Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
24 August 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
UFS vegetable garden
A variety of vegetables, including beans, spinach, onions, and carrots, are sheltered in 40 vegetable boxes in the two 300 m² tunnels opposite the Welwitschia Residence on the Bloemfontein Campus.

At the University of the Free State (UFS), research findings have indicated that 59% of students do not know where their next meal will come from. The recent COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the unemployment rate of 34,9%, adding to the likelihood of our students being affected even more by food insecurity. 

One of the initiatives the university has created to address the issue, is a vegetable production and training programme. The purpose of the programme, which was established by the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development, KovsieACT, and the Food Environment Office, is to teach students how to produce vegetables. 

A variety of vegetables, including beans, spinach, onions, and carrots, are sheltered in 40 vegetable boxes in the two 300 m² tunnels opposite the Welwitschia Residence on the Bloemfontein Campus. Not only is this initiative providing students with fresh produce that supplements the food parcels they receive from the Food Environment Office through the No Student Hungry Project. It also provides them with the opportunity to get involved on a voluntary basis in the food production process, including the planting and harvesting of the vegetables. 

Food production is an important skill in growing one’s own food. Moreover, it is also a valuable skill for students to transfer to their communities back home.

From mid-August through to the end of October is planting season for a number of vegetables. Starting spring on a high note, the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development, KovsieACT, and the Food Environment Office invited food security activist, Thabo Olivier, to address the university community and provide some valuable guidelines to grow your own food in innovative ways. 

Date: Thursday 1 September 2022
Time: 13:00
Venue: Thakaneng Bridge

Invest in your future and join the event, which will include hands-on harvesting from the vegetables gardens as well as a food demonstration. 

More information: Teddy Sibiya on SibiyaLT@ufs.ac.za at KovsieAct. 

Grow you own vegetables

News Archive

KPMG hotline to combat corruption and fraud at UFS
2016-01-27

Through an initiative of KPMG, the Kovsie community can now combat corruption and fraud collectively. A hotline has been established that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What to report

The Ethics Line is underpinned by the principles of honesty, integrity, respect, fairness, and courtesy. The following infractions can be reported:

  • Corruption
  • Dishonesty
  • Financial or other forms of fraud
  • Damage to environment
  • Discrimination
  • Health and safety violations
  • Unethical behaviour or misconduct
  • Class/exam irregularities
  • Theft
  • Sexual harassment
  • Other criminal offences

What not to report

However, the following should not be reported:

  • Employment grievances
  • Employment complaints
  • Petty arguments amongst staff
  • Personality clashes

Ethics Line Number

The KPMG Ethics Line number is 0800 00 67 04.

How the Ethics Line works

  1. Step 1: Call 0800 00 67 04 from any Telkom landline
  2. Step 2: Make your confidential and anonymous disclosure
  3. Step 3: You will be given a reference number. Keep this confidential, as you will need this if you wish to follow up on your call
  4. KPMG compiles the information, and reports to the UFS

The calls are answered, and the information recorded, by persons not employed by the UFS to ensure confidentiality. Even if you decide to supply your name, the information and your identity will remain confidential.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept