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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

UFS trains Physical Science subject advisors from the Northern Cape
2008-01-28

 

The Research Institute for Education Planning (RIEP) at the University of the Free State (UFS) is training Grade 12 Science teachers in preparation for the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement for Physical Sciences this year. The Physical Sciences subject advisors of the Northern Cape Department of Education recently attended a three-day workshop at the UFS Main Campus where the new Grade 12 subject content was discussed. Lecturers from the Departments of Chemistry and Physics at the UFS were also involved in the training sessions. Similar training sessions for 100 Physical Sciences teachers in the Northern Cape will soon take place in Kimberley and Springbok. At the training session were, from the left, front: Dr Matie Hoffman (Department of Physics at the UFS), Ms Ria le Grange, Ms Granny Moatshe, and Mr Chris de Wet (all subject advisors from the Department of Education in the Northern Cape); back: Mr Cobus van Breda (RIEP), Ms Sharon Paulse, Ms Providence Kilelo, and Mr Riekie Willemse (all subject advisors from the Department of Education in the Northern Cape).
Photo: Supplied

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