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23 September 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Charl Devenish
Best dressed winner
The winners of the best dressed social media competition with Earl B (third from the left).

On 18 September 2019, the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted its first ever Multilingual Festival in an effort to promote a multilingual and multicultural environment for staff, students, and all stakeholders of the university. 

Staff, students, and other stakeholders of the university dressed in imibaco (traditional Xhosa apparel) ranging from white, yellow, red, and green, Diaparo tsa setso sa Sesotho, and traditional attire from other cultural tribes including Zulu, Swati, Ndebele, and Tswana, to name a few, were treated to various forms of celebration. The festival entailed visual-art displays, poetry, storytelling, drama, music, and song in the dominant languages spoken at the UFS, which are English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, isiZulu, and South African Sign Language, and food stalls selling dishes ranging from pap and braaivleis to koeksisters and milk tart. 

The audience were treated to short stories, including Magic on campus, written by Siphilangenkosi Dlamini and performed by Oliver Bongo; Xola Nhliziyo, written by Noluthando Portia Khumalo and performed by Ayanda Khanyile; and Grense, written by Joane Jansen van Rensburg. Nina and Palesa compiled a drama piece titled WTF is a relationship, poems included Mohlomong, written by Thabiso Lesaba and Lucky Mokeona, and Mosadi, written by Relumetse Makhatsane, N’kone Mametja, Abby Gabarone-Phate and Ayanda Khanyile.

Attendants had the opportunity to participate and win cash prizes ranging from R500 to R1 000 in various competitions and performances that took place during celebrations at the multilingual festival.

The winners for the mokete festivities are as follows:
Best artwork – Elaine Mahlalela and Kamogelo Mankuroane
Best short story – Siphilangenkosi Dlamini: Magic on Campus
Best poem – Thabiso Leshaba: Mohlomong
Best drama piece – Nina and Palesa

The best-dressed moketers for the 2019 #KovsiesMultilingualMokete were Joseph Sako, Evodia Mohoanyane, Karabo Lekomanyane, Tshepo Ramokoatsi, and Lungelo Mthimkhulu, who each walked away with R500 for their efforts to dress up and stick to the multicultural theme. Soet-Bravado (House Soetdoring and House Villa Bravado) won the most votes for their performance in the People’s Choice category, claiming R1 000 each. 

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Intervarsity 2013 a paragon of friendly rivalry
2013-08-06

 

Photo: RooistoelTv
10 August 2013

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The recent intervarsity between the University of the Free State (UFS) and the North-West University was a huge success. This 70th celebration of intervarsity between the two institutions, which took place for the first time in 1927, is the oldest event of its kind in South Africa.

According to Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs at the UFS, it is also the most comprehensive and most innovative intervarsity in the country and since 2010 includes all incorporated campuses of universities such as the University of the North. The focus is no longer on sports only, but also on cultural programmes and forums for discussion between student leaders.

Of the 32 sport and culture activities intervarsities between the UFS and the NWU, the UFS won 16, the NWU 13 and three ended in a tie.

Sports and cultural activities like debate were held across the Bloemfontein Campus. Record numbers of supporters attended the different matches, debating competitions and festivities. The first SRC Presidents’ Reunion that took place during the intervarsity is regarded as a special milestone in the history of the UFS.

“We are particularly satisfied that students of diverse backgrounds and campuses took part in and attended intervarsity events and in this way showcased the rich variety of Kovsies with great pride,” Buys said.

“The successful course of the intervarsity confirms that it is important for the UFS to maintain its proud history of almost 100 years with the NWU, but to also update in order to reflect our young democracy and in pace with a young generation of South Africans who are now our students,” Buys concluded.

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