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22 April 2021 | Story Dr Cindé Greyling | Photo Evert Kleynhans
An award-winning South African short-story writer, novelist, and poet; an acclaimed business leader who worked in former president Nelson Mandela’s government; and a former judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. These are some of the well-known South Africans celebrated during the University of the Free State’s (UFS) April virtual graduation ceremonies. 

Over the course of four days, from 19 to 22 April 2021, the UFS awarded just over 7 900 qualifications to under- and postgraduate students, as well as three honorary doctorates, during its biggest virtual graduation ceremonies to date.

Recognising their outstanding achievements in South Africa and abroad, the UFS awarded honorary doctorates to Dr Dolf van Niekerk (DLitt (h.c.)), Dr Sipho Pityana (DPhil (h.c.)), and Dr Zak Yacoob (LLD (h.c.)). Honorary degrees are given to individuals to recognise their exceptional contributions to society, or lifetime achievement in their field. 

Excellence is an action 

Dr Dolf van Niekerk received a Doctor of Letters (DLitt (h.c.)) from the UFS on 19 April 2021. He is an award-winning short-story writer, novelist, and poet. Among others, he has received the Eugene Marais Prize, the MER Prize, and the Scheepers Award for Youth Literature in the course of his career. He was an emeritus professor at the University of Pretoria until his retirement in 1994. Dr Van Niekerk registered as a first-year student at the UFS seventy-four years ago. “My years of study there were an adventure to me,” he remembered, “opening new worlds of philosophy, literature, and science. I learned to think independently, to really think.” Much is written and said about excellence, he told graduandi. “But this is what I have learned – excellence is not a thought or a word, excellence is an action.” 

Be courageous 

Acclaimed business leader, Dr Sipho Pityana, received a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil (h.c.)) from the UFS on 21 April 2021. He has served in executive capacity on several local and international boards and blue-chip companies. He is the founder and Chairman of the private investment firms, Izingwe Capital and Izingwe Holdings. He has a passion for education and was Registrar of the University of Fort Hare, Chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), and former Chairperson of the University of Cape Town Council. Dr Pityana advised graduandi to be resilient, disciplined, and dedicated – never to be discouraged by obstacles that come their way. “For every door that shuts in your face,” he reminded them, “there are yet many more that open. If you lament over those that shut, you may be blind to the many that not only open to you but are endowed with beautifully nourished greener pastures all waiting for you.”

Stay humble 

As judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa from 1998 to 2013, Dr Zak Yacoob became known nationally and internationally for his contribution to the socio-economic rights jurisprudence of South Africa. He was a member of the Fundamental Rights Committee that helped with the preparation of the Bill of Rights in South Africa’s interim Constitution, of the Independent Electoral Commission responsible for ensuring that the first democratic elections in 1994 were free and fair, and of the panel of experts appointed by the Constitutional Assembly to advise during negotiations on and the drafting of the final Constitution. A Doctor of Laws (LLD (h.c.)) was awarded to him on 22 April 2021. Dr Yacoob noted that many people have contributed to who he is today, and that graduates should appreciate the support teams behind them too. “I must express the genuine hope that you will not enter society for material progress alone,” he cautioned, “but that you will be honest, caring, and sensitive members of our society.”

Change agents 

In echoing their encouraging thoughts, Prof Bonang Mohale, UFS Chancellor, told graduates that they are now all role models and South Africa needed their leadership.

“Your involvement in what matters most in this country, your willingness to act against injustice and inequality, and your courage to stand up for what is right – these actions will define you and speak volumes. Our country needs your leadership, and many have been waiting for the likes of you to come along. You hold so much power – you have earned your degree and it is now up to you to use it.”

News Archive

Researchers international leaders in satellite tracking in the wildlife environment
2015-05-29

 

Ground-breaking research has attracted international media attention to Francois Deacon, lecturer and researcher in the Department Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences at the UFS, and Prof Nico Smit, from the same department. They are the first researchers in the world to equip giraffes with GPS collars, and to conduct research on this initiative. Recently, they have been joined by Hennie Butler from the Department of Zoology as well as Free State Nature Conservation to further this research.

“Satellite tracking is proving to be extremely valuable in the wildlife environment. The unit is based on a mobile global two-way communication platform, utilising two-way data satellite communication, complete with GPS systems.

“It allows us to track animals day and night, while we monitor their movements remotely from the computer. These systems make possible the efficient control and monitoring of wildlife in all weather conditions and in near-to-real time. We can even communicate with the animals, calling up their positions or changing the tracking schedules.

“The satellite collar allows us to use the extremely accurate data to conduct research with the best technology available. The volume of data received allows us to publish the data in scientific journals and research-related articles.  

“Scientific institutions and the public sector have both shown great interest in satellite tracking, which opens up new ground for scientific research for this university. Data management can be done, using Africa Wildlife Tracking (AWT) equipment where we can access our data personally, store it, and make visual presentations. The AWT system and software architecture provide the researcher with asset tracking, GPS location reports, geo-fencing, highly-detailed custom mapping, history reports and playback, polling on demand, history plotting on maps, and a range of reporting types and functions,” Francois said.

Data can be analysed to determine home range, dispersal, or habitat preference for any specific species.

Francois has been involved in multiple research projects over the last 12 years on wildlife species and domesticated animals, including the collaring of species such as Black-backed Jackal, Caracal, African Wild Dog, Hyena, Lion, Cheetah, Cattle, Kudu, Giraffe, and Black Rhino: “Giraffe definitely being the most challenging of all,” he said.

In 2010, he started working on his PhD, entitled The spatial ecology, habitat preferences and diet selection of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) in the Kalahari region of South Africa.

 

Since then, his work has resulted not only in more research work (supervising four Masters students) but also in a number of national and international projects. These include work in the:

  • Kalahari region (e.g. Khamab Nature Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park)
  • Kuruman region (Collared 18 cattle to identify spatial patterns in relation to the qualities of vegetation and soil-types available. This project took place in collaboration with Born University in Germany)
  • Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate and Kolomella Iron Ore – ecological monitoring
  • A number of Free State nature reserves (e.g. Distribution of herbivores (kudu and giraffe) and predators (camera traps)

Francois is also involved with species breeding programmes and management (giraffe, buffalo, sable, roan, and rhino) in Korrannaberg, Rustenburg, Hertzogville, Douglas, and Bethlehem as well as animal and ecological monitoring in Kolomella and Beesthoek iron ore.

Besides the collaring of giraffes, Francois and his colleagues are involved in national projects, where they collect milk from lactating giraffes and DNA material, blood samples, and ecto/endo parasites from giraffes in Southern Africa.

With international projects, Francois is working to collect DNA material for the classification of the nine sub-species of giraffe in Africa. He is also involved in projects focusing on the spatial ecology and adaptation of giraffe in Uganda (Murchison Falls), and to save the last 30 giraffe in the DRC- Garamba National Park.

This project has attracted a good deal of international interest. In June 2014, a US film crew (freelancing for Discovery Channel) filmed a documentary on Francois’ research (trailer of documentary). Early in 2015, a second crew, filming for National Geographic, also visited Francois to document his work.

 

More information about Francois’ work is available at the GCF website. 

Read Francois Deacon's PhD abstract

Direct enquiries to news@ufs.ac.za.

 

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