Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
29 May 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Reg Caldecott
Khanyisa Chawane
Khanyisa Chawane is one of 12 members of the national netball team to the World Cup in July. Other team members include former students of the University of the Free State, Maryka Holtzhausen and Karla Pretorius.

Exactly one quarter of the South African netball team to the World Cup tournament in England in July will consist of current and former students from the University of the Free State (UFS).

Less than a year after making her Protea debut, Khanyisa Chawane was selected for the team alongside former UFS students, Maryka Holtzhausen and Karla Pretorius.

Chawane is a fifth-year BSc Geography and Statistics student who made her Kovsie debut in 2015. 

“The selection means so much to me. It’s such an honour and privilege to represent my country at this high level of netball. I’m super excited about it, because any team can win it this year,” Chawane, a centre court player, said.

Both Chawane (2018) and Pretorius (2014 and 2015) were previously named as die best student netball player in the country.

Pretorius, with 80 caps behind her name and widely regarded as the best goal defender in the world, represented and captained the UFS team from 2009 to 2015. She is the Protea vice-captain.

Holtzhausen, a goal attack and only the second player to reach 100 tests for the Proteas (106 in total), played for and captained the UFS between 2007 and 2014. She played her netball in England over the past couple of months. When she returns from the World Cup, she will again take up her part-time job as a sports manager at KovsieSport.

Burta de Kock, who has coached all three players at the UFS, said they serve as a motivation and example for the current group of players from the UFS.

News Archive

Qwaqwa Campus graduates encouraged to face the world with confidence
2015-05-14

 

Speech: Nikiwe Bikitsha 

The Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State conferred over 800 degrees during this year's graduation ceremonies that were held on 8-9 May 2015. These included four PhDs in Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
 
The guest speaker, eNCA's Nikiwe Bikitsha, encouraged graduates to make it their business to learn about everything, no matter where they go.
 
''Having a qualification does not mean that now there will be tasks that are beneath you. No task should ever be too insignificant for you to do,'' said Bikitsha.
 
''You should make it your business to know every aspect of your work because that is where you get opportunities. Find somebody to help you along. Asking questions sharpens your skills and broadens your horizons. Asking questions also communicates to your employers and associates that here is someone who needs to be groomed and nurtured.'' she added.
 
In his congratulatory message, UFS Chancellor, Dr Khotso Mokhele, challenged the graduates to face the journey ahead with confidence.
 
''The journey ahead depends entirely on you, '' he said.
 
''You may think it depends on your parents, your country or the government. But the truth is that this is your journey. What is critical now is the kind of choices you are going to make. There will be stumbling blocks along the way, but you have to make it through,'' said Dr Mokhele.
 
''As the university'’, he continued, ''we hope you are going to make transformative choices that will impact positively on our people, our country and our continent''.
 
Dr Mokhele paid a special tribute to the four PhD graduates, three of whom matriculated at  local Qwaqwa schools, with the fourth matriculating at Mafahlaneng, Tweeling.
 
World-renowned composer and playwright, Dr Mbongeni Ngema, provided musical entertainment.
 
Both ceremonies were attended by community, business and traditional leaders in the Maluti A Phofung area.
 
Also in attendance were over 500 grade 12 learners from Qwaqwa, Kestell, Harrismith and Bethlehem schools.

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