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03 September 2021 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath
Prof Bonang Mohale.


The executive management of the University of the Free State (UFS) and the university community extend heartfelt congratulations to Prof Bonang Mohale on his appointment as President of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA). 

“Prof Mohale’s extensive expertise and experience in leadership roles, contributions to the growth of many multinational companies, and involvement in education and the business sector, will undoubtedly strengthen the ties between various sectors and civil society, and further contribute to the stabilisation and growth of South Africa,” said Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, in his congratulatory letter to Prof Mohale. 

BUSA’s role in influencing policy and legislative development for inclusive growth and employment, and in building an enabling environment for the creation of a vibrant, diverse, and globally competitive economy that harnesses the economic and human potential in South Africa, is well documented. This potential resides in our higher education institutions in the form of our students, future graduates, and graduates who are the building blocks for the development of South Africa. 

At a time when our country is facing a social and economic crisis, we are confident that BUSA will consider the perspectives across sectors with a view to creating partnerships, collaboration, and co-creation and further play an integral role in our higher education institutions for the benefit of our students. 

“Prof Mohale’s support to the UFS is appreciated, especially his role as Chancellor and his contribution towards our Thought-Leader and Global Citizen programmes, through which important national and global issues are addressed.
 
We wish Prof Mohale every success in his endeavours, particularly as President of BUSA,” said Prof Petersen.

News Archive

The practice of mourning loss
2014-06-11



Prof Kenneth Gergen, Dr Jennifer Githaiga and Prof Mary Gergen
Photo: Supplied
Among international delegates from over 60 nations and more than 1 300 participants, Dr Jennifer Githaiga presented her paper on the practice of mourning – the African way.

Her paper questioned the language used in psychology to ‘pathologise’ African people’s mourning practices. Drawing from her doctoral research, she explained the role of maintaining close bonds with family members after they pass away. Rather than severing these bonds, Dr Githaiga argued that continued attachment beyond death plays a significant role in healing the trauma of loss.

Dr Githaiga’s entitled her paper ‘The “pathology” of post-bereavement bonds: cultural positioning in qualitative inquiry.’ She presented this at the Tenth International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (ICQI). A conference that has become one of the most important events on the calendar of qualitative researchers across the globe. The event was hosted at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign from 21 - 24 May 2014. The theme of the conference this year was ‘Qualitative Inquiry and the Politics of Research’.

Dr Githaiga is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Trauma, Forgiveness and Reconciliation Studies at the UFS. During the congress, she also found herself in the role as ambassador to Kovsies. Not only did she rub shoulders with highly-regarded Profs Kenneth and Mary Gergen, but also spoke with leading scholars in the field of qualitative research interested in our university.

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