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NJ van der Merwe residence renamed Lehakwe House

03 March 2021 | Story Giselle Baillie | Photo Supplied

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.

News Archive

From disregard to acknowledgment - the role of the Griekwas in South Africa

2006-03-09

The University of the Free Sate (UFS) is working in conjunction with the Griekwa nation on an initiative titled: From disregard to acknowledgment - the role of the Griekwas in South Africa.

The Griekwa National Conference (GNC) requested that research be conducted in conjunction with the UFS on various aspects linked to the Griekwa language, -culture, -history, - leadership, their role in the South African community (past and present) and the conservation of their historical cultural heritages. Four possible research focus areas have been established, namely a documentary film, the Adam Kok house, ethno historical research and reading material for Griekwa leaders.

A historical meeting took place yesterday at the UFS where the Supreme Chief of the Griekwa nation was present. From left are Prof Frederick Fourie (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS), Chief Cecil le Fleur, (chairperson of the chiefs council of the GNC), Supreme Chief Alan Andrew le Fleur I, Rev Kiepie Jaftha (Chief Director: Community Service) and Prof Piet Erasmus (Department of Anthropology at the UFS).
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

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