matem
Student Media and Dialogue Council:Karabo Masike
Universal Access and Social Justice Council:Micaula Jewell
Civic and Social Responsibility Council:Nthato Musa
Arts and Culture Council:Motshidisi Rasego
Sports Council:Sphumelele Dube
QWAQWA CAMPUS SRC:President:Xolani Sandile Sibiya
Deputy President:Thembinkosi Phenyane
Secretary General:Nelisiwe Bridget Masango
Treasurer:Ntandoyenkosi Khumalo
Policy and Transformation:Bongiwe Nakile Khumalo
Student Development and First-Generation Students:Thokozani Siphiwe Zuma
Commuter Students:Thabiso Celimpilo Masuku
Media and Publicity:Simphiwe Sinenhlanhla Dube
Associations and Religious Affairs Student Council: Sicelo Mathews Twala
Campus Residence Council: Thabo Abraham Motaung
Arts and Culture Council:Andile Saviour Maseko
Academics Council:Siyabonga Mpumelelo Mbambo
Sports Council: Tshepiso Fortune Tshabalala
Universal Access and Social Justice Council: Siphamandla Joseph Shabangu
Postgraduate Student Council:Thato Karabo Moloi
International Student Council:Mamokete Mokhatla
SOUTH CAMPUS SRC:President: Phehellang Ralejoe
Deputy President:Nokubonga Mangaliso
Secretary:Mpumelelo Ndzube
Treasurer:Sithembiso Khoza
Policy and Transformation:Casles Phasha
Commuter Students:Sthembele Kunene
Announcement of 2019/2020 SRC
Kathelo Leechoo, SRC President, address the crowd
First sitting of the newly elected SRC on the Bloemfontein Campys
First sitting of the newly elected SRC on the Bloemfontein Campys
Katleho Leechoo
SRC results were announced on Monday 26 August 2019
Pura Mgolombane, Dean of Student Affairs
The new Student Representative Council for the Bloemfontein Campus
Scientists discover a water reservoir beneath the Free State
2009-12-09
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| Dr Holger Sommer |
The Mantle Research Group Bloemfontein (MRGB), under the leadership of Dr Holger Sommer, a senior lecturer in the Department of Geology at the University of the Free State (UFS), has discovered an enormous water reservoir 160 km beneath the Free State.
This discovery, according to Dr Sommer, is the first of its kind in South Africa after he had previously made a similar finding in Colorado, USA.
However, this water cannot be used for human consumption. “It is not frozen water; it is not molecular water; it is not fresh water; it is not salty water; it is OH – water which is sitting in the crystal lattice,” he said.
He said the reservoir was comparable in size to Lake Victoria in Tanzania.
The researchers collected eclogites from the Roberts Victor (Rovic) Mine close to the town of Boshof, south-west of the Free State, for their study.
“The Rovic eclogites are rocks which represent former oceanic crust transported into the earth’s interior by complex plate tectonic processes about 2.0 billion years ago,” explained Dr Sommer.
“These rocks were finally carried back to the earth’s surface by volcanic (kimberlite) eruptions around 130 million years ago. Eclogitic rocks are therefore a window into the Earth’s interior.”
The question from the beginning for all MRGB scientists was: Is there water inside these rocks in such depth, and if so, where is it located?
To answer this question, Dr Sommer and his research fellows separated single mineral grains from eclogite samples and prepared about 100 micrometer (0,1 mm) thick rock sections. Afterwards, specific particle accelerator (Synchrotron) measurements were carried out in the city of Karlsruhe in Germany.
“And indeed, the MRGB found water inside the studied rocks from the Roberts Victor Mine,” he said. “The water was located in defect structures in crystal lattices and along boundaries between single mineral grains.”
“The occurrence of water at such depth would give first evidence that all water of the oceans could be stored five to ten times in the earth’s mantle.”
The study was conducted about a year ago.
Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
4 December 2009