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14 December 2020 | Story André Damons
Dr WA Lombard
Dr WA Lombard from the Department of Agricultural Economics in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences was a winner of the Joseph F Donnermeyer New Scholar Award from the International Society for the Study of Rural Crime.

A researcher and lecturer from the University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Agricultural Economics has received an international award for his research on the economic impact of stock theft in South Africa.

Dr WA Lombard from this department in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences was announced as the winner of the Joseph F Donnermeyer New Scholar Award from the International Society for the Study of Rural Crime (ISSRC) earlier this month (December 2020).

Award for an early-career researcher

Dr Lombard received the award for the research he conducted for the article: ‘Economic impact and factors affecting sheep and goat theft in South Africa’, published in Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology & Victimology. The award is bestowed on an early-career researcher for a publication pertaining to rural criminology during the past 12 months. An early-career researcher is someone who has received a PhD within the past seven years and is showing stable research development.

“Winning this award is a very big honour for me. You always wonder if others view the research you are doing as important. It makes it even more special knowing that researchers from around the world could have won this award. I didn’t think I stood a chance,” said Dr Lombard.

According to him, this was the first award he had entered for after being encouraged by Mr Willie Clark from UNISA’s School for Criminal Justice and chairperson of the Stock Theft Prevention Forum.

Rural-crime research receiving attention

“It is great to know that research conducted by the UFS is considered valuable and of good quality by researchers around the world. It is also good to know that rural-crime research is receiving attention. Many feel this field of research is being neglected,” added Dr Lombard.

The award is named after ISSRC president, Joe Donnermeyer, and acknowledges his many years of work, his pioneering role in rural criminology as a sub-discipline, and his strong and ongoing support and mentorship for emerging academics.

• The other winner is Dr Kate Farhall of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Melbourne Technical College in Australia.

News Archive

Elizabeth Molapo crowned Miss South 2016 First Princess
2016-03-22

Description: Elizabeth Molapo  Tags: Elizabeth Molapo

From the left are Anri Powell (Elizabeth Molapo’s mentor), Miss South Africa 2016 First Princess, Elizabeth Molapo, and designer/Miss SA judge Casper Bosman at Carnival City after the crowning.

“I remember feeling very happy and humbled,” said Elizabeth Molapo, Miss South Africa 2016 First Princess, about the moment she was crowned on Saturday 19 March 2016 at Carnival City, Johannesburg.

Molapo has been overwhelmed by the support she received since making the Top 12 last year. “It’s one thing to enter Miss South Africa and believe in yourself but it’s another to know that the judges, South Arica, and all the stakeholders believe in you.”

The Kovsie community is absolutely thrilled and delighted by the achievements of the former University of the Free State (UFS) BCom Economics student. "Elizabeth's talent, commitment, and grace are known to us and it is not surprising that she has fared so well in this national competition,” said Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS.

“Coming in the wake of the achievements of medical student, Rolene Strauss (Miss South Africa 2014 and Miss World 2014), Elizabeth has proven once again that the UFS is a place where beauty and talent are deployed in the service of humanity,” Prof Jansen added.

Molapo congratulated the winner of Miss SA 2016, Ntandoyenkosi Kunene. “I believe in Ntando, she’s such a beautiful and amazing woman and I believe she will carry that crown with the utmost honour and respect.”

The road ahead for Molapo holds a possible move to Johannesburg for a job offer by Cell C. She also plans to enrol for an honours degree in either Economics or Marketing, and hopes to represent South Africa at the Miss Universe contest.

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