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25 February 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer
Tharina van der Walt
The hammer thrower Tharina van der Walt is one of several first-class athletes among the first-year students at Kovsies this year. She is the South African U18 champ and record-holder in 2018.
Several top athletes, some of whom were the very best in the country in their respective events at school, have joined Kovsies as first-year students. They already had their first taste of glory as Kovsies when they recently won their events at the first-year meeting.
 
Among these first-years are Jannes Schlebusch (javelin thrower), Joviale Mbisha (sprinter), Colette Uys (discus/shot-put), and Tharina van der Walt (hammer thrower), who have all represented South Africa in the past two years.
 
Schlebusch won the silver medal at the World U18 championships in 2017, but was injured last year. Great things were expected for 2019, but during the first-year meeting he injured his ankle to such an extent that he will have to undergo an operation that would put him on the sideline for the rest of the season.
 
Van der Walt was the South African schools champ in the hammer throw for girls U19 in 2018, when she managed to set up a new school record of 57,83 m. She was ranked fourth at the World U18 champs in 2017. At the same meeting, Mbisha ended 14th in the 100 m.
 
Uys, who participated in the CAA Southern Region Youth and Junior Championships last year, achieved a second place in the discus at the 2018 National Secondary Schools Championships for girls U19. Other first-years who took part in the SA’s last year, are Vicky Oelofse (1 500 m) and Michael Skosana (long jump).
 
They will strengthen Kovsie Athletics, which already boasts a large group of athletes with international experience. Of the 16 athletes who participated internationally last year, only Kesa Molotsane and Lara Orrock will not be in action for the students again.
 
■ Imperium Residence won the men’s division and Arista/Amelia were the ladies’ winners.
 

News Archive

UFS experimental farm to be redesigned as a training facility
2004-10-25

Back fltr:
Dr Léan van der Westhuizen, Manager: UFS Sydenham Experimental Farm; Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS and Councilor Thami Stander, Chairperson: Mangaung Municipal Portfolio for Agriculture and Rural Development

Front fltr:
Mr Hanz Nketu, Chairperson: Free State Legislative Committee on Agriculture and Mr Peter Frewen from the Free State Legislature

The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences of the University of the Free State will soon sign a tri-partite cooperation agreement with the National African Farmers Union (NAFU) and the Mangaung Local Municipality with the aim of providing training and mentorship to small-scale and emerging farmers, including those recently settled under the on-going land redistribution programme.

The agreement is part of the Faculty’s strategic plan to support the on-going reform process in the country, of which Black Economic Empowerment in Agriculture (Agri-BEE) is an important part. The Free State Provincial Department of Agriculture is also actively supporting this initiative.

Under the plan, the Faculty is redesigning its experimental farm, located about 12 kilometers south of Bloemfontein, as a training facility to build up skills in among others broiler and egg production, dairy farming, animal husbandry, piggery, sheep and goat production. The idea is to introduce a comprehensive package that empowers the small and emerging farmers and the local communities adjoining the farms through simultaneous investments in research, extension, and practical agricultural training.

Learnerships are also being drawn up to provide productive skills in order to contribute to addressing the national skills gap and enhancing opportunities for both self and wage employment.

The residents of the adjoining informal settlement known as Mangaung Phase II where unemployment is currently at extremely high levels are primary targets of this component of the project. The Faculty intends for this project to service the farming communities of the Free State Province and gradually spread to other Provinces in the country.

Having recognised this training programme as a potential instrument for achieving “a united and prosperous agricultural sector”, the Free State Legislature has shown considerable interest in the programme.

Following a preparatory visit to the farms by the Agriculture Committee of the Free State Legislature a request was made to the Faculty to host a larger visit by the Legislative Committees of the Free State, North West and Eastern Cape Provincial Legislatures on Monday 25 October 2004 and present details of the training programme.

The President of NAFU in the Free State Province, Mr Nox Nonkonyana, the Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, the Chair of the Mangaung Municipal Portfolio for Agriculture and Rural Development, Councilor Thami Stander, and the Chairperson of the Free State Legislative Committee on Agriculture, Mr M Nketu, will address the Legislators during the occasion.

Prof Herman van Schalkwyk

Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

University of the Free State, Bloemfontein

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
25 Oktober 2004

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