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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

Amphitheatre to energise student life on the Qwaqwa Campus
2015-06-11

The Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State is one of the fastest-growing rural campuses.

Since 2010, the campus has, among other things, built two new student residences, which provide accommodation for an additional 500 students. The old disused boiler room, which was used as a storeroom, has been converted into much-needed ablution and dressing room facilities at the sports fields.  The Faculty of Education now boasts a Technology, Engineering Graphics and Design Education laboratory. The project was funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training.

One of the student priorities is a common space in the form of an open amphitheatre in front of the library.

‘’The amphitheatre is a highly-welcomed structure on our campus as it will provide students with an informal environment to study, socialise and meet,’’ said the Campus Principal, Prof Prakash Naidoo.

‘‘We have erected this on an existing space that was already used for outdoor launches and events on the campus, and is in line with our thinking of energising student life on campus. In addition, we have complemented this with the use of solar energy, so that students can just plug in and charge their phones and laptops while they are in the amphitheatre.”

Excited students, Chibi Mosia and Tshilidzi Matshavha, in final-year Chemistry and Chemistry Honours respectively, concurred that the amphitheatre is a good project for the campus.

‘‘It is an important and distinctive feature for the campus as it adds to the growth of our beautiful campus,’’ said Mosia.

‘’It will also enhance the use of alternative energy sources to reduce the campus's carbon footprint,’’ added Matshavha.

The project is worth almost R2,5 m, and took 12 months to complete. The Department of Higher Education and Training also provided the funds for this project.

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