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03 March 2021
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Story Giselle Baillie
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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.
Dr Idriss Aberkane to discuss brain ergonomics, knowledge economy and geopolitics on 23 September 2015
2015-09-22

The former Deputy-Chairperson of the Council of the University of the Free State (UFS), and currently the CEO of Alexander Forbes, Mr Edward Kieswetter, will be a guest speaker at the UFS Business School.
Details of the event
Date: 23 September 2015
Time: 10:00 -12:00
Venue: CR Swart Auditorium
RSVP: Elvira Oberholzer (oberholzereh@ufs.ac.za)
Mr Kieswetter will be accompanied by Dr Idriss Aberkane, a French thinker, entrepreneur and academic who is also co-founder and CEO of Scanderia Ltd. Scanderia is a neuroergonomic gaming company based in Paris and Melbourne. Dr Aberkane is also co-founder and board member of Eirin International Ltd – an interest-free microcredit company based in Richard Toll, Senegal.
The session presents an opportunity for MBA students, student leaders, the university community and members of the media to gain insight into cutting edge fields of brain ergonomics, knowledge economy and geopolitics of knowledge.
The guest speaker series forms part of the MBA programme held at the UFS Business School throughout the year.