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15 November 2021 | Story Elna Van Pletzen

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) is seeking to co-opt a suitable candidate to serve for a period of four (4) years on the Finance Committee of Council. To this end, nominations for suitably qualified and experienced candidates are invited.

The Finance Committee of Council exercises oversight over the financial and investment portfolio of the UFS.

Candidates must be suitably qualified with requisite knowledge and experience of financial matters (including investments and acquisitions that are material to the UFS’s business). An appropriate qualification in the financial field is required, as is registration with the relevant professional bodies. 

Nominations must be submitted on the prescribed Nomination form, together with detailed curricula vitae, to the Registrar of the UFS at registrar@ufs.ac.za before 16:30 on 12 January 2022.

The Nominations Committee of Council will consider all the nominations and make a recommendation to the Council, which will decide whether to co-opt any of the candidates. 

The Finance Committee meets at least four times per year, or more frequently as may be necessary. 

The Council may decide not to co-opt any of the candidates.  

For enquiries, you may contact Mr NN Ntsababa at registrar@ufs.ac.za or telephone number +27 51 401 3796.

News Archive

Is Al-Qaeda operating in South Africa?
2014-09-29

 
Our Department of Political Studies and Governance recently hosted a seminar with investigative journalist De Wet Potgieter – author of the book, ‘Black Widow White Widow’.During the seminar, Potgieter reflected on the research he has conducted for the book, revealing the unsettling presence of Al-Qaeda in South Africa.

The ‘White Widow’ in the book’s title refers to Samantha Lewthwaite, a British woman who was found in South Africa with a fraudulent passport. She was later linked to the Westgate shopping mall attack which took place in Nairobi, Kenya on 21 September 2013. In this mass shooting at least 67 people died and over 175 people were wounded. The Islamist group al-Shabaab – which is also linked to Al-Qaeda – claimed responsibility for the incident.

In contrast, the ‘Black Widow’ is the disclosed identity of an Afrikaans-speaking self-styled spy, who after being widowed became a counter-terrorist operative.

Potgieter’s book divulges details of Al-Qaeda paramilitary and urban warfare training on a secluded farm in the Little Karoo and reveals details of the support they receive from various local extremist groups. Potgieter’s investigation spans across two years and suggests possible future attacks from, or on, South African soil.

“South Africa plays a role in the bigger picture for Al-Qaeda Islamic terrorism,” Potgieter said. “For instance, the Navy Seal team who killed Bin Laden found reports pointing to active Al-Qaeda/Islamist presence in South Africa. South Africans need to know we are under siege by a small, well-trained Al Qaeda terrorist cell. Yet, operations – of which I know, but cannot disclose much – are also underway to contain these matters,” Potgieter added.

Potgieter’s sources suggest that Al-Qaeda has been active in South Africa since the 2010 FIFA World Cup already. The South African government seems to turn a blind eye, though, despite CIA and MI6 requests and enquiries on the matter.


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