Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Qwaqwa Campus honours academic excellence

20 April 2021 | Story Thabo Kessah | Photo Sonia Small (Kaleidoscope Studios)

More than 1 500 degrees, diplomas, and certificates were conferred upon deserving academic achievers when the Qwaqwa Campus hosted its virtual graduation ceremony on Wednesday 21 April 2021. The ceremony also saw the first batch of 23 Community Development graduates.

Among the degrees conferred were seven PhDs – one in Education, two in the Humanities, and four in Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

There was also one Dean’s Medal in the Faculty of the Humanities.

Six members of the 2019/2020 Student Representative Council (SRC) were among the graduates. They were Lehlohonolo Mokhabi (President), Thembinkosi Phenyane (Deputy President), Scelo Twala (Religious Affairs), Siyabonga Mbambo (Academics), Thabo Motaung (Residence Affairs), and with distinction, Mamokete Mokhatla (International Students).

Acclaimed business leader, founder, and chairperson of private investment firms, Izingwe Capital and Izingwe Holdings, Dr Sipho Pityana, received an honorary doctorate in Philosophy during the ceremony.

Justice Zak Yacoob, former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, was the guest speaker at the event.

The ceremony is available here

→ Visit the April 2021 Virtual Graduation page here

News Archive

UFS staff get salary adjustment of 13,35%

2008-11-13

At the signing of the salary agreement were, from the left: Prof. Johan Grobbelaar, Chairperson of UVPERSU, Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Acting Rector of the UFS, and Ms Senovia Welman, Chairperson of NEHAWU.
Photo: Anita Lombard

UFS staff get salary adjustment of 13,35%

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) management and trade unions have agreed on an improvement in the service benefits of staff of 16,55% for 2009. This includes a general salary adjustment of 13,35% (according to the estimated government subsidy that will be received in 2009).

“The negotiating parties agreed that adjustments could vary from a minimum of 13,00%, or more, depending on the government subsidy and the model forecasts. If the minimum of 13,00% is not affordable, the parties will re-negotiate,” said Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Acting Rector of the UFS.

“The negotiations were conducted in a positive spirit and the parties are in agreement that it is an exceptionally good adjustment – being higher than for example the increase in medical premiums,” said Prof. Verschoor.

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

An additional once-off non-pensionable bonus of R3 390 will also be paid to staff later this year.

The bonus will be paid to all staff members who were in the employ of the UFS on UFS conditions of service on 10 November 2008 and who assumed duties before 1 October 2008. This includes all former Vista staff, regardless of whether they have already been aligned with UFS conditions of service.

The bonus is payable 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 2008,” said Prof. Verschoor.

It is the intention 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.

Additional funding (0,70%) was also negotiated. This will be allocated on 1 January 2009 to accelerate the phasing-in of medical benefits and, if possible, to finalise the phasing-in process. Agreement was reached that 2,50% will be allocated for growth in capacity building to ensure that provision is made for the growth of the UFS over the last few years, as well as the incorporation of Vista staff.

The agreement also applies to all staff members of the two above-mentioned campuses whose conditions of employment have already been aligned with those of the Main Campus.

The implementation date for the salary adjustment is 1 January 2009. The adjustment will be calculated on the total remuneration package.

In 2008, a total improvement of service benefits of 9,32% and a salary adjustment of 7,52% were paid to employees. Staff received a once-off non-pensionable bonus of R3 000 at the end of 2007.

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
12 November 2007

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

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