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UFS #MentalHealth Runners hand over baton of hope to Stellenbosch University

25 September 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Stefan Els

Run to Stellenbosch run — The baton #hope took centre stage at the welcoming ceremony of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth team at Coetzenburg stadium in Stellenbosch on 25 September 2019. Pictured here from the left; Susan van Jaarsveld, Burneline Kaars, Arina Engelbrecht and Tertia de Bruin.

The #UFSRun4MentalHealth awareness runners arrived in Stellenbosch on 25 September 2019.

The 21-member team from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Organisational Development and Employee Wellness at the University of the Free State (UFS) had a send-off ceremony on the Bloemfontein Campus on 20 September 2019, on their running journey to Stellenbosch University (SU) to raise awareness for #MentalHealth. The teams ran a distance of 1 075 km at an average speed of 10.03 km/h or a pace of 5 minutes and 59 seconds per km.

"At last, the team has arrived. I am extremely proud of all the runners and I think they have touched many lives, and I think it was a wonderful experience. On behalf of the University of the Free State, welcome to Stellenbosch!," said Susan van Jaarsveld; Senior Director: UFS Human Resources

"We ran 1 075 kilometres from Bloemfontein to Stellenbosch. Yes, we did have some challenges along the road. There were some steeps that were too heavy, and the wind, the dryness, and some gravel roads that we went through. But, because of the team spirit and the inspiration that we maintained during our challenge, we did very well until we got to Stellenbosch this morning," said red team member, Diphate Dimo from the university's Facilities Management.

Read more:
#UFSRun4MentalHealth: 973 km down, 100 km to go
First #MentalHealth awareness run to Stellenbosch to bring hope
MENTAL HEALTH: It affects all of us
Guardians of Mental Health
#KovsiesCare: HR prioritises mental health in the workplace

At the finish line, after they ran a distance of 1 075 km at an average speed of 10.03 km/h or a pace of 5 minutes and 59 seconds per km.

Susan van Jaarsveld, Burneline Kaars, Arina Engelbrecht, Tertia de Bruin

Ready for the arrival of the #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners at Coetzenburg Stadium

Handing over the baton of hope from one team to the next

One of the runners with the baton of hope

#MentalHealthAwareness being done in all the towns

Transport for the #UFSRun4MentalHealth team

News Archive

Predation Management Centre helps stock farmers to address predator problem

2017-03-29

Predators, including caracal and foxes, are costing the
livestock industry about R2 billion annually. The
Predation Management Information Centre was
established to collect, analyse, and make information
available on predation and predation management to
stock and game farmers.
Photo: Pixabay

Predators are costing the livestock industry about R2 billion annually. To address the problem, the Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) teamed up with the Predation Management Forum (PMF).

Predation Management Information Centre established
The UFS has signed service agreements for the establishment of a Predation Management Information Centre with the four industries (wool, mohair, red meat, and game industries) forming part of the PMF. The centre will collect and analyse information on predation and predation management. This information will then be made available in a management information system and information contained in the system will be made available to all users.

Centre makes essential information available
At the information centre, a team of dedicated staff members handles calls and enquiries. Experts in the team are also available to provide advice to farmers. Furthermore, the centre is responsible for the management of information and resources. Relevant policy documents and scientific articles will be stored in an archive at the centre which will also collect research, statistics, biometric information, and information on new research topics.

The information that is collected will be used to assist farmers with predation management. Information on methods which are effective in a specific situation will be made available to farmers in order to help reduce predation on their farms. “By focusing on non-lethal methods in predation management, best practices can be compiled in order to restrict losses attributed to predation to the minimum,” says Quinette Kruger from the information centre.

Contact details for authorities and specialists managing damage-causing animals will also be provided by the centre.

The information centre invites stock farmers, game farmers, the general public, retail, authorities, and other stakeholders to contact the centre at +27 51 401 2210 or PredationMC@ufs.ac.za.