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06 August 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Pixabay
Antonie Beukes says although the university is involved in a number of projects that add to its BBBEE rating, considerable attention is given to initiatives to better the lives of some of its suppliers.

For the past two years, the University of the Free State (UFS) has had one of the best Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) ratings among universities in South Africa. The university recently received confirmation that its Level-4 rating has been approved for another year. 

According to Antonie Beukes, Assistant Director in the UFS Department of Finance, this rating enables the university to compete with the advantage of a 100% procurement level regarding tenders. “It will also help with our third-stream income, and more importantly, this level assures everyone that we are on the right track regarding BBBEE,” says Beukes. 

Opportunity to better the lives of others

The university had to work hard to maintain their Level-4 BBBEE status. Beukes says one of the initiatives they focused on was the development of suppliers and enterprises that are not associated with the UFS. 

“Many people think of BBBEE initiatives as a project where money is paid, and that is where the buck stops. Although this may get you some points, it is important for the university to better the lives of others.”

“We mostly focus on Exempted Micro Enterprises (EMEs) and Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs), because they are the small, start-up companies that need help to be sustainable. Even though assistance can take various forms, such as spending time with suppliers and offering services at a lower cost or free of charge, the university gives considerable attention to providing training to these service providers,” says Beukes.

Always strive for a better rating

The UFS Department of Finance strives to achieve a better rating each year. “The aim for next year will obviously be to be rated as a Level 3 but maintaining the Level 4 will be a big achievement.”

Beukes, however, points out that one needs to be realistic and must keep track of what is going on in the economy, as well as the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He continues: “Strict new rules regarding BBBEE scoring also came into play last year and we see that most businesses are rating lower scores (higher levels), which directly impact the UFS.”

News Archive

Matters approved by the UFS Council at its meeting on Friday 5 June 2015
2015-06-11

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) approved the following matters during its quarterly meeting on Friday 5 June 2015, which took place on the Bloemfontein Campus:

1.    The 2015 - 2020 UFS Strategic Plan.
2.    The extension of the term appointment of Prof Gert van Zyl, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, for a further five years.
3.    The renaming of JBM Hertzog residence to Beyers Naudé House/Huis Beyers Naudé.
4.    The naming of the new women’s residence on the Bloemfontein Campus as Harmony Residence.
5.    The name of the new hotel on the Bloemfontein Campus as ‘Kovsie-Inn’.

The Council also mandated the UFS management to lead a formal review of the Language Policy through a comprehensive process of consultation with all university stakeholders. The process will include the creation of multiple opportunities and forums for participation, as well as the formation of a university Language Committee which will receive and assess all views on the policy before making recommendations to Management and Council. The review is an open-ended process and three broad outcomes are possible - that the parallel-medium policy remains in place; that minor adjustments are made to the policy; that major changes are made to the existing policy. The Language Committee’s recommendations will be presented to Council at its November 2015 meeting.

Released by:
Lacea Loader
Director: Communication and Brand Management
news@ufs.ac.za
+27(0)51 401 2584

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