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30 July 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Columbia University
Prof Jack Halberstam
Prof Jack Halberstam is a trailblazer in Queer Studies around the globe.

The Centre for Gender and Africa Studies has invited Prof Jack Halberstam to deliver the Biennial Humanities and Gendered Worlds Lecture on 7 August 2019 at 18:00 in the Equitas Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).

The title of the lecture is Exit Routes: After Feminism, After Gender. The lecture promises to reflect the critical complexity surrounding gender, feminism and sexuality. It is a wonderful opportunity for the UFS community engaged in issues of transformation and social justice to be exposed to such a globally recognised and influential scholar in Gender and Queer Studies. 

“Prof Halberstam’s visit was made possible through the initiative of Dr Nadine Lake, Gender Studies Programme Director in the CGAS, who is an expert on gender and sexuality and is fully aware what a great achievement it is to bring someone of Prof Halberstam’s stature to the UFS,” says Dr Stephanie Cawood, CGAS Director.

She adds: “The purpose of the lecture is to firmly shine a light on critical debates regarding gender and its impact, not only on humanity as a whole, but in the way that scholars study the human condition and its gender dynamics.”

Prof Halberstam is a visiting professor of Gender Studies and English and the Director of the Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality at Columbia University in New York. He is a renowned Gender and Queer Studies scholar who has written numerous books including titles such as Female Masculinity, In a Queer Time and Place, and the acclaimed Gaga Feminism: Sex, Gender and the End of Normal.

Some of his previous lecture topics include queer failure, sex and media, subcultures, visual culture, and gender variance among others.

News Archive

UFS awarded R3,6-million to train court interpreters
2008-05-15

 
 At the training session for court interpreters that took place on the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein recently are, from the left, front: Ms Zandile Mtolo, Pietermaritzburg, Ms Lindiwe Gamede, Bethlehem; back: Mr Sipho Majombozi, Port Shepstone, Prof. Lotriet, and Mr Mzi Nombewu, Upington. The four learners are working at their respective magistrates courts.
Photo: Lacea Loader

UFS awarded R3,6-million to train court interpreters

A contract to the value of R3,6-million has been awarded to the University of the Free State (UFS) to train court interpreters throughout South Africa.

The contract was awarded to the Department of Afro-asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice at the UFS by the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA).

“We are the only tertiary institution in the country that offers a national diploma in court interpreting. It provides a unique opportunity to court interpreters to be trained by a group of eight lecturers who are experts in the field,” says Prof. Annelie Lotriet, associate professor at the Department of Afro-asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice.

Prof. Lotriet is an internationally renowned interpreting expert who was also responsible for the training of interpreters for the former Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

According to Prof. Lotriet no co-ordinated training programmes for court interpreters existed and there was also no control over the training processes. The programme, initiated by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, is managed by the SASSETA. “It is the first time that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development initiates such an extensive training programme for court interpreters,” says Prof. Lotriet.

The group of 100 court interpreters on the programme are from all over the country. Of the group, ten are unemployed learners who interpret for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on an ad-hoc basis.

The programme, which stretches over two years, comprises of theoretical and service training. Contact sessions take place in Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Cape Town, four times a year for two weeks at a time. The second contact session for Bloemfontein was recently completed.

“Learners are nominated by their regional offices. The programme consists of interpreting theory, interpreting practice and basic law subjects. The training material is developed and written by the SASSETA and facilitated and presented by the UFS. The learners interpret in all the 11 languages. Some of them can speak a couple of languages each,” says Prof. Lotriet.

“Everything is going very well with the programme and we are receiving a lot of positive feedback from the learners. This first group is an experiment and it depends on their success whether the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will expand the programme,” says Prof. Lotriet.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
15 May 2008 
 

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