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10 September 2020 | Story Eugene Seegers | Photo Sonia du Toit (Kaleidoscope Studio)
Dr Marinkie Madiope in official UFS gown
Dr Maria Madiope

Everywhere you look, our colleagues at the UFS are stepping up and stepping into the new digital space. With the move to virtual events, staff members at the university are able to participate in discussions and webinars across the continent at various other institutions of higher learning. 

One such virtual event recently took place for Women’s Month. The Tshwane University of Technology hosted the Annual Adelaide Tambo Memorial Lecture on 27 August. The theme was Is the face of the boardroom in global organisations changing women representation in influential positions?

Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, focused in her presentation on themes regarding girls’ education and women’s health, both of which have been threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the respondent, Dr Maria Madiope, Principal of the UFS South Campus, dealt with the patriarchal domination and violence that modern women and girls endure, as well as the way “their sexuality and aptitude is disrespected and how they are subjugated and side-lined in the political, corporate, social, and cultural arena.” She said that it is incumbent on the modern generation of women to reignite the flame that fuelled the struggle for feminine recognition and equality. “We are beholden not only to the legacy of those that came before us, but also to the eager eyes that look up to us,” she concluded. 

Dr Madiope also announced her support for Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka’s Generation Equality campaign against gender-based violence, and she echoed the sentiments of the rallying hashtag #JustChair, which breaks down discrimination based on the use of gendered terms such as ‘chairman’ for the leader of a meeting or corporation.

Dr Adelaide Tambo’s life was characterised by a love of knowledge, as she believed that people need as much power to be able to handle challenges facing the country, the continent, and the planet. She strove for the emancipation of women in general, focusing on the importance of education and how it can improve a woman’s life, and encouraged a strong culture of learning.

The event was livestreamed on Facebook and Zoom; go to https://www.facebook.com/805899996152814/videos/1036964343420927 to watch the full presentation.

News Archive

Protest actions on the Main Campus
2008-03-12

Staff and students are kindly requested to take note of the following protest actions that will take place on the Main Campus.

As a result of a dispute over the status of roads on campus, permission was granted by the municipality and the court, in the presence of the university lawyer for the three actions. Strict conditions have been set for these protest actions.

a.) On Wednesday, 12 March 2008, Satawu and Nehawu will picket in front of the Main Building from 09:00 to 12:00. Three hundred persons will possibly attend this event. Marchers are not allowed within 10 meters from the Main Building and there will be 45 marshals present. This is not a march and no memorandum will be handed over. There may be no speeches.

b.) On Thursday, 13 March Nehawu will again picket in front of the Main Building from 13:00 to 14:00. This event must be peaceful. Only 125 Nehawu members may participate and protesters may not break away from the big group. They may not come within 10 meters of the Main Building. Twenty five of the protesters will be marshals. This is not a march and no memorandum will be handed over. No speeches may be made.

c.) On Friday, 14 March a march of Cosatu and Nehawu will take place. This march will probably be joined by a big number of people.

The march will continue through the Nelson Mandela Gate and will enter the campus grounds, but will be limited to the incoming lane of Chancellors Avenue from the Main Gate to the crossing with Alumni Avenue (in front of the Odeion). Speeches will be made and a memorandum will be handed over.

The march will reach the campus at 10:00 and from then the Nelson Mandela Gate will be closed for all traffic. The march must be finished by 14:00. The marchers will return to the city centre and could cause a traffic problem in Nelson Mandela Avenue.

The South African Police Service and the UFS’s Protection Service will monitor all these actions. Staff are kindly requested to use alternative gates to the Nelson Mandela entrance on Friday. Academic activities continue as normal.

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