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27 August 2019 | Story Moeketsi Mogotsi | Photo Johan Roux
SRC 2019
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

News Archive

Prof Tredoux turns theories regarding the formation of metals on its head
2013-09-17

 

Prof Marian Tredoux
17 September 2013

The latest research conducted by Prof Marian Tredoux of the Department of Geology, in collaboration with her research assistant Bianca Kennedy and their colleagues in Germany, placed established theories regarding how minerals of the platinum-group of elements are formed, under close scrutiny.

The article on this research of which Prof Tredoux is a co-author – ‘Noble metal nanoclusters and nanoparticles precede mineral formation in magmatic sulphide melts’ – was published in Nature Communications on 6 September 2013. It is an online journal for research of the highest quality in the fields of biological, physical and chemical sciences.

This study found that atoms of platinum and arsenic create nanoclusters, long before the mineral sperrylite can crystallise. Thus, the platinum does not occur as a primary sulphur compound. The research was conducted at the Steinmann Institute of the University of Bonn, Germany, as well as here in Bloemfontein.

Monetary support from Inkaba yeAfrica – a German-South African multidisciplinary and intercultural Earth Science collaborative of the National Research Foundation (NRF) – made this research possible. Studies are now also being conducted on other metals in the precious metal group, specifically palladium, rhodium and ruthenium.

The discovery of the nanoclusters and the combination with arsenic can have far-reaching consequences for the platinum mine industry, if it can be utilised to recover a greater amount of platinum ore and therefore less wastage ending up in mine dumps. This will signify optimal mining of a scarce and valuable metal, one of South Africa’s most important export products.

For Prof Tredoux, the research results also prove thoughts she already had some twenty years ago around the forming of platinum minerals. “Researchers laughed in my face, but the evidence had to wait for the development of technology to prove it.” Young researchers were very excited at recent congresses about the findings, since the new models can bring new insights.

“Chemistry researchers have been talking about platinum element clusters in watery environments for quite a while, but it was thought that these would not appear in magmas (molten rock) due to the high temperatures (>1 000 degrees celsius).”

Prof Tredoux has already delivered lectures at congresses in Scotland, Hungary, Sweden and Italy on this research.

Read the article at: http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2013/130906/ncomms3405/full/ncomms3405.html

 

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