Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
23 September 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Participants in the third Amazing Race travelled through the African continent, experiencing Africa’s roots and its rich, vibrant, and diverse cultures

During the third Amazing Race presented by Organisational Development and Employee Wellness, staff had the opportunity to virtually travel through Africa. 

The aim of the race with the theme, A Journey through Africa, was to celebrate South Africa and Africa’s roots and its rich, vibrant, and diverse cultures. 

Natasha Nel, organisational development specialist and organiser of the race, says they wanted to give the 13 participating teams the opportunity to explore, learn, create, and be challenged together as they travel to some of the most interesting and exotic locations around Africa, but also in South Africa. 

Here in our own country, teams had the opportunity to experience our culture as well as the diversity of beliefs and traditions.


Here in our own country, teams had the opportunity to experience our culture as well as the diversity of beliefs and traditions.

Interactive and exciting event

Nel says staff could join the race in the convenience of their personal working space via a Zoom meeting. “They only needed to download the game that was specifically tailored for the UFS.” 

“It was a fun, interactive, and exciting event. In this unique adventure, it was interesting to see how teams worked together, made decisions, and also thought outside the box during the challenges,” she says.

Nel explains that teams were requested to take photos, answer questions, and make decisions unique to Africa and their culture. Some decisions and answers were timed. They also had to decide where they wanted to travel, but each decision and option had its costs, reward, and challenge linked to it.

We are the champions

Chanel Lewis, Aneke Kruger, Runé van der Merwe, and Lischen du Randt walked away as winners of the third Amazing Race. 

By participating in this race, the university has sponsored 13 breakfasts for the Community Chest of South Africa (this organisation’s mission is to inspire and facilitate community giving for community enhancement).


News Archive

Martie Miranda one of only 10 SATI accredited sign language interpreters in South Africa
2015-04-23

Martie Miranda
Photo: Stefan Lotter

The University of the Free State is privileged to have one of the top South African Sign Language (SASL) Interpreters as a staff member at the Unit for Students with Disabilities (USD).

Martie Miranda recently passed the accreditation exam of the South African Translators Institute (SATI), joining Dr Philemon Akach, previous HOD of the South African Sign Language Department of the UFS, in becoming one of only 10 SASL interpreters to be SATI accredited.

SATI is a professional association for language practice professionals in South Africa. Voluntary accreditation is offered at a professional level, ensuring a high standard of language practice. The system has become widely recognised, and is used as a recommendation or prerequisite for job applications by a number of institutions, including the South African government, particularly after the infamous ‘Jantjies incident’ with the funeral service of the late President Nelson Mandela.

Martie, a proud Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), has 18 years’ experience in SASL interpreting, lip speaking interpreting, and community interpreting as well as 15 years’ experience of conference and seminar interpreting. She boasts a Level 2 Advanced Interpreting qualification, and she has been mentoring Level 1 SASL interpreters for the past six years. Her extensive interpreting experience on a national and international level also includes Deafblind interpreting as well as Court and Legislature interpreting. She has interpreted three theatre productions, and has been coordinating the SASL services at the UFS since January 2009. She is responsible for the student management of all the hearing-impaired students at the USD.

Martie completed her BML degree (cum laude) at the UFS Business School in 2013, and received the award for top achiever in the programme during her final year. She will enrol for her MBA at the UFS Business School in July 2015.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept