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23 August 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Albert van Biljon
Rolene Strauss
“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,” Rolene Strauss quoted from Galatians 6:4.
“Are you allowing yourself to be measured by society’s version of the perfect woman? Is that woman called ‘Perfect’ stealing your self-confidence, your potential, your joy, and your life? Are you allowing that measuring tape to measure you and tell you you aren’t good enough? I believe that as women it is time to stand up and say: ‘No, Perfect – you can’t steal my self-confidence.’ ”These were the opening words of the University of the Free State (UFS) Women’s Breakfast guest speaker, Rolene Strauss.

The measuring tape called ‘Perfect’

Making reference to her personal experiences from being a little girl with big front teeth and skinny legs, to growing into a teenager and having her waist measured, and going on to becoming a beauty pageant contestant, a wife, and a mother. Strauss shared the many ways she has been subjected to society’s unattainable standards. “That measuring tape suffocated me. I realised that there has to be more to being a woman than constantly trying to be perfect.”

The Kovsie alumna, medical doctor, entrepreneur and title holder of both the 2014 Miss South Africa and Miss World competitions, spoke to 820 women on the Bloemfontein Campus on 22 August 2019.

On coming together to uplift each other

Strauss also stressed the importance of planting the seeds of confidence in one another. “The quality of yourself as a woman depends on the quality of the women around you,” she said.

Susan van Jaarsveld echoed Strauss’s sentiments. In her capacity as Senior Director of the Department of Human Resources, which is the official host of the UFS Women’s Breakfast, Van Jaarsveld extended a warm welcome to our guest speaker. Borrowing the words of the late American author, Harriet Beecher Stowe, she reiterated that “women are the real architects of society”.

Paying tribute to women of Kovsies

Some former Kovsies who were also celebrated included Gerda Steyn, winner of the 2019 Two Oceans and Comrades ultramarathons; Madam Justice Mahube Molemela, Judge President of the Free State Division of the High Court, Dr Susan Vosloo, South Africa’s first female heart surgeon; Karla Pretorius, player of the 2019 Netball World Cup, Caroline Grace Brüssow, one of South Africa’s top songstresses; and Crystal-Donna Roberts, award- winning actress.

Kovsies continue to walk in the footsteps of excellence to demonstrate respect for the thousands of women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 9 August 1956. In the spirit of honouring women of the past, present, and future, Van Jaarsveld reminded all the guests that they were valuable, powerful, and deserved every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve their dreams.

Rolene Strauss with UFS staff members
Rolene Strauss with UFS staff members
UFS Women
UFS Women's Breakfast
Staff members attending the UFS Women
Staff members attending the UFS Women's Breakfast
Rolene Strauss with UFS staff members
Rolene Strauss with UFS staff members
Rolene Strauss with UFS staff members
Rolene Strauss with UFS staff members
Rolene Strauss with UFS staff members
Rolene Strauss with UFS staff members

News Archive

New Rector and Chancellor inaugurated at UFS
2003-02-07

NEW RECTOR AND CHANCELLOR INAUGURATED AT UFS

 Newly inaugurated Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, Prof Frederick Fourie, has recommitted the university to the service of the broader community, through the pursuit of academic excellence and contributing to building a non-racial, democratic and just South Africa.

To make this a reality Prof Fourie proposed a social contract or accord between university constituencies and the community to chart the way forward to establishing a university that can meet the challenges of a developing democracy.

Prof Fourie was speaking at his inauguration ceremony on the Bloemfontein campus, where the former Ambassador to the United States, Dr Franklin Sonn, was also inaugurated as Chancellor of the UFS.

The twin inauguration ceremony – the first in the history of the UFS - was attended by former President Nelson Mandela, Education Minister, Kader Asmal, Free State Premier Winki Direko, and the executive mayor of Mangaung, Mr Pappie Mokoena, who all endorsed the appointments as evidence of the transformation of the UFS.

According to Prof Fourie, the greatest contribution that any university could make to social and economic development in South Africa was by being an excellent university that encouraged critical inquiry, scientific knowledge as well as community service.

“So whilst we cherish and foster the continuity of the university as part of the ageold international tradition of universities, this University embraces its particular role in this country now, embraces the changes in the form and scope of its role in this crucial period of our history. We are committed to making a real difference to the new nation,” he said.

His vision for the UFS was “to be a university of excellence, equity and innovation – a leader in research, teaching, community service, adult learning, transformation, non-racialism, non-sexism, multi-culturality and multilingualism – a contributor to our country and our continent’s growth and development – a truly South African university”.

Prof Fourie said the recent incorporation of the Qwaqwa campus of the University of the North into the University of the Free State, which is the first such incorporation to take place, would contribute to broadening access for poor communities to higher education. Introducing an innovation to the inauguration ceremony, Prof Fourie and the UFS staff pledged to their commitment to excellence and justice, quality and equity. Fourie is the 13th Rector of the University of the Free State, succeeding Prof. Stef Coetzee, and Dr Sonn is the 6th Chancellor, succeeding Ms Winkie Direko, Premier of the Free State.

In his inaugural address, Dr Sonn said the significance of today’s ceremony was that the UFS - as a former institution of the Afrikaner – had chosen to walk the path of justice and not merely survival. “This university has seemingly liberated itself. It is inclusively South African.

He said the academic community must play its role of vigilance and not indifference”. Referring to the stature of former president Mandela in international affairs, Dr Sonn said: “We must bring the weight ot science and critical analysis and interpretation to bear in support of Madiba and other moral giants.”
 

 

Inauguration Speech by Prof. Frederick C.v.N. Fourie  (PDF format)

Inauguration Speech by Dr Franklin A. Sonn (PDF format)

Statement by the Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal (PDF format)

Speech by Prof. Viljoen (PDF format)

Speech by Executive Mayor Mokoena - Mangaung Local Municipality (PDF format)

 

 

 

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