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13 December 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo iStock
safety, road safety
Safety comes first, fun festive second.

Safety never takes a holiday. The University of the Free State’s Department of Protection Services wishes the Kovsie community happy and safe holidays.

Heed these tips when travelling, away on holiday or in the street.

  • Be aware of your surroundings and any suspicious-looking persons or behaviour (especially in queues);
  • Report any suspicious behaviour or activity to the central security on-site or the South African Police Services;
  • Be alert when leaving shopping centres. Should you suspect that you are being followed, drive to the nearest police station;
  • Jamming devices are frequently used by criminals, so ensure that your vehicle is locked by physically checking it before leaving;
  • All valuables must be safely stowed away in the boot or under the seats in order to avoid smash and grab incidents;
  • Do not leave your handbags or valuables unattended while shopping; and
  • Obey the rules of the road and carry your driver’s licence with you.Happy holidays! Enter 2020 safe and secure!

Happy holidays! Enter 2020 safe and secure!

News Archive

Golden Key recognises top achievers
2012-08-29

A jam packed audience listens to the keynote address at the UFS Golden Key Annual new members’ ceremony.
Photo: Stephen Collett
29 August 2012

Recognising academic excellence at the University of the Free State (UFS), the world’s biggest academic honour society, Golden Key International Honour Society, selected a record number of Kovsie students as new members this year.

More than 700 top achievers have been invited to join the prestige academic society – the biggest crop of students thus far.

New members, the top 15% of academic students at Kovsies, were welcomed to the society’s UFS Chapter at an induction ceremony held on Saturday 25 August 2012. The ceremony also saw Justice Ian van der Merwe, Chairperson of the UFS Council, Mr Billyboy Ramahlele, Director Community Engagement, and Prof. Hendrik Swart, Senior Professor in Physics at the UFS being recognised as honorary members of the society. The event, held at the Kovsie Church, drew a large crowd with the venue packed to capacity.

Sibusiso Tshabalala, a third-year BCom Law student, and recently selected as one of ten Google Young Minds for 2012, delivered the keynote address. Structuring his talk around dreams, fears and music, Sibusiso told students they had joined a global community of students who valued academic achievement, leadership and service. “In a country where rhetoric triumphs over logic and mediocrity rules supreme, while excellence is fast becoming taboo, we need the thinkers to do the leading.”

Dr Derek Swemmer, Registrar and co-advisor of the UFS Chapter, told the students they had demonstrated the ability and now had to fulfil their potential. He was appointed as Chairperson of the society’s governing body in March this year.

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