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12 February 2020 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Charl Devenish
Prof Francis Petersen
Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor opened the workshop on Monday, 10 February 2020.

Will an enclaved state work in a country like South Africa? How can universities produce graduates who will become engaged citizens, and what is the current status of the ANC and the DA? These were some of the key topics at a workshop on South Africa and Africa: Prevarication at the Precipice, hosted by the Department of Political Studies and Governance at the University of the Free State (UFS). 

The two-day workshop is an annual collaborative discussion platform between the UFS, chaired by Prof Hussein Solomon, the Southern African Centre for Collaboration on Peace and Security, and the Osaka School of International Public Policy

The workshop opened with Prof Francis Petersen, the UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor who delivered his message from the perspective of higher education. 

He spoke about the importance of universities in South Africa being able to produce graduates who will become active citizens. 

Graduates should fulfill their role in society 

“Universities should be the place where we should educate and engage to let our students and graduates know what society should look like. If we don’t do that transformative thinking among our graduates we are going to perpetuate what society is,” Prof Petersen said. 

“I hope this conference won’t just debate the issues because we already know the answers. I hope this workshop will say what we need to do as active citizens to ensure that we start new building steps. International engagement is also important. As is our engagement with the continent.” 

Helen Zille on the State of South Africa 

Helen Zille, Chairperson of the DA Federal Council presented a talk on the State of South Africa in which she tabled three variables she believes can save the country from the precipice. “There should be three variables which can make a democracy work; a separate state (not a party-ruled state), the rule of law and a culture of accountability,” Zille said. 

Zille tabled the concept of an enclaved state a state which operates independently from party control. “There are increasingly isolated states in SA which are being pushed out of good governance and service delivery. An example of an enclave that functions well is the “justice enclave (Supreme Court of Appeal) in Bloemfontein”. 

She reiterated the importance of active citizenship. However she added that people who are active citizens are usually not the ones elected to office. 

Political Science workshop
The workshop brings together political scientists, academics, politicians and journalists who robustly discuss local
and international politics, economics and governance.  ( Photo: Charl Devenish) 


The role of active citizenship and the state of the country cannot be discussed in isolation from the state of the ruling ANC and the official opposition, the DA. Prof Dirk Kotze from the Department of Political Studies at Unisa, and Bonolo Selebano, Netwerk 24 political journalist, gave a glimpse into the status of Luthuli House (ANC headquarters in Johannesburg), and the DA. 

“ANC party politics are not unique. They are following a global trend. However, the credibility of the ANC is a big issue,” said Prof Kotze. In the political arena globally, political parties are redefining themselves and it is important for the ANC to figure out where it finds itself. Selebano wasn’t too optimistic about the DA either, saying the party should return to its liberation ideals. 


News Archive

Three Kovsie Hockey players to play in Hockey World League
2015-06-17


Tanya Britz.
Photo: Johan Roux

 

It seems just like yesterday that the Kovsie community was boasting about how the Kovsie Hockey ladies team had excelled during the Varsity Sports Hockey tournament. From that team, three players have been selected to play for the national Proteas Hockey team. Nicole Walraven, Tanya Britz, and Linè Malan will be a part of the team representing South Africa in this year’s third edition Hockey World League Semi-final in Spain.

 

The Hockey World League is an international field hockey competion organised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), and is held over a period of two years. The semi-finals of the competition are going to serve as a qualifier for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

 

All three ladies were also part of the team capped for the Proteas in a two-week long camp and test matches earlier this year. Britz and Walraven are no strangers to the process Although Malan is the newest addition, she did get a taste of playing international Hockey at the beginning of the year in Ireland. What makes this journey interesting and special is that they are all embarking on their international careers at such a prestigious level.

 

The league kicks off on 10 June 2015 at 13:00. Supporters can catch all the action of both the men’s and women’s games on Super Sport, channel 207. We will be backing our ladies as they make history.

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