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UFS Qwaqwa staff embrace vaccination message

03 September 2021 | Story Nonsindiso Qwabe

IMG_20210902_091126 copy — “This way please” UFS Clinic nurses point the way. From left to right: Sister Nangamso Lukhubeni, Sister Noluthando Luthuli, Sister Mathapelo Moloi, and Sister Modiehi Moloi.

Fully vaccinated!

These were the words uttered by many Qwaqwa staff members who received their second Pfizer jab at the vaccination site on the Qwaqwa Campus on Thursday (2 September 2021). More than 100 staff members turned up at the site, many for the second jab, while others were there to get their first. The staff members were full of praise for the convenience of having a site on campus, and said the brisk service made the entire process a breeze. The 24/7 Study Centre on campus was repurposed as a vaccination site at the end of August, bringing much-needed relief to staff and students, as well as the Qwaqwa community.

The vaccination experience

Chelly König, Professional Officer in the Department of Chemistry, urged people to trust the science behind the vaccine and the fact that it works. König also came with her relatives. “I’m fully vaccinated and feeling fantastic. I’d urge anyone who’s still hesitant to trust the sciences; these people know what they are doing. My aunt, who is 62, developed COVID-19 after getting her two jabs, and she didn’t experience any effects at all. It was just like the flu. Seeing her recovery convinced me that the vaccine works.”

Ntswaki Mokoena of Bidvest Prestige Cleaning Services also received her second jab. She said: “I am fully vaccinated and so happy. I’ve experienced no side effects whatsoever, and I encourage people to vaccinate; the vaccine is harmless. They should not listen to naysayers who haven’t even vaccinated.”

Calling on more people to vaccinate

Sister Mathapelo Moloi, Chief Officer at the campus clinic, said the vaccination drive was a source of pride for the campus. “Our priority is to re-open the campus, so I’m very happy that we are seeing staff and students being willing to get vaccinated.”

“It’s not the first time that there has been hesitancy around the vaccine. Providing information is our priority – to help them understand the side effects and everything pertaining to the vaccine.”

Acting Director of Student Affairs on Qwaqwa Campus, Zakhele Mdluli, said vaccinations would help the university community get back to normal. “I encourage students to get vaccinated so that they are able to come back to campus knowing that everyone is safe. This vaccination is no different from the vaccinations we used to get when we were younger.”

The centre operates Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 15:00. People can pre-register either online at https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za or via WhatsApp on +27 0 60 012 3456 and should bring along their identity documents. The site is open to anyone 18 years and older. They can simply walk in – no bookings are required.”

News Archive

Five from UFS’s Department Quantity Surveying win prestigious awards

2014-11-17

Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu

Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

The University of the Free State (UFS) is very proud of five of its students who won the Kenneth K. Humphrey award at the recent International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) conference held in Milan, Italy. Justin Haselau received the outstanding paper award. His study leader was Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, Head of the Department of Quantity Surveying at the UFS.

The ICEC is an organisation aimed at promoting cooperation between national and multinational cost engineering, quantity surveying and project management organisations worldwide, to the benefit of the industry and that of individual members.

The students received this prestigious award for the outstanding papers they delivered. The award is presented to authors under the age of 36. Submissions come from all over the world and were adjudicated by an independent panel.

The other recipients were:

1.      Marique Kamperbeek – (study leader: Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, 2013)
2.      Tshego Matshwi – (study leader: Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, 2013)
3.      Matlakal Radebe – (study leader: Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, 2013)
4.      Elana Malherbe – (study leader: Dr Benita Zulch, 2012)

The winning papers were included in the electronic version of the ICEC’s International Cost Management Journal (ICMJ).

This is already the third time the university has won these awards.

Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, Head of the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the UFS, says she is very proud of these achievements.

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