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17 January 2019 | Story Mamosa Makaya | Photo Xolisa Mnukwa
Nkahiseng
Nkahiseng Ralepeli will join the Rhodes Scholarship cohort of 2019.

Aspiring lawyer and political prodigy, Nkahiseng Ralepeli, will soon join a cohort of Rhodes Scholarship recipients at the University of Oxford in the UK later this year. He completed his LLB at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2018, and it comes as no surprise that this young achiever has his eyes set on greater heights.

As a student, Nkahiseng was always a cut above the rest, with his involvement in non-governmental organisations such as Corruption Watch and Debate Afrika, where he used debating to not only educate youth in South Africa but to engage various social ills that plague the country in whichever way he could. He represented the UFS at various debating tournaments such as the Pan-African Universities Debating Championships and the World Universities Debating Championships.

“This is something I’ve wanted for an incredibly long time. Receiving this scholarship is so important, and makes me feel that all my efforts and work have been validated. What I’ve learned is that regardless of the situation you’re born into, rich or poor, hard work is rewarded. I hope this experience will help me realise my dreams and career goals, but most importantly I want to have a significant impact in whatever space I find myself in and on the people I encounter,” said Nkahiseng.

As an Abe Bailey Bursary recipient, he is deeply interested in the transformation of African political theory and the establishment of various structures in the development and maintenance of African ‘infant’ democracies and post-civil wars. He later hopes to pursue a career in South African politics. His list of achievements keeps getting longer as he adds to it the Rhodes Scholarship. The UFS is truly proud to have an alumnus of this high calibre.

News Archive

Government to benefit from training of interpreters
2009-03-31

 
Pictured, from the left, are: Prof Theo du Plessis (Director: Unit for Language Management, UFS), Ms Mokone Nthongoa (HOD: Sport, FS Department of Sport, Arts and Culture), Mr Khotso Sesele (MEC: FS Department of Sport, Arts and Culture) and Prof Engela Pretorius (Vice Dean: Faculty of the Humanities, UFS).
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe
Government to benefit from training of interpreters

The fourth phase of a project to train eight conference interpreters and 30 community interpreters to assist government departments at service delivery points in the Free State was launched this week.

The project is part of the Multilingualism Information Development Programme which brings together the Free State provincial government, the Province of Antwerp and the University of Antwerp in Belgium and the University of the Free State (UFS).

Speaking at the launch of the fourth phase of the project, the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture in the Free State, Mr Khotso Sesele, said: “The fact that we have been through the first three stages of this project, and are now launching its fourth phase, is indicative of the magnificent progress that has been made. This is a sign that through partnerships we can achieve more.”

The MIDP IV consists of two pillars, namely a practical and a research component. Its aim is to generate interpreting capacity within the provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. The focus is on training an interpreting team over three years which can be employed within a governmental context at various service points.

“As we approach the 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournaments, it will be important for our communities to be able to interact with millions of foreign nationals who will be in our country from different world destinations during and beyond these two important soccer events,” said the MEC.

“The focus on interpreter training by this fourth phase of MIDP is thus an important factor in ensuring better communication during and beyond these important soccer spectacles that will take place in our country.”
The focus of the first three phases of the MIDP was on the main official languages of the province. This fourth phase, which started in 2008, will run until 2010 and its focus is on the Xhariep District Municipality.

“The provision of interpreting services and its further extension to district municipalities will provide the necessary interpreting skills to our communities that will enhance better interaction amongst ourselves,” said Mr Sesele.

He said the fact that indigenous languages have been “elevated from their marginalised status to being languages of business and commerce” is an important milestone that must be cherished.

This fourth phase of MIDP will also incorporate sign language as part of its focus on interpreting services.

“In our quest to ensure a multilingual dispensation in our province, we need not neglect to remember people with disabilities,” he said. “This is a matter of principle that does not require debate.”

“We should thus ensure the realisation of the goal of MIDP IV which is to ensure smooth communication interaction within the wider public, including the deaf community.”

“This is a wonderful project,” said Ms Mathabo Monaheng, one of the students in the MIDP. “As a sign language interpreter trainee this project will empower me with the necessary skills to be able to make a meaningful contribution to the deaf community in terms of communication.”

The MIDP is funded by the Province of Antwerp and successfully implemented by the Unit for Language Management at the UFS.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za  
31 March 2009

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