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25 January 2019 | Story Zama Feni | Photo Zama Feni
Sinoxolo Gcilitshane
Former UFS student and former Bloemfontein teacher, Sinoxolo Gcilitshane, received a Mandela Rhodes Scholarship to study further at the University of Cape Town.

The education career of a University of the Free State alumnus and budding teacher, Sinoxolo Gcilitshane, has been given a boost after he was granted a Mandela Rhodes Scholarship to do a Bachelor of Education Honours at the University of Cape Town this year.

This prestigious offer comes after only one year of teaching experience at Petunia Secondary School in Bloemfontein, where the 25-year-old first plied his trade as an educator in English and Social Sciences since January last year.

Gcilitshana, who holds a Bachelor of Education in Further Education and Training Phase from the University of the Free State, has since resigned from his teaching job.

His honours programme will focus on the teaching of History. “I chose this area simply because I still can’t believe the impact of my Grade 12 History teacher, the handsome Zimbabwean, Vimbai Muchabaiwa. His competency, commitment, and inspiring pedagogy really inspired me to such an extent that I decided that one day, I want to be like him, to teach like him, and love students in the same way he loves us.”

It is Gcilitshana’s resolute belief in himself that led to him receiving this esteemed opportunity. “There were those who told me that the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship is not for average students like me, and I believed them, because I couldn’t even speak proper English when I joined the UFS.”

“I never imagined myself as a beneficiary of this prestigious scholarship; nevertheless, I decided to brush aside any beliefs of self-doubt about myself. I then applied, and here I am today through the grace of our Almighty,” he said.

“My philosophy in life is that nobody owes you anything – not a job, not a greeting. It is therefore important for everyone, especially young people, to build their brand and to always chase excellence in all that they do – not money.

Asked where he would like to see himself in five years’ time, Gcilitshane, who was the Prime of Khayalami Residence once, brimmed with excitement when he said: “Within the next five years, I hope that I will be tasked with the responsibility and special privilege of teaching at a university anywhere in the country, where I will get the opportunity to work really hard and do my research and become one of the leading scholars in my field of specialisation.” He intends going for a master’s degree after finishing this programme.

 

News Archive

UFS SIFE is the best in SA!
2004-07-09

The SIFE team celebrates their victory with Jack Shewmaker, founder of SIFE in 1975 and past-president of Walmart in the USA, and Moses Kgosana, Chairman of KPMG SA.

The Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team of the University of the Free State competed in the National SIFE championships on Thursday, June 17, 2004 at Ceasar’s Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Strong competition was experienced from the other ten participant SA universities, e.g. the Universities of the Western Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Cape Town and RAU, but die UFS SIFE team retained the national championship for the third year running.

The team will now represent South Africa and the University of the Free State in Barcelona, Spain at die SIFE World Cup. The competition will be held from 22 to 24 September 2004.

The presentation team members for the competition were Tsholofelo Tlhomelang, Imameleng Matete, Kenneth Lefa, Kabelo Lephaka, Nadia van Staden, Tshepo Mahloko (Multi-Media), Werner Schmidt (Faculty Advisor). Supporting the presentation team were Lineo Peete, Keketso Ntene, Ruth Morienyane, Motaung Mathaba, Tshireletso Seekoe, Peter Letsoalo, Obakeng Msuthwana, Tshepiso Lebentle, JC Langeveldt and Michelle Stanley.

SIFE is a world-wide non-profit organisation with the express aim of encouraging students to spread their business knowledge - gained in the classroom - to the community, to promote and expand the principles of free enterprise.( www.sife.org )

The criteria by which SIFE-projects are measured are the following:

• How free markets work in the global economy.
• How entrepreneurs succeed by identifying a market need and then profitably producing and marketing a product or service to fill that need.
• The personal entrepreneurial, communications, technology and financial management skills needed to successfully compete.
• Practicing business in an ethical and socially responsible manner that supports the principles of a market economy.
• Measuring the results of projects, utilizing mass media and the Internet, involving non-business majors and utilizing a Business Advisory Board, communicating the program through a written report and verbal presentation.

The UFS’ SIFE-team’s presentation complied with all the above mentioned criteria. SIFE UFS’ education drive stretched from primary school learners, to adults who had been working for thirty years – this diverse group was taught about the free market system and its value in the global village. Business ethics and basic business principles were communicated in a fun and interactive way to learners. High-level business advice was given to entrepreneurs who started new projects, e.g. a brick-maker, and marketing advice were given to existing businesses in need of expansion.

If you are interested in helping SIFE UFS achieve its goals, e-mail Werner Schmidt at
schmidtw.ekw@mail.uovs.ac.za or phone him at 051 – 401 3376.

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