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We celebrate this great achievement with pride

03 September 2021 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath

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

UFS hosts a successful New Music Indaba

2015-08-18

Held at the University of the Free State’s Odeion School of Music (OSM), the NewMusicSA’s New Music Indaba 2015 featured works which Clare Loveday described as “breathtaking, discreet, and perfectly balanced.”

Loveday, one of South Africa’s acclaimed music critics and was Composer-in-Residence for the annual Johannesburg International Mozart Festival, attended the Indaba from 21-26 July 2015. In a review of Saturday’s gala concert, she referred to recitals of this nature as an “essential part of the South African musical landscape, providing musicians and composers a space in which to express their world.”

Staff and students of the OSM were extensively involved in facilitating the festivities as a symbol of commitment to South Africa and international contemporary art music. The OSM Camerata under the baton of Xavier Cloete performed two works by South African composer Hendrik Hofmeyr well as a work by young Argentinian composer Diego Soifer entitled Mille Regretz .The festival featured music theory lectures, a variety of workshops, roundtable discussions ,concerts as well as an outreach programme.

Loveday described the highlight of her Indaba experience as “A delicate construction of sounds and silences that drew the listener into a focused and intense sound world,” a highlight created by the visiting German composer, Charlotte Seither’s “Far From Distance” for piano, clarinet, and cello. The concert evening culminated with Diale Mabitsela's "Friday Nights at Six," adding to the spectacular nature of the festival.

Throughout the week, classical chamber works featuring South African New Music Ensemble (SANME), the Choir of Christ Church Arcadia, and the Odeion Vocal Consort were performed and well-received. Bringing the five-day event to a conclusion was a choral mass at the Bloemfontein Anglican Cathedral, featuring an “Agnus Dei” written by George T. King.

Douglas Scott, Curator of the 2015 Indaba, reflected on it as a great success, saying that, “most of the participants agreed the event was a wonderful opportunity simply to hear different voices from the composition community juxtaposed with one another.”

From Scott’s perspective, the principal goal was to foster communication between artists with different visions, and to reach out to the local community.

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