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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.
Appreciating student leaders in the Kovsie community
2013-09-06
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Anesu Ruswa with the students from the Heimat Association at the appreciation ceremony.
6 September 2013
Photo: Damane Muzi Gwebu |
Over 290 certificates were recently awarded to students by the Associations and Dialogue Office. The students received recognition for the crucial role that they play in student leadership.
This appreciation function was the brainchild of Anesu Ruswa, who is the former chairperson of the office. “I realised that the executive committees of various student associations do a lot for the general student community, with neither recognition nor recompense – so I decided to change that. The appreciation function was a first step in recognising associations as incubators of future leaders and hubs of the student-life experience,” he says.
Anesu, who has served in the associations’ office for two consecutive years, says that a highlight for him in the past year was the lessons of organisation and professionalism that he learnt from his administrative executive committee. “We set up systems and structures in the Associations’ office which, with all humility, no other portfolio can match.”