Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Months
February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
30 October 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Sonia Small
Springboks
Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, paid a special visit to the Springboks in 2018 before they faced England in Bloemfontein. From the left are Jacques Nienaber (Springbok assistant coach), Oupa Mohoje (Springbok), Prof Petersen, Rassie Erasmus (Springbok head coach), and Swys de Bruin (Springbok consultant coach at the time). De Bruin, Erasmus, Nienaber, and Mohoje are all Kovsie alumni.

Like the rest of the country, we are behind our Springboks all the way. This is what Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), told alumnus Rassie Erasmus in a letter this week.

Prof Petersen wrote the letter to Erasmus, the head coach of the Springboks, to wish him everything of the best in the team’s preparation and for the game on Saturday (2 November 2019) at which they face England in the Rugby World Cup final in Japan.

"On behalf of the staff and students of the University of the Free State, I would like to wish you and the Springbok team all the best with your preparations this week and for the final. I know that Saturday’s match will be played with vigour and determination,” Prof Petersen wrote.

Prof Petersen said the UFS community was extremely proud of the Springboks’ achievements during the 2019 Rugby World Cup – especially with Erasmus at the helm of the team. The Boks defeated Japan in the quarter-final and Wales in the semi-final to reach their first final since 2007.

“As a former Shimla player and Kovsie Alumnus of the Year 1998, we are truly proud of what you have achieved during your career in South African rugby, and especially during the World Cup tournament. We are also proud of our other alumni – Jacques Nienaber as defence coach, and referee Jaco Peyper.”

Peyper refereed one of the quarter-finals and will be an assistant referee in the bronze medal play-off between New Zealand and Wales on 1 November 2019.

Under Erasmus the Springboks won the Rugby Championship this year, the first time since 2010. Erasmus and Nienaber have a long relationship. They met in the army in 1991. Later Nienaber served as physiotherapist with the Shimlas and Erasmus captained the team. They worked together at the Cheetahs, Cats, Stormers, Munster and now the Springboks.

News Archive

Armentum make their mark on Barefoot Day
2015-08-19


On a cloudy day when it seemed that no one would be willing to take off their shoes, Armentum men’s residence and Put Foot Foundation supporters stepped out in their numbers to provide shoes for less fortunate school children.

With a R10 donation, supporters could dip their feet in paint in order to make their mark on the blank canvas in support of this good cause. The main aim of barefoot day is to tackle the daily plight and indignity of school children.

The Armentum students kicked off the event on the Red Square at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus, where they were partnered by the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice.

On the day, Dr Choice Mokgetha, Vice-Rector: External Relations, and Prof Nicky Morgan, Vice-Rector: Operations, made a contribution of R1000 for all the foot prints made on the canvas.

“The idea was conceived by the residence and RC Culture, Thapelo Makhubalo. Joining hands with the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice made it possible for us to make it an even bigger event. “Since I work at the Institute, and they work with human rights, it was easier to get them on board,” said the Prime of Armentum, Eddie de Wet.

At the end of the event, the blank canvas was filled with footprints supporting the initiative. All proceeds will be used to put shoes on the feet of children.


Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

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