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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.
State of our campuses: UFS campuses to remain closed on Monday 26 September 2016
2016-09-24
Based on
a discussion requested by the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the Free Education Movement (FEM) this morning, the senior leadership of the University of the Free State
(UFS) decided that all three campuses will remain closed on Monday 26 September 2016.
This means that no academic and administrative services will be available on Monday.
There will also be no classes and no tests will be written.
On Monday the senior leadership will receive a memorandum, as well as a social compact governing student
conduct during student protests from the student leadership . It was agreed that the senior leadership will respond to the memorandum as soon as possible.
The senior
leadership appreciates the peaceful nature in which yesterday’s march to the Provincial offices took place; unlike the disruptive way in which groups of students reacted to the
announcement on fees by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, on Monday 19 September 2016.
Arrangements in terms of the academic calendar will
remain as was communicated to staff and students on Thursday 22 September 2016. Students who missed tests and/or lectures from 19 to 26 September 2016 are requested to contact
their respective faculties on Tuesday 27 September 2016.
There will be no further notices of suspension of any academic or administrative services after Monday 26
September 2016.
Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director:
Communication and Brand Management)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393