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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.
Board of Directors of the International Institute for Development and Ethics
2006-03-17
During the recent meeting of the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Development and Ethics (IIDE), office bearers were elected and approval was granted for its conversion into a Section 21 Company. The IIDE specialises in the studying and research of general questions of developmental theory and practices and provides services and support in education, strategic planning, policy formulation, advocacy and capacity building of development agencies. The office of the IIDE in Africa is situated on the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein. The UFS is a funder of the IIDE together with the Paul Foundation and private sponsors from the Netherlands.
The IIDE in Africa's Board of Directors are from the left Mr Willem Ellis (newly elected executive officer of the IIDE) and Prof Annette Combrink (Deputy Chairperson of the IIDE in Africa and Rector of the North West University's campus in Potchefstroom). At the back from the left are Prof Lucius Botes (Director: Centre for Development Support at the UFS), Rev Kiepie Jaftha (Chairperson of the IIDE in Africa and Chief Director: Community Service at the UFS), Prof Sytse Strijbos (IIDE Europe and affiliated to the University of Amsterdam), Dr Amon Kasambala (Director: Focus on the Family, Africa) and Rev Tshililo Liphadzi (Reformed Church Chiawelo in Soweto).
Photo: Lacea Loader