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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.
R1,8 million available to create employment
2006-05-23
USAID South Africa has made more than R1,8 million available for the creation of a programme to create employment through agribusiness SMME’s. The programme was established at the Lengau Agricultural Development Centre of the UFS Sydenham Experimental Farm by
the Free State Department of Agriculture, the National African Farmers Union (NAFU), the Mangaung Local Municipality, the University of the Free State (UFS) and ECIAfrica. The aim of the programme is to create an agribusiness model which will mainstream historically disadvantaged farmers into high value markets. In this way economic growth and market driven employment will be stimulated in this economic sector.
During the launch of the programme were, from the left: Ms Deborah Kahatano (ECIAfrica), Prof Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS), Mr Challa Moahloli ( Programme Co-ordinator) and Dr Léan van der Westhuizen (Head of the Lengau Agricultural Development Centre).