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Kovsies help Proteas to World Cup semis

18 July 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Simon Wilkinson

Khanyisa Chawane, a student at the University of the Free State, in action at the Netball World Cup in Liverpool where she featured in all five victories of the Proteas.

The three netballers from the University of the Free State (UFS) in the Protea netball team had a major hand in the team’s best showing in 24 years at a World Cup

With their fifth consecutive victory in Liverpool, the Proteas booked their spot in the semi-final on Wednesday night (17 July 2019).

It is the first time ever that South Africa reached the semi-final stage of the competition. However, they finished second and third in 1995 and 1967 respectively, but there wasn’t a semi-final stage on those occasions. The Proteas finished fifth or sixth in the previous five tournaments.

Khanyisa Chawane, a centre court player, along with Kovsie alumni Maryka Holtzhausen (goal attack) and Karla Pretorius (goal defence), were all in great form.

Chawane, who made her Protea debut less than a year ago, was earmarked to mostly be a reserve, but she has featured in all five matches thus far and got quite a lot of game time. In the victory over the world’s number two team, Jamaica, she played the final two quarters as wing defence in a high-pressure encounter, which the Proteas won by three goals.

Holtzhausen has a goal-success percentage of 80%, but it is her role as playmaker and by ensuring that she feeds her goal shooter, Lenize Potgieter, with the majority of shooting attempts close to the net, that impressed. Pretorius, who snatched two Player of the Match awards, pressurised opponents into mistakes on defence. Her 13 intercepts are the joint third most in the tournament.

The Proteas are one of only four unbeaten teams, with the final round of group matches taking place on Thursday (18 July 2019). They will face either Australia or New Zealand in the semi-final on Saturday 20 July.

News Archive

Boyden observatory celebrates its achievements

2004-10-05

The red carpet will be rolled out and champagne glasses filled tonight when the Boyden Observatory outside Bloemfontein will launch the first phase of the new science centre.

This phase, which was completed earlier this year, consists of a new auditorium, reception area and paths which connect educational visiting points on the Boyden terrain.

“Over the past two years the Boyden Observatory has been re-sited as a research, educational and public facility. The new facilities are now being utilised for educational and public programmes. The 1,5m Boyden telescope has also recently been upgraded and is used for research purposes,” says Dr Matie Hoffman from the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Department of Physics, who is responsible for the management of the centre.

“The Boyden Observatory is a unique facility of the UFS - we are one of the few universities in the world who has its own observatory,” says Dr Hoffman.

“The main purpose of the science centre is to create enthusiasm for science amongst the public. The centre also has a great educational function and focuses specifically on the improvement of the quality of science education in the Free State,” says Dr Hoffman.

Fund-raising for the planned second phase of the science centre, which will consist of interactive in- and outside exhibition areas, will also start tonight. “After the completion of the second phase the Boyden Observatory will probably become the most accessible and public-friendly observatory in the country and a great asset for the Free State Province,” says Dr Hoffman.

A small robotic telescope, which will be controlled from the University College Dublin in Ireland, will also be installed at the Boyden Observatory this year.

“Just as this year is a significant one for the UFS with its centenary celebrations, so it is also a significant one for the Boyden Observatory. The Harvard University in the United States of America started with the construction of the original 1,5 m telescope in its original form 100 years ago, the telescope was put in place at Boyden 70 years ago and Mr Uriah Boyden – the person who donated the money with which the Boyden Observatory was constructed, was born 200 years ago,” says Dr Hoffman.

The first phase of the science centre was built with funds sponsored by the AngloGold Fund, the Shuttleworth Foundation, the Charl van der Merwe Trust and the Lila Theron Trust. Donations from the Friends of Boyden Observatory and other individuals also contributed to the success of the project.

Those who are interested in educational tours of the science centre can contact Dr Hoffman at (051) 401-2322.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
5 October 2004

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