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Leading women honoured at faculty opening
Rev Martin Laubscher pictured with Thandeka Khulu, Oarabetse Morokane, Lunette Visser, and Trunette Sevenster, who participated in the worship service.

At its recent opening, the Faculty of Theology and Religion conferred the inaugural Letsema Award on Dr Ellen Vuyiswa Blekie, a medical doctor known for her sterling work in her local community in Thaba Nchu, as well as on the various church councils and committees on which she still serves at the age of 87. Dr Gideon van der Watt, director of the “Partners in Mission” unit of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Free State, presented the award to Dr Blekie on behalf of the faculty.

The theme of the morning’s proceedings was: The church and violence against women and children. This theme was not only borne out by the worship service presented by Rev Martin Laubscher, but also by each of his participants. First, a popular song from 1987, My Name is Luka, by Suzanne Vega, was recited in spoken-word form. The song deals with themes of physical and emotional abuse, as well as being kept silent as a victim. Next, the Paulette Kelly poem I Got Flowers Today was recited. The final stanza begins with the words “I got flowers today.../Today was a special day — it was the day of my funeral...”

Dr Carin van Schalkwyk, who has been serving the Philippolis community and congregation since 1993, conducted the liturgy. Her chosen passage was 2 Samuel 13, which recounts the events leading up to King David’s son Amnon raping his half-sister Tamar and the subsequent cover-up by the king and his sons. Dr Van Schalkwyk likened the way David of old handled the situation to the modern church’s failure regarding the protection of women and children, stating these vulnerable ones have been failed miserably.

Dr Van Schalkwyk added: “The root of the problem has not been addressed. It requires a rethinking of both preaching and policy, even of theology. All are created in God’s image; what does that mean?”

Concluding, she said, “We need to hear the lament of those affected, and weep with them. I dream of a day when women do not have to think of how to avoid sexual harassment on a daily basis.”


News Archive

UFS honours its top sport achievers
2010-10-21

KovsieSport at the University of the Free State (UFS) will honour its top sport achievers at a glamorous ceremony at the Centenary Complex on the UFS campus on Thursday, 21 October 2010.

The Kovsie Sport Stars 2010 awards are divided into two categories, one for the top men’s sportsman at the university and one for the top women’s counterpart.

The nominees for this year are:

Women’s category:

  • Lesley-Ann George – Vice-Captain of the South African Hockey team that took part in the recent Commonwealth Games in India.
  • Tanya Basson – The current African Judo champion in the under 52 kg division and Member of the South African Judo teams that took part in the Kata and Kurash World Championships as well as the Commonwealth Games.
  • Nelmaré Loubser – Represented South Africa at the Triathlon and Duathlon World Championships and a member of the South African Prestige Biathle team.

Male category:

  • Thuso Mpuang – Represented South Africa at the Africa Athletics Championship and the World Continental Games as part of the SA relay team.
  • Boy Soke – Represented South Africa at the Southern African Half-marathon Championships and a member of the South African Half-marathon team competing at the World Championships.
  • Bruno Schwalbach – Gold-medal winner for South Africa at the Southern African Karate Championships in the senior Kata division.
  • Windy Jonas – Represented South Africa at the Africa Athletics Championships.
  • Wiaan Viljoen – Represented South Africa in Badminton at the Thomas and Uber Cup, the All African Championships where he won a silver and a bronze medal, as well as the World Badminton Championships, reaching the 32nd round.
  • Boom Prinsloo – A member of the South African Sevens rugby team that competed in the Commonwealth Games.
  • Johan Cronjé – Currently ranked 38th in the world 1500 m rankings and represented South Africa at the Africa Athletics Championships.
  • Philip van der Walt – Member of the Vodacom Cheetahs rugby team as well as of the South African Sevens team that competed at the Commonwealth Games.

 
Media Release
Issued by:  Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (acting)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
21 October 2010

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