Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
22 July 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Allan McKenzie
Karla Pretorius
Karla Pretorius (left) receiving the trophy as the Player of the Tournament at the Netball World Cup.

Karla Pretorius downplayed all the praise and rather credited her team after she received the biggest accolade in world netball.

The former netball player of the University of the Free State was named Player of the Tournament after the conclusion of the Netball World Cup on Sunday 21 July 2019, making her officially the world’s best netballer.

“I feel very honoured and grateful to have been named the best player. You are only as good as those you surround yourself with. So, a massive thanks to the team who did so well,” she said about the Proteas who had their best showing at the tournament in 24 years. They finished fourth. 

“This good run was obviously what inspired me to play as well as I did, and I am grateful to have been given this very special award,” Pretorius said. 

‘Carried herself with huge distinction’

She represented and later captained the Kovsies between 2009 and 2015. During that time, she scooped one award after the other. In 2014 and 2015, she was the Varsity Player of the Year.

Pretorius was twice named as the Player of the Match during the World Cup, and her 20 intercepts were the joint third most.

She completed her master’s in Dietetics at the UFS last year (2018) and is now playing professional netball in Australia.

According to the organisers, the Player of the Tournament celebrates “the outstanding performance of one particular player who, more than anyone else, exemplified her country’s desire to put themselves back among the elite of world netball”. 
“The fact that South Africa reached the final four for the first time since 1995, is in no small way thanks to her impeccable reading of the game, timing, and composure. She has carried herself both on and off court with huge distinction, and has rightly claimed this honour,” they said.

News Archive

Letter to students from Prof Jonathan Jansen about student protest action at the UFS
2015-10-21

Dear Students

Student protest action at the University of the Free State

I wish to make clear that the senior leadership of the University of the Free State understands and supports the demands from students and their leaders that higher education be accessible to all students, especially the poor. For the past six years we have done everything in our power to meet that commitment to students who are academically talented, but simply cannot afford to pay; that is why our tuition fees remain among the lowest in the country. Our efforts to raise private funding have enabled thousands more students to study at the UFS than would have been possible on the government subsidy only. Whether it is the Staff Fund contributions (yes, our staff empty their pockets to support student fees) or the No Student Hungry (NSH) bursary programme (yes, we raise funds for food bursaries), we will continue our drive to fund students who cannot afford higher education. Let me repeat, no student with a solid academic record will be denied access to studies simply because they cannot pay.

Now, to the matter at hand. There is a national demand from students for a 0% fee increment for 2016. The Minister’s response, after consultation with stakeholders, was that universities should cap their 2016 fee increases at 6%. Despite this initiative from government, the protests continue on virtually all campuses across South Africa for the ‘no fee’ increase.

Our response, as the UFS leadership, is to continue engaging the SRC as the chosen leadership of our students in trying to negotiate a settlement on the matter. We have worked around the clock to be available to student leaders to find some resolution on 2016 fees. While we understand the demands of students, as university leaders, we can only work with the government subsidy we receive. Any agreement reached, cannot and must not place the university at academic and financial risk in its ability to deliver public higher education to the country - if that happens, everybody loses. Still, no matter what happens in terms of the response from government, the leadership door at the UFS remains open to finding a mutually acceptable solution to all parties in these deliberations.

Students, we are deeply concerned by the violence, intimidation and threats from the small group of protesting students. These dangerous and demeaning behaviours, like disrupting classes and verbally abusing students and staff, undermine the legitimate quest of students for relief concerning tuition fees. Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and the university will take action where required. We must also remember that we have an obligation to all 30 000 students whose right to learn without fear of violence and intimidation must be respected.

In conclusion, over the past few years we have worked hard to build a culture of mutual respect and embrace as we worked through some very difficult challenges on campus. You would have noticed that the university leadership responded quickly and sympathetically to reason and respect in difficult situations of rage and demonstration. A minority of students, with some outsiders, have come onto the campus to break down that culture in which, while we might disagree, we continue to work on the basis of mutual respect. I urge all students that, as we engage of this important problem of enabling greater access to higher education, we continue to remain true to the core values of our Human Project.

Best Regards

Prof Jonathan Jansen
Vice-Chancellor and Rector
University of the Free State


Letter to students from Prof Jonathan Jansen about student protest actions at the UFS (Pdf format)

 

 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept