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12 August 2021 | Story Rulanzen Martin and ANDRÉ DAMONS | Photo Flickr Creative Commons
The Hon. Minister Lindiwe Zulu will be the keynote speaker.

The Department of Social Work in the Faculty of the Humanities at the University of the Free State, together with the Zola Skweyiya African Social Policy Innovation (ZSASPI) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), will bring together experts for a virtual colloquium on the role of social science in South Africa’s protest culture. The keynote speaker is the Honourable Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Social Development

Various social science academics and experts from the UFS, University of Cape Town, the University of Venda (Univen), the University of South Africa (Unisa), and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) will present on various related themes. 

The speakers will look to find social sciences-driven solutions on active citizenry (incorporating communities and harnessing their energies towards the national development agenda), the establishment of a nexus between rights and responsibilities (dealing with problems in the absence of violence), the acculturation of younger generations into the values of nation building and economic inclusion. 

In addition to Minister Zulu, other speakers include Dr Ncube, Prof Chitja Twala (Vice-Dean, Faculty of the Humanities, UFS), Prof Noyoo, Dr Motlalepula Nathane-Taulela (University of the Witwatersrand – WITS), Dr Grey Magaiza (UFS), and Dr Thabisa Matsea (University of Venda – UNIVEN). They will give presentations on the notion of rights with responsibilities, active citizenry, political intolerance and inequality, unemployment and poverty.

View full programme


Details of colloquium:
Theme: South Africa’s protest culture and wanton violence: Any role for social sciences?
Date: 18 August
Time: 09:30-15:00
Platform: Zoom

Registration is required

Click here to register

 

 

News Archive

Mathematical problem-solving solutions found in African indigenous games
2015-04-02

A recent study by Dr Tshele Moloi, a Mathematics Education lecturer at the Qwaqwa Campus, revealed that games such as Diketo or Morabaraba enhance the understanding of abstract mathematical concepts in children.  Diketo is a children’s game where 10 small stones or marbles and 1 ghoen or big stone are made available to each player. A small hole about 5cm deep is dug in which the small stones are placed for the players.

During this game of Diketo, learners can identify the variables involved – both dependent and independent.  In round one of the game, it was found that the stones scooped out of the hole can be described by the pattern: f(n)= -n/2   +  21/2 , (where n denotes the throwing of the ghoen). Stones placed in the hole can be illustrated by the pattern:  f(m)= -m/2   +  10, (where m denotes the throwing of the ghoen). There are many patterns that can be obtained when the players are in round two.

The patterns which emanate from rounds one, two, and three can be put on the Cartesian Plane, which can then demonstrate the linear functions.

Read more about this study into mathematical solutions based on African indigenous games here.

For more information or enquiries contact news@ufs.ac.za

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