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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.
UFS hosts the nation's senior professionals in Student Affairs
2011-12-05
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Some of the Senior Student Affairs Professionals present at the meeting were back row from left: Dr Llewellyn MacMaster, Dean of Student Affairs: Stellenbosch University; Profs. Bobby Mandew, Dean of Student Affairs: University of Johannesburg; McGlory Speckman, Dean of Student Affairs: University of Pretoria; and Ms Babalwa Ntabeni-Matutu, Department of Higher Education and Training. Front from left are: Dr Choice Makhetha and Ms Khanyisile Nyembenzi, SAASSAP Project Officer from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Photo: Stephen Collett
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The Deans of Students of thirteen of the country’s universities recently gathered at the University of the Free State's (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus to attend the Deans’ Forum of the South African Association of Senior Student Affairs Professionals (SAASSAP).
The heads of Students Affairs from universities such as Stellenbosch, Johannesburg and Pretoria discussed challenges facing higher education institutions and shared campus experiences during their meeting.
Dr Choice Makhetha, Acting Vice-Rector: External Relations at the UFS and President of SAASSAP, says the issues that were addressed included registrations and poverty on campuses. Dr Makhetha, who is serving a second term as president of the organisation, says they came up with strategies on how to support campuses in partnership with the Department of Higher Education and Training.
SAASSAP will host its 14th national conference next year from 24 - 26 October in Bloemfontein. The UFS and the Central University of Technology will host the conference together and it is expected that all twenty three member institutions as well as Student Affairs Associations from abroad will attend.