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12 March 2019 | Story Eugene Seegers | Photo Eugene Seegers
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 seals cooperation with National Institute for Higher Education
2006-03-20

At the signing of the agreement were seated from the left Prof Magda Fourie (Vice-Rector:  Academic Planning at the UFS) and Dr Pearl Nkosi (Head: Academic Planning at the NIHE). Standing from the left were Dr Kopano Taole (acting head of the NIHE) and Mr Vernon Collett (Registrar: Academic Student Services at the UFS).
Photo: Stephen Collett

UFS seals cooperation with National Institute for Higher Education

A formal memorandum of understanding was recently signed between the  University of the Free State (UFS) and the National Institute for Higher Education in the Northern Cape (NIHE).

The memorandum was signed to give both institutions a clear understanding of the way in which collaborative programmes should be implemented.

“Although the UFS has been presenting two bachelors degree courses (i.e. B Soc Sc in Human and Societal Dynamics and B Com in General Management) and the Career Preparation Programme at the NIHE since 2003, the cooperative agreement was never formalised,” explained Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector:  Academic Planning at the UFS, during the signing ceremony.

These academic programmes, presented by facilitators living in Kimberley and lecturers from the UFS, serve 270 students and the entry requirements of the programmes are determined by the UFS.

Prof Fourie said the UFS had a history of a relationship with the NIHE.  The partnership should be seen as an example of how two institutions of higher learning can work together to serve the needs of the students in the region.

“The memorandum of understanding is part of the UFS’s commitment to and engagement with the central region.  As the NIHE is currently operating in a policy vacuum, the memorandum is underpinned by certain principles aimed at providing some parameters within which the relationship is established and developed,” she said.

Dr Kopano Taole, acting head of the NIHE, added to this by saying that the understanding of where the NIHE wants to take the partnership is now reflected in the memorandum of understanding. 

“The memorandum is the culmination of many years of hard work and of helping the people of the region.  The continued input and guidance of the UFS is of tremendous help to us and through this we gained a greater sense of what the NIHE can grow to be,” he said.

The NIHE is a joint initiative of the BHP Billiton Development Trust (BBDT) and the Northern Cape Provincial Government and was established in June 2004.  The National Plan for Higher Eduation (NPHE 2001) proposed the establishment of the NIHE in the Northern Cape to serve as the administrative and governance hub for ensuring the coherent provision of higher education through programme collaboration between the higher education institutions operating in the Northern Cape.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
20 March 2006

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