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Celebrating our UFS sports stars at the Olympics

04 August 2021 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Supplied

Gerda Steyn_web read more — UFS alumnus Gerda Steyn will be running in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Saturday 7 August 2021.

With only one more Kovsie alumna remaining at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the attention will be fully devoted to Gerda Steyn running in the marathon on Saturday 7 August 2021.

She was recently in red-hot form. In April, she improved the South African female marathon record by more than a minute.

Wayde van Niekerk, one of the big medal hopes for South Africa, bowed out at the semi-finals in the 400 m.

He had to overcome a number of setbacks over the years and even in the months and weeks leading up to the Games, such as injuries, travel bans, and cancelled events.

There was also disappointment and heartbreak in Tokyo for a number of former University of the Free State (UFS) students.

The South African sevens team, considered one of the strongest medal contenders, finished fifth after winning the bronze medal at the previous Games.

The team is coached by Neil Powell, and one of the team members was Chris Dry – both UFS alumni. Unfortunately for Powell, he could only join the team for the last match, as he had to be quarantined.

The triathlon team, coached by former Kovsie Kate Murray, could not compete in the team event due to an injury to one of the triathletes.

Furthermore, cyclist Carla Oberholzer had to pull out more than halfway through the race.

There was, however, a shining light in Nicole Erasmus scoring the first goal for the Protea hockey team at the Games, in what was also her 50th international cap. She became a fourth-generation Olympic participant in her family.

Prof Francis Petersen, Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, applauded the Kovsies at the Games.

“As the Kovsie community, we salute you, we acknowledge your hard work, dedication, and achievements on one of the biggest stages of world sport.”

Watch video below:

News Archive

UFS council elects Nwaila and Hancke

2005-03-15

Dr Charles Nwaila, Superintendent-General of Education in the Free State, was elected Vice-chairperson of the UFS Council and Judge Faan Hancke was re-elected as Chairperson today.

According to the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, the election of Dr Nwaila is an important achievement for the UFS as Dr Nwaila is a well known leader in education in the Free State.

Dr Nwaila pledged to work constructively with the UFS council and management to ensure that the UFS benefits all people of the province and the country.

The appointments are valid for a term of three years from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2008.

The elections took place at the quarterly meeting of the UFS Council where a number of other key transformation steps were approved.

The Council approved a Strategic Plan for the UFS which reflects a renewed focus on transformation of the institution, calling it an important roadmap for the future of the UFS.

According to Prof Fourie, the Strategic Plan tried strike a balance between continuity and change, addressing the need to remain an excellent university in an ever-changing context and environment.

Prof Fourie said transformation had many aspects and dimensions and could not be reduced to an issue of numbers.

The Strategic Plan identifies five strategic priorities and corresponding challenges in the next phase of transformation.

The priorities are:

quality and excellence
equity, diversity and redress
financial sustainability
regional co-operation and engagement.
outward thrust

Prof Fourie said that besides the five strategic priorities the plan also reflected concrete actions and interventions to address them.

He said the renewed focus on transformation is embedded in the priorities and specific actions that are identified.

The Council congratulated the management for the roadmap and for the achievements that have already been achieved in terms of transformation.

In order to draft a comprehensive Transformation Plan that will give substance to certain aspects of the UFS Strategic plan – or roadmap – the Council approved the establishment of a Transformation Plan Team.

The team will consist of about 16 people, which includes the two coordinators, Prof Teuns Verschoor, Vice-Rector: Academic Operations, and Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs.

According to Prof Verschoor, the team was chosen and approved by the Executive Management earlier for the individual contributions that they could make.

While the individuals do not represent particular constituencies on campus they are a very diverse group of persons in terms of race, gender and various sections of the campus and the satellite campuses.

Prof Fourie, said there was an urgency and importance attached to the work of the Transformation Plan Team.

He said that while the team must produce a plan within a tight deadline, the task must be carried out very well, which could mean different stages in the work of the team.

According to the Rector, the UFS must take the lead in best practice transformation, while not underestimating the complexity of the issues facing the UFS.

The full list of names will be finalized soon.

MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by: Mnr Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Cel: 072 207 8334
Tel: (051) 401-2749
11 Maart 2005

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