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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.
Masters Degree in Development Studies Programme
2006-02-03
The Masters Degree in Development Studies Programme, presented by the Centre for Development Support at the University of the Free State (UFS), this year boasts with the most international students registered for a masters programme at the UFS. The programme is designed for people currently working in a development-related context, or who intend to do so. This year almost 140 applications were received, from which only 58 were accepted. Of those, 60% are from African countries.
The programme's first contact session took place recently. Attending the session were from the left Prof Lucius Botes (Programme Director: Centre for Development Support at the UFS); Ms Tendai Chiduku (a student from Zimbabwe); Ms Julia Shipena (a student from Namibia); Mr Neo Masithela (Free State MEC for Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs and a student on the programme) and Mrs Dorie Olivier (Programme Coordinator at the UFS Centre for Development Support).
Photo: Armand Swanepoel