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05 November 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Andries van der Merwe was presented the Koos van der Merwe AFMA Student of the Year Award as the most outstanding final-year student in Animal Nutrition in 2021/2022.

Since childhood, a love of animals, nature, and agriculture has been instilled in Andries van der Merwe. He used to accompany his father, the local veterinarian in Postmasburg, helping where he could. “I can still vividly remember the first C-section I helped him with when I was about 12,” he says. 

A few years later, Andries decided to enrol for his studies at the University of the Free State (UFS) in order to get his grades up to study veterinary medicine one day. “But when I reached my third year and started with the subject Animal Nutrition, I saw that I could make a bigger difference and contribution to the agricultural sector through nutrition. The moment I realised this, my mind was made up to study towards becoming an animal nutritionist,” he says.

Viable alternative to the excessive use of antibiotics

His master’s thesis on the use of tannins as a feed additive to increase the production efficiency of ruminants (sheep, cattle, and goats) is also looking for a viable alternative to the excessive use of antibiotics to treat certain non-specific ailments such as diarrhoea and skin diseases.

With his work having the potential to one day make a difference in the agricultural sector, as well as some encouragement from his supervisor, Dr Ockert Einkamerer, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, Andries entered and won AFMA’s Student of the Year competition. 

During a virtual symposium on 18 October 2021, the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA) presented Andries with the Koos van der Merwe AFMA Student of the Year Award as the most outstanding final-year student in Animal Nutrition in 2021/2022.

“I have no idea what could have impressed the judges”, says Andries, who competed with students from universities across South Africa. 

Making a contribution to animal feeding in South Africa

“I am the second student from the UFS to win this award. Gert Daniel Jacobus Scholtz received the award in 1998 – my birth year,” says Andries. 

“It is an enormous honour for me to receive this highly prestigious award. I believe that the exposure I receive due to this reward will help me to secure a position where I can make a valuable contribution to the industry much quicker,” he adds.

De Wet Boshoff, Executive Director of AFMA, commended Andries: “I wish to congratulate you on behalf of the Animal Feed Manufacturers Association (AFMA) on winning the award. I believe it will encourage you to – through further studies and your career in the future – make a contribution to animal feeding in the Republic of South Africa.”

The award consists of a certificate and a cash amount of R20 000 sponsored by AFMA.

Andries is planning on completing his master’s degree. “I am considering a PhD and a Master’s of Business Administration. The latter is to ensure that I will be a vital part of any company in the industry,” he says.

“What is meant to happen will happen … you just need to have faith,” he believes.

News Archive

Kovsie TV Launched
2015-05-06

Victor Ngubeni, Grace Thoabala, Nangamso Dlatu, Aisha Poswa, Lesego Maakamedi, Nothando Hlope, Aldene vd Merwe and Lawrence Siyoko

“We have to change our university before we can change our country.”

 

There is a revolution at hand, and students are requesting new and exciting platforms on which they can voice themselves. Kovsie TV aims to do just that for Kovsie students. 

 

As a student initiative, the steam behind it is SRC Student Development and Environmental Affairs, Victor Ngubeni. He says that it is only right that it be by the students themselves. The launch saw many from the campus community gathered out of curiosity and excitement for the new venture. The evening started out as quite a classy frenzy, which had attendees clearly prepared for the level of broadcasting that the launch would showcase.

 

The initial idea is to increase the number of platforms where students can receive information. The Student Media portfolio, which oversees the functioning of student media platforms, aims to make Kovsie TV as autonomous as possible. As an introductory initiative, it will aid in the sharing and telling of students’ stories.

 

It is important to mention the preparation process that was endured by the many hopefuls who auditioned, hoping to make it as one of the Kovsie TV presenters. For more than three weeks, the panel of judges sieved through the contestants until they had just six rough diamonds. Then, for the first time, the audience met the faces that they would become familiar with from this point.

 

As Ngubeni stressed during his speech, Kovsie TV would not serve as propaganda machine for the SRC, as many might have asked about the relationship that could be expected between the two. The architects of Kovsie TV hope that, as a student initiative, it will inspire a new era in student activism.

 

When asked about the concept behind this new platform, Ngubeni informed us that, “the concept is to have a twenty-minute campus TV show highlighting what goes on around campus so that students know, and so that we can get them participating in campus life activities.”

 

This is a student initiative whose future will depend solely on the students themselves.

 

Presenters:

Nangamso Dlathu – Studio presenter

Grace Thoabala – Studio presenter

Lesego Maakamedi – Social events

Nothando Hlophe – Current affairs

Aldine van der Merwe – Culture events and Vox-Pop

Mbulelo Siyoko – Culture and Vox-Pop

Aisha Phoswa ? Sports

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