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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.
Grow our own Timber programme presented their research
2005-09-20
Fellows of the University of the Free State's (UFS) Grow our own Timber programme recently presented their research to the programme management, other fellows and guests. Seven (7) Ph D-students and nine (9) masters degree students took part in the presentation.
The Grow our own Timber programme is a programme of the UFS aimed at training young black graduates for a career at the university. The programme is supported by among others the Andrew Mellon Foundation Scholarship and the Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation.
Front from left: Ms Lucia Motseki (Ph D student in the Department of Human Nutrition), Dr Choice Makhetha (Vice-Dean: Student Affairs at the UFS and former Grow our own Timber fellow), Prof Letticia Moja (Dean: UFS Faculty of Health Sciences and Director of the Grow our own Timber programme).
Back from left: Ms Christolene Saaiman (M student of the Department of Physiotherapy) and Ms Annette Prins (Deputy-Director of the Grow our own Timber programme).