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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.
Dutch day for teachers
2005-11-11
About 20 teachers across the Free State Province attended a Dutch day for teachers on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS). The programme was presented by the UFS Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French and funded by the Noordelike Neerlandistiek Kennisnetwerk. Matters such as the use of Dutch at South African schools and universities and practical hints for teaching grammar and literature were discussed.
From the left are Dr Angelique van Niekerk (lecturer at the UFS Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French), me Renée Marais (guest speaker from the University of Pretoria), Prof Hennie van Coller (Chairperson of the UFS Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French), Dr Anthea van Jaarsveld (lecturer at the UFS Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French) and Prof Bernard Odendaal (lecturer at the UFS Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French).