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Education key to repairing SA economy

08 July 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Charl Devenish

Thought-Leader Series 2019 — Executive Director: Centre for Politics and Research and political commentator, Prince Mashele, one of the key experts at the UFS Thought-Leader series, advises the youth in South Africa on acquiring multidisciplinary skills in order to survive in the future world of work.

The University of the Free State (UFS), in collaboration with Vrye Weekblad, presented the second consecutive Thought-Leader series on the Bloemfontein Campus on 4 July 2019, with topics focusing on economic growth and entrepreneurship for an emergent South African economy and environment. The series formed part of the literature festival of the Vrystaat Arts Festival, presented on the campus from 1 to 7 July 2019.

Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof Francis Petersen, opened the discussions with the words, “We need to project ourselves as thought-leaders,” clarifying that the UFS itself is responsible for contributing to local and national public discourse by assembling industry experts to deliberate on imperative topics that affect students, the broader community, and the country in one way or another.

Editor of the Vrye Weekblad, political analyst, and master of ceremonies for the morning, Dr Max du Preez, introduced the panellists for the first discussion, themed How can we fix the South African economy and create jobs.

According to Prof Philippe Burger, Vice-Dean (Strategic Projects): UFS Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, South Africa has the highest level of economic inequality in the world. He further explained that the long-term solution to growing the country’s economy is to improve the quality of education, which will result in a higher growth rate for the country.

Chief Economist at Investec, Ms Annabel Bishop, went on to explain that, “South Africa has a worrying de-industrialisation trend, which contributes to the decreased opportunity for decent job creation, essentially contributing to our struggling economy.” This was echoed by Executive Director: Centre for Politics and Research and political commentator, Mr Prince Mashele, who spoke on employing the unemployed. He suggested that South Africa’s youth be trained and equipped with skills so that SA gravitate more towards producing an industrial class in order to build its economy.

Director and Chief Economist of the Efficient Group, Mr Dawie Roodt, concluded the first discussion by highlighting that South Africa needs a GDP growth rate of 2,5% to at least maintain the country’s current unemployment rate and prevent it from getting worse.

The second panel discussed the establishment of a pro-youth entrepreneurship country, where the Head: Department of Business Management (UFS), Prof Brownhilder Neheh, spoke about bridging the intention-behaviour gap, and further exposing the youth to practical opportunities and teaching them the importance of group mentality as entrepreneurs. Chief Executive Officer: Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Ms Maryana Iskander, suggested that foreign direct investment can improve youth employment.

The final panellist to speak during the last half of the discussion, Senior Banker and Transactor: Acquisition and Leveraged Finance Division at Rand Merchant Bank – Corporate Investment Bank, Mr David Abbey, advised on tomorrow’s world of work by saying, “The focus of the workplace should always be on the people, and entrepreneurs should understand the importance of multidisciplinary skills, and emotional and social intelligence, as the future world of work requires a trusted society.”

UFS Thought-Leader Series Programme:		UFS Thought-Leader Series Panel discussions:

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New SRC: Records of support and a victory for women

2014-09-04

Ms Mosa Leteane and Ms Louzanne Coetzee
Photo: Johan Roux

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While campuses across South Africa regularly report falling voter turnout in campus elections of student representatives, the University of the Free State, in its recently completed SRC elections, registered record levels of support across our campuses with a total voter turnout of 44%. At the Bloemfontein Campus 34,4% of students voted (5052 votes) and 53,3% (1583 votes) at the Qwaqwa Campus.

Also, for the first time under the new SRC constitution, students elected a woman to lead the student body – Ms Mosa Leteane was elected as President. Another first was the election of a blind woman to the SRC – Ms Louzanne Coetzee. She will be responsible for student accessibility of our Bloemfontein SRC. This marks a victory for women in student governance.

Mr Tulasizwe Sithole was elected as the President of the SRC at our Qwaqwa Campus.

The election of Ms Leteane as President underscores the progress achieved for gender equality with near half of her SRC consisting of women (48%).

These successes are all the more significant, since this is the 4th year of elections under newly adopted SRC constitutions that allow for broader participation of diverse student constituencies in student governance.

This means that the crucial 3-year mark to test a new approach and method in governance and elections was not only successfully reached, but also in its 4th year shows the constitution as one that sustains its impact to deepen democracy and citizenship among our 30,000-strong student body.

“The results of the SRC elections across campuses show that our students are not only ready to lead our campus communities on issues relating to justice, freedom and democracy beyond our societal legacies of race and gender, but do so also for the student movement nationally. We’re immensely proud of our students, who show courage and resilience to choose leaders not for expediency, but for significance, and to lead not for some, but for all”, the Dean of Student Affairs, Rudi Buys, said.

The Qwaqwa SRC was installed on 2 September 2014, while the Bloemfontein SRC will be installed on 5 September. The Central SRC will be established on 14 September by joint sitting of the two SRCs.

The SRC members 2014/15 at the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses are as follows:

Bloemfontein Elective portfolios:
President: Ms Mosa Leteane
Vice Pres: Mr Waldo Staude
Secretary: Ms Dineo Motaung
Treasurer: Ms Maphenye Maditsi
Arts & Culture: Mr Stefan van der Westhuizen
Accessibility & Student Support: Ms Louzanne Coetzee
First Generation Students: Ms Mpho Khati
Media, Marketing & Liaison: Ms Lethabo Maebana
Legal & Constitutional Affairs: Mr Lindokuhle Ntuli
Sport: Ms Dominique de Gouveia
Student development & Environmental Affairs: Mr Victor Ngubeni
Transformation: Mr Tumelo Rapitsi

Bloemfontein Ex officio Portfolios
Dialogue & Ex officio: Associations Student Council: Mr Piet Thibane
Academic Affairs & Ex officio: Academic Affairs Student Council: Mr Jonathan Ruwanika
Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Campus Residences Student Council: Ms Melissa Taljaard
City student Affairs & Ex officio: Commuter Student Council: Ms Kerry-Beth Berry
Post graduate Affairs & Ex officio: Post Graduate Student Council: Ms Masabata Mokgesi
International Affairs & Ex officio: International Student Council: Mr Makate Maieane
Student Media Affairs & Ex officio: Student Media Council: Mr Samuel Phuti
RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Fundraising Council: Mr Johan du Plessis
RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Community Service Council: Mr Manfred Titus

Qwaqwa Elective portfolios:
President General: Mr Thulasizwe Sithole
Deputy President: Ms Zethu Mhlongo
Secretary General: Mr Vukani Ntuli
Treasurer General: Mr Langelihle Mbense
Media & Publicity: Ms Nongcebo Qwabe
Politics & Transformation: Ms Nkosiphile Zwane

Qwaqwa Ex officio Portfolios
Student Development & Environmental Affairs: Mr Ndumiso Memela
Academic Affairs: Mr Simon Mofekeng
Arts & Cultural Affairs: Ms Samkelo Mtshali
Off-Campus Students: Mr Khanyisani Mbatha
RAG, Community Service & Dialogue: Mr Njabulo Mabaso
Religious Affairs: Mr Mfundo Nxumalo
Residence & Catering Affairs: Ms Ntombifuthi Radebe
Sports Council: Mr Luvuno

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