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‘People must be at the centre of what we do’

07 September 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

Thuli Mphambukeli_read more — With the research grant awarded to Dr Thulisile Mphambukeli, she has the opportunity to make a difference in society, especially in terms of the incorporation of social justice into planning.

The Joint National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) research projects have awarded a R500 000 research grant to a team led by Dr Thulisile Mphambukeli, the principal investigator (PI).

Within the parameters of the theme of social justice, sustainable development, and quality of life, Dr Mphambukeli’s team will focus their research on exploring the land policies in BRICS that inform agricultural practices. They will also document the policy approaches and strategies adopted by China and South Africa respectively to support the agriculture-land-water-labour nexus; additionally, they will propose a common agricultural land policy for China and South Africa.

The title of the research project is: Exploring the Situated Political Ecology and Economy of Agricultural Land Policies in BRICS: A Case Study of China and South Africa.

Dr Mphambukeli, who is passionate about social justice, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Free State (UFS). With this project, she has the opportunity to make a difference in society, especially in terms of social justice.

We don’t want to see the next generation suffer because we did not use our voice.- Dr Thulisile Mphambukeli

The human factor is crucial

“We need to understand the dynamics of local communities. The incorporation of social justice in planning is crucial! We cannot claim that we ‘plan for people’ and ignore them at the same time. People must be at the centre of what we do. No one must be deprived of their fundamental basic human rights.”

The team consists of Dr Mphambukeli (PI), Prof Peliwe Lolwana (University of the Witwatersrand), Dr Victor Okorie (Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria), and Dr Abraham Matamanda (UFS).

For this initiative, the China Africa Institute (CAI), which is part of CASS, joined hands with the NIHSS. Together, they will oversee the research projects of researchers and academics from South Africa and China. The research project, running from 1 April this year to 31 March 2021, will bring forth publications/research outputs, advocacy policy briefs, and proceeding reports.

The programme aims to strengthen research in the field of the humanities and social sciences between the two countries.

Support the fight against climate change

She believes that although the BRICS countries are not geographically connected, it is a functional community with the same interests. “As BRICS countries, we need to cooperate in the fight against climate change. It affects so many components, including water, food, agriculture, land, and quality of infrastructure,” says Dr Mphambukeli.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, researchers will meet online to discuss how China and South Africa can collaborate and cooperate. “We don’t want to see the next generation suffer because we did not use our voice,” she says.

News Archive

Staff, students, learners and the public opened their hearts during R5 coin-laying ceremony

2012-07-17

Photo: Sonia Small
18 July 2012

Amidst a festive atmosphere on the Red Square in front of the Main Building on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS), students, staff, learners and members of the public came together to make their contribution to stop hunger.

In celebration of former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday, the university collected money and food in the form of a coin-laying ceremony, the packing of food parcels, and a message delivered by Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu in aid of the university’s No Student Hungry (NSH) campaign and Bloemfontein Child Welfare.

Representatives from schools in Bloemfontein donated their R5 coins, together with university staff, students, members of the public, and employees of Pick n Pay Hyper. Money collected at the coin-laying ceremony will be shared between NSH and Bloemfontein Child Welfare.

According to Ms Grace Jansen and Ms Carin Buys, patrons of NSH, the more than R42 000 that was collected will be donated to Bloemfontein Child Welfare in an effort by NSH to give back to the community. “We are impressed by the number of people who showed up and by the fact that people opened their hearts and pockets to give,” said Ms Buys.

Thirty employees of Pick n Pay Hyper in Bloemfontein were also present and packed 1 833 food parcels (equivalent to 11 000 meals). This forms part of a Pick n Pay initiative in cooperation with Stop Hunger Now that is being held countrywide today.

In total, 88 000 meals will be distributed in six cities in South Africa today. The 11 000 meals in the Free State have been donated to the university and according to Ms Jansen a social worker at the UFS will distribute it to other needy students. These are students who do not receive bursaries from NSH at the moment. Every food parcel contains rice, dried vegetables, soya, and vitamin and mineral enriched powder.

The university was honoured to have Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the speaker at the event. He attended a dialogue in the Series of Dialogue between Science and Society today at the university where he took part in a conversation with Profs. Mark Solms and Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela as part of the Global Leadership Summit.

He made a special appearance at the university’s Nelson Mandela Day festivities. His message was simple but inspiring: “Everyone has, just like Madiba, the capacity to change lives. I hope there are people present who can say that they want to improve someone else’s life. You have the chance to make South Africa a country where no one goes to bed hungry. Help us to make South Africa a country where we have compassion for each other and care for each other”.

The UFS would like to thank the following schools for their contributions:

Grey Kollege Primêre Skool
Grey Kollege
St Michael's School for Girls
Hoërskool Jim Fouché
Hoërskool Fichardtpark
Hoërskool Sentraal
Navalsig High School
HTS Louis Botha
Eunice High School

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