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03 March 2021 | Story Giselle Baillie | Photo Supplied
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

History book available from UFS Marketing
2007-02-01

The university’s history book, "From Grey to Gold", is available from UFS Marketing.

The book will soon be delivered to persons who have ordered copies of the book. UFS Marketing is in the process of distributing the books.

However, persons are also welcome to collect the book from Rinda Duraan or Ronél Meyer at the offices of UFS Marketing in the Wekkie Saayman Building.  

Additional copies in Afrikaans or English are also available from UFS Marketing at R380 per copy. Please contact Ronél Meyer at X2150 or Rinda Duraan at X2143 for inquiries.

A proud 100 years

The history of the University of the Free State is one of faith, hope, struggle and determination. In the course of a century, and from a poor Free State community, the UFS has developed into a strong and mature university. This book, richly illustrated with photographs, tells its fascinating story, including:

  • Its establishment
  • The role of the founding fathers
  • Black pioneers of transformation
  • The establishment and development of academic departments and faculties; student numbers
  • Pioneers and trends in research; academic entrepreneurs
  • Campus issues; campus politics
  • The UFS’s place in socio-political changes
  • Student life: Rag, intervarsity and cheerleaders; sport and Springboks; hostel traditions
  • The admission of black students; anguish about race, language and culture
  • The story of “digs” and hostels, of Tin Town and the “Vlei”, Darkest Africa and the Red Square
  • The development of the campus, of the Tickey and the Banana
  • Of hardships in the founding years, good times and turn-around strategies
  • Community service and regional involvement and a new focus on the African continent.

Some interesting reading:

  • More than 500 pages
  • Hundreds of photographs
  • Appendices on office-bearers; awards and achievements (including national sporting colours)
  • A time-line situating the UFS’s history in the context of the history of the Free State, of South Africa and of the world

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