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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

UFS staff get salary increase of at least 7,25%
2007-11-20

 

During the signing of the UFS's salary agreement were, from the left: Mr Olehile Moeng (Chairperson of NEHAWU), Prof. Frederick Fourie (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS), and Prof. Johan Grobbelaar (Chairperson of UVPERSU and spokesperson of the Joint Union Forum).
 

UFS staff get salary increase of at least 7,25%

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) management and trade unions have agreed on an increase of 9,32% in the service benefits of staff for 2008. This includes a general minimum salary increase of 7,25%.

A once-off non-pensionable bonus of R3 000 will be paid in December 2007.

The agreement was signed today by representatives of the UFS management and the trade unions, UVPERSU and NEHAWU.

“As the state subsidy level is unfortunately not yet known, remuneration could vary several percentage points between a window of 7,25 and 8,39%,” said Prof. Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

Should the government subsidy be such that the increase falls outside the window of 8,39%, the parties will negotiate again.

The bonus will be paid to staff members who were employed by the UFS on UFS conditions of service on 14 November 2007 and who assumed duties before 1 October 2007.

The bonus is payable in December 2007 in recognition of the role played by staff during the year to promote the UFS as a university of excellence and as confirmation of the role and effectiveness of the remuneration model.

“It is important to note that this bonus can be paid due to the favourable financial outcome of 2007,” said Prof. Fourie.

“Our intention is to pass the maximum benefit possible on to staff without exceeding the limits of financial sustainability of the institution.  For this reason, the negotiating parties reaffirmed their commitment to the Multiple-year Income-related Remuneration Improvement Model used as a framework for negotiations.  The model and its applications are unique and has as a point of departure that the UFS must be and remain financially sustainable,” said Prof. Fourie and Prof. Johan Grobbelaar, Chairperson of UVPERSU and Spokesperson of the Joint Union Forum.

The agreement provides for the phasing in of fringe benefits of contract appointments for 2008.  This includes the implementation of a pension/provident fund, housing allowance and the medical fund allowance as from 1 January 2008 to staff who are appointed on a contract basis.

Agreement was also reached that 1,0% will be allocated for structural adjustments in order to partially address the backlog in respect of remuneration packages of other higher education institutions.  These adjustments will be made after further investigations during 2008. 

The post levels that have been earmarked for adjustment are academic staff (associate professor, professor and dean) as well as certain post levels in the support services.

An additional R500 000 will be allocated to accelerate the rate of phasing in the medical fund allowances. 

The implementation date for the salary adjustments is 1 January 2008, but could possibly be implemented only at a later stage due to logistical reasons.   The adjustment will be calculated on the remuneration package.

The agreement also applies to all staff members of the Vista and Qwaqwa Campuses whose conditions of employment have already been aligned with those of the Main Campus.

Prof. Grobbelaar said that salary negotiations were never easy, but the model is an important tool.  He said the Joint Union Forum illustrates that people from different groups can work together if they share the same commitment and goal.

In 2007, a total salary adjustment of 5,7% and a once-off non-pensionable bonus of R2 000 was paid to staff.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison  
Tel:  051 401 2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
20 November 2007

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