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28 December 2020 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Supplied
Simple stories band members - CJ van Wyk, Naledi Mohapi, and Samuel Akach

The Simple Stories band, consisting of three members – CJ van Wyk, Samuel Akach, and Naledi Mohapi – is enthusiastic about their love of music and serving the world through their melodies of hope.

The band reflected on their study careers at the University of the Free State (UFS), describing it as an amazing experience. “We really made sure that we took advantage of the opportunities presented to us by the university.” 
They described the cultural offering at the UFS as the highlight of their varsity careers, with Mohapi’s inclusion in the Vishuis Ser team helping the team to beat Veritas in the competition for the first time in years.

Akach and Van Wyk were also no strangers to victory, as they were both part of the Veritas team that won the National Serenade competition. 

Akach, a former House Kagiso’s Residence Committee member for Culture, was a well-known soccer player on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus. Van Wyk played first-team hockey and was involved in a number of theatre productions, in addition to being a dedicated Accounting student with a rigorous study programme.

“Our biggest achievements and most memorable moments are all linked to becoming Simple Stories and being recognised by the university for the quality of our work,” remarked Van Wyk.

“Music serves as our escape from the harsh realities of the world that we live in today. Today’s youth look at music, and the entertainment industry as a whole, as a form of education and a means of expression, and through this we are able to serve the world as all musicians do – through music,” Van Wyk added.

The band said they are honoured and grateful for the opportunities presented to them as musicians and are blessed to travel the country to spread messages of hope to the South African population. 

News Archive

Golden Key International Chapter again receives prestigious award for service
2011-05-04

 
The management team of our university's Golden Key (GK) International Honours Society
Photo: Gerhard Louw

Our universities chapter of the Golden Key International Honours Society is the proud recipient of the Golden Key International Chapter Service Award for the second consecutive year.

The chapter received this $1000 award in recognition of the services they deliver to the community of the Free State and the hard work each of their members put in to ensure that their community projects run smoothly.

Mr Ruddy Banyini, the chapter president, says they feel very privileged to know that the chapter’s work  receives international recognition.  “We feel so privileged that the work of our chapter is appreciated internationally and that it will serve as motivation to everyone to start giving back to their communities,” he said.

The UFS chapter adopted The House of Compassion, an orphanage on the outskirts of Bloemfontein, at the start of 2010. They have collaborated with associations such as the PSA and visit the house on weekends to play with the children. They have also donated food, clothing and shoes. “Our chapter’s motto is ‘It’s not how happy we are that matters, but how happy others are because of us’” Mr Banyini said.

The chapter was selected as one of the 10 most deserving chapters from a possible 390 university and college chapters worldwide, based on their community-service activities. The chapter was also selected to host the South African Regional Golden Key Summit from 06 - 08 October 2011, which means that our university will host the top 15% of achievers from all South African universities.

Mr Banyini said this is a dream come true, since their chapter’s main goal is to see our university as  South Africa’s Golden Key reference point.

The GK UFS Chapter will soon be starting a “Together means Warm” campaign which will attempt  to provide winter clothes, shoes and new school shoes to the children of the orphanage and also improve their living condition.

“I would like to urge everybody to keep in mind that the community is everyone’s responsibility,” Mr Banyini said.
 

Media Release
4 May 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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