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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.
CHSR&D turns 10
2003-10-07
The Centre for Health Systems Research & Development (CHSR&D) was established at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 1993. The Centre came about due to recognition of a longstanding tradition of research and training in medical sociology/sociology of health and health care in the Department of Sociology. The Centre was founded specifically to meet the dire need for social scientific and operational research and related skills in the field of health and health care.
Since then the Centre has shown unremitting growth and expansion in terms of staffing, projects, the scope and diversity of its research and development activities, and its financial standing. The establishment and development of the Centre has indeed been marked by progressive entrepreneurship within the academic environment. Today the Centre has an established reputation and a continuously expanding market and clientele for its services and products. After ten years of successful operation, the CHSR&D can lay claim to commendable experience and expertise in a number of study fields and methodological approaches.