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20 September 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Stephen Collett
Send off
The spirited #UFSRun4MentalHealth runners at the send-off ceremony yesterday morning. From left; Nico Piedt, with the baton of hope; Justin Coetzee, Brenda Coetzee, and Teboho Rampheteng.



#UFSRun4MentalHealth team, sponors and support staff

#UFSRun4MentalHealth team, sponsors and support staff. Photo:Stephen Collett

The #UFSRun4MentalHealth awareness runners have hit the road. The 21-member team from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Organisational Development at the University of the Free State (UFS) had a send-off ceremony yesterday, 20 September 2019, on their running journey to Stellenbosch University (SU) to raise awareness for #MentalHealth. The teams will run a distance of 1 075 km. 

“The two causes emphasised by this run are very much embedded in what the university stands for. One of the key priorities is the safety and well-being of our staff and students,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, during the send-off this morning.
 
The route is as follows: Bloemfontein, Jagersfontein, Fauresmith, Luckhoff, Vanderkloof, Petrusville, Phillipstown, De Aar, Britstown, Victoria West, Loxton, Fraserburg, Sutherland, Ceres, Wellington, and finally Stellenbosch University.

There will be a symbolic hand-over of the baton of hope to SU on 25 September 2019 at 13:00 at the Coetzenburg Stadium. The baton of hope that the team will carry is a symbol of hope for those suffering from a mental disorder.

Join their journey on our social-media platforms and follow the events with #UFSRun4MentalHealth #YourStoryIsNotOverYet

The sponsors of this initiative are BestMed, Standard Bank, Shell, Annique Health and Beauty, Xerox, Bidvest Car Rental, Media24, Kloppers, New Balance, Clover, Futurelife, Mylan, Pharma Dynamics, and the SA Society of Psychiatrists.


#UFSRun4MentalHealth #YourStoryIsNotOverYet #MentalHealth

News Archive

Trade unionist brings today’s policy issues to the table
2017-01-02

Description: Sidney Kgara Tags: Sidney Kgara 

Sidney Kgara currently heads the public-sector union of
Nehawu’s Policy Unit
Photo: Supplied

Sidney Kgara was appointed to the University of the Free State (UFS) Council in January 2015. He was appointed to the Council by Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, in one of three such positions.

Sidney heads the public sector union Nehawu's Policy Unit. The National Health Education and Allied Workers Union is the biggest public-sector union and the biggest union in the public service coordinating bargaining council. It therefore stands to reason that researching and drafting policy on issues such as labour market matters, public health and developments in higher education form the core responsibilities of the unit.

No stranger to university governance and leadership

Nehawu has a number of members working at the UFS and before his appointment, Kgara's only contact with the university was through its UFS members. However, he is no stranger to university governance and leadership. He was a student leader at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the 1990s and as a result has a broad understanding of student governance and university issues.

"Even though it was a different time and the circumstances were different, there is some sense of continuity to the issues we had to deal with then, and the issues that the university faces now," he says.

Kgara’s unique and valuable contributions to the Council

This, together with his experience in policy and research, enables Kgara to make a unique and valuable contribution to the Council.

Kgara is an avid reader and stimulating his mind through reading makes him truly happy. He also loves watching sport and enjoys socialising with friends.

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