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2022 Africa Week

07 April 2022 | Story Bhekumusa N. Zikhali

Celebrating Africa Month – call for contributions

The University of the Free State Office for International Affairs, in collaboration with the Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice, will be hosting its fifth annual Africa Day commemoration. The 2022 commemoration will be hosted across all three campuses in a marathon we call Africa Week, which unifies the activities through cross-campus collaboration speaking in one voice for one institution. The activities will be three-tiered, starting with an opening ceremony for Africa Week on the South Campus, a celebratory dialogue on the Bloemfontein Campus, and lastly, the closing ceremony of Africa Week on the Qwaqwa Campus. All three activities will be embodied under the theme ‘African Higher Education – Celebrating African Education’, which will embrace artistic expressions, music, dance, and meaningful dialogue that will provide an element for teaching and learning. You are all cordially invited to tune in.

In accordance with COVID-19 protocols/rules, the different activities will have limited capacity for attendance, but live streaming will be made available to the rest of us. This may change at any given time according to circumstances as determined by the relevant departments of the institution.

You are all cordially invited to tune in; be on the lookout for the RSVP link for attendance. In the meantime, save the date and the links below.

Livestream link: https://livestream.ufs.ac.za/

Opening Ceremony South Campus
Date: 23 May 2022
Venue: Open space outside the cafeteria
Time: 13:00 – 15:00

Celebratory Dialogue Bloemfontein Campus
Date: 25 May 2022
Venue: Centenary Complex
Time: 16:00 – 19:00

Closing Ceremony Qwaqwa Campus
Date: 27 May 2022
Venue: VIP Hall
Time: 12:30 – 15:00

News Archive

UFS works closely with employees in the post-Reitz settlement process

2013-05-20

20 May 2013

In the light of an article in IOL News on 18 and 19 May 2013 and in Sunday Independent and Sunday Tribune on 19 May 2013 in which it is alleged that the University of the Free State (UFS) has failed to honour its commitment to the five Reitz employees we are pleased to report on the ongoing process and progress made with respect to their employment.

The university remained consistently true to the settlement agreement and High Court order of 2011 and cannot apologise for complying with the law. It was therefore impossible for us to talk to our colleagues directly until last week when we had a breakthrough meeting, which was cleared by the Human Rights Commission (HRC), and matters were resolved.

The UFS continues to work closely and now directly with the five employees to ensure that their rights as employees remain the highest priority in the post-settlement process.

All but one of the conditions of the Reitz settlement (own business) has already been met; however, we are in the process of providing training and support for the establishment of an independent business led by the employees.

After some delays, and frustration on all sides, we have found the right training provider for them and are satisfied that the process remains on track. The business office (furnished) has been allocated at the South Campus in Bloemfontein.

Already in late 2012 the Chair of the HRC expressed his satisfaction with the commitments made by the university to the process. By 30 June 2013 this outstanding commitment to establish an independent company with trained employees would also have been met in full.

Beyond the settlement agreement, the UFS has also committed to providing free education and training to the children of the employees so that their next generation of families emerge as strong, independent, well-trained and productive members of society. The child of one of the colleagues is in fact finishing Grade 12 this year and we are in discussion about possible studies at the UFS. This is our pledge and commitment as a university.

This final step in the post-Reitz settlement is being led by Dr Choice Makhetha, Vice-Rector of the University of the Free State.

Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director Strategic Communication
Tel: +27 (0) 51 401 2584 / +27 (0) 83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 (0) 51 444 6393
Web: www.ufs.ac.za

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