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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.
Kovsies keep winning, this time in athletics
2015-04-23
Wayde van Niekerk |
UFS sprinting star, Wayde van Niekerk, is stacking gold upon gold this season.
This past weekend within 72 hours, Van Niekerk won the 400m event twice. On Saturday 18 April 2015, the 22-year old claimed gold at the South African senior athletic championship in Stellenbosch. Only two days later, he also placed first during the Varsity Athletics event also held in Stellenbosch.
His time of 44.91 seconds over the weekend was just slightly slower than his national record of 44.38 that he slotted in 2014. On Monday night 20 April, his time was 46.08.
Van Niekerk ran only the 400m during these previous two events. However, next week he will compete in both the 200m and 400m events at the South African Student Championship.
Another (former) Kovsie athlete, Johan Cronjé, also won gold at the senior championship over the weekend. The 1500m runner was placed first for his eighth national title with a time of 3:37.93.