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03 March 2021
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Story Giselle Baillie
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Photo Supplied
_web.jpg?sfvrsn=987e6620_1 "NJ van Merwe Read More (1)_web")
Residence members who led the project, included:
Bohlokwa Rantja, the Residence Prime, and Transformation Committee members Nsuku Mutemela, Ofentse Motlakeng, Phindile Tjale, Madinku Mabala, Mmapopi Motshoso, Karabo Shuping, and Tagane Sekete.
The University of the Free State (UFS) Council approved and adopted Lehakwe House as the new name for the
NJ van der Merwe residence on the Bloemfontein Campus. The approval on 26 November 2020 followed a lengthy process of deliberation, consultation, and public engagement that has taken place since November 2019 and is aligned with the UFS Policy on Naming and Renaming. The name-change process was initiated by the Prime and Transformation Committee of the residence, guided by the
Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice and supported by a multi-stakeholder committee representative of the residence, the Housing and Residence Affairs Office, the Department of Student Affairs, the Student Representative Council, and alumni.
Lehakwe – a precious gem
Following a lengthy evaluation process of the names submitted through a public voting and recommendation platform in July 2020, ‘Lehakwe’ – a Sesotho word referring to a ‘precious gem’ – emerged as the front runner. As many current and past members of the residence attest, this womxn’s residence has come to occupy a significant space within the hearts and minds of UFS students and the UFS community, given that its spirit has always been closely aligned with the constitutional values of dignity, equality, and freedom and with the human values of ubuntu. In this vein, the new name of ‘Lehakwe’ presents a consolidation of constitutional and university values into the day-to-day thinking, learning, living, and legacy spaces of students, as well as everyone who interacts and engages with the UFS.
Students recruited for studies in science, engineering and technology
2008-08-06
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Representatives of the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) visited the University of the Free State (UFS) recently to recruit students who want to study in the fields of science, engineering and technology. To assist with the recruitment, the winners of awards made by the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) earlier this year, made presentations to create an interest amongst students. The UFS had four finalists of which two were the winners in their respective categories. Here are, from the left: Dr Martin Ntwaeaborwa, senior lecturer at the Department of Physics and finalist in the category for black researchers, Prof. Kenneth Swart, FARMOVS-PAREXEL, Prof. Maryke Labuschagne, head of Plant Breeding at the UFS's Department of Plant Sciences and female recipient of the award for the development of research capacity over the past five to ten years, and Prof. Jan van der Westhuizen, Department of Chemistry at the UFS; front: Ms Kedibone Aphane, MRC. Prof. Swart and Prof. Van der Westhuizen were the leaders of the team who received the award for the development of innovation by a corporate organisation or institution.
Photo: Lacea Loader
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