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25 August 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Bernedette Muthien
Bernedette Muthien is the author of Rethinking Africa, which critically opens new pathways for decolonial scholarship and the reclamation of indigenous self-definition by women scholars.

“Claim your own agency and power, no matter how challenging the circumstances. Violence and oppression stop with each of us. We ended apartheid. We will end patriarchy. And everyone will benefit from the end of gender and intersecting oppressions, to live their full potential in an equal and nonviolent society. We are making the change; it is coming; always have hope.”

This is the message to women from Bernedette Muthien, Research Fellow in the Office for International Affairs at the University of the Free State (UFS).

For the past 20 years, she has conducted research on intersectional justice, a topic that is both scholarly, accessible to activists and others, and can be used to improve our communities, our country, and the world at large.

Muthien has written more than 200 publications, some translated into European and local languages, on gender, gender violence, HIV, Aids, poverty, and sexualities.

Additionally, she has published widely in peace and security studies, as well as indigenous studies. Some of her other works deal with human rights and justice, specifically the constitution and education in South Africa. "As a scholar and human being and being involved in the last cohort of youth activists against apartheid during the turbulent 1980s, I consider intersectional justice and constitutional rights of critical importance,” she says.

Restoring dignity to our people

One of Muthien’s most recent works, Rethinking Africa, is a collection of chapters by diverse indigenous women – from playwright Sylvia Vollenhoven, to academic Babalwa Magoqwana – reinterpreting our past from various women’s perspectives.

The book, conceived at the start of the pandemic lockdown and produced in less than a year, critically opens new pathways for decolonial scholarship and the reclamation of indigenous self-definition by women scholars. “It is long overdue that, as indigenous women, we write our own herstory, define our own contemporary cultural and socio-economic conditions, and conceive future visions based on our lived realities, which are social and gender equality, matricentric, beyond-heteronormative, based on nonviolence or peace, ecologically responsible, and goddess-loving,” she says. 

It is Muthien's commitment to her women ancestors and contemporary communities that inspired this work, correcting misinterpretations of indigenous knowledge, women's role in society, and colonially influenced patriarchy in our urban areas.

She believes one needs women at the centre of societies, co-creating social values and practices that are humane and nonviolent, that nurture and foster individual and collective growth, that heal and care, that do no harm, and definitely do not exploit. 

“There is enough light in the cosmos for all the stars to shine. One star’s light does not diminish the glitter of other stars, and shining together, all the stars united can be brighter than even the sun. Together, we continue to define our own herstories and scholarship for ourselves, as indigenous peoples in Africa,” Muthien was heard saying at the online launch of Rethinking Africa last year. 

Through this publication, she mostly wanted to convey that women are central to indigenous societies, and that our environment is alive and worthy of respect. In Muthien's view, humans, animals, plants, and the planet should not be exploited in any way but imbued with dignity.

Furthermore, she believes that we need to reclaim these core indigenous values and practices that have been corrupted by colonially inspired patriarchy. “As a result, we will eradicate gender violence and restore dignity to our women, our men, and to our people," she says.

Challenging colonially inspired patriarchy

The intent of Rethinking Africa is to contribute to scholarship. Yet the contributors are from different sectors, writing in diverse styles, making this work accessible to all audiences. “Photographs of sacred sites and rock art, as well as poems by leading indigenous poets, are included in the book, illustrating the indigenous intersections between scholarship, art, creativity, spirituality, and between individual and community,” she explains. 

The work specifically challenges colonially inspired patriarchy, including religious teachings about patriarchy, about the subordination of women, which contradict indigenous wisdoms of equality and women at society’s centre.

Muthien’s work, although challenging for some, does add value, changing people’s lives for the better. For decades, she has worked on consciousness transformation through scholarship and community work. She is of the opinion that mindsets need to change in order to change behaviour and society. “In this way, the change is deep and lasting,” she says. 

She is also a firm believer in less talk, and more strategic and effective action. “In taking action, one first decolonises the mindset; strip it bare of all internalised oppression. Then it is important to re-instil ancient indigenous knowledge, values, and practices. Also offer skills, networks, resources, to communities as they offer their knowledge to scholars.”

“In addition, leave concrete assets for communities,” she says. Muthien tells the story of a family in Andriesvale, deep in the Kalahari, who built their Kalahari Kombuis, which serves as their residence and a tourist entertainment and dining venue, funded by a small group of Dutch feminists who wanted to contribute to reparations. According to her, the building and the family and community thrive to this day.

And importantly, it is key to have compassion. “Always compassion,” she says.

Muthien offered Rethinking Africa as her contribution to the various communities she has served over decades since birth.

• The book is available in bookshops and online, and online around the world.

News Archive

Access to the Bloemfontein Campus
2015-04-02

Access Control Made Easy

The first phase of access control at the University of the Free State (UFS) was implemented in August 2014. The aim of this initiative is to tighten security measures on the Bloemfontein Campus.
 
Since November 2014, access control has been implemented at all five gates on the Bloemfontein Campus. These are:

  • The Main gate in Nelson Mandela Drive (Gate 1)
  • The gate in DF Malherbe Drive (Gate 5)
  • The gate in Wynand Mouton Drive (Gate 3) 
  • The gate in Furstenburg Street (Gate 4)
  • The gate in Badenhorst Street (Gate 2)

Here is some useful information about the access control system:

1. Remember your access card when you enter the campus

Dual-function cards (with distance reader compatibility) will make your movement through the gates more convenient. The university’s access system works automatically with remote or swipe action. Please make sure that you drive close to the reader or, better still, get the dual-frequency card to manage the distance between your vehicle and the remote card reader.

As of 23 March 2015, the extra security staff, who have been assisting at the gates since the implementation of access control on the Bloemfontein Campus, are no longer manning the card readers at the gates. Therefore, persons without cards will be able to enter the campus only at the one gate in DF Malherbe Drive where the Visitors Centre is situated. They will be referred to the Visitors Centre, where a day visitor’s card will be issued to them. You will need to produce a formal identification document (e.g. ID book, driver's licence).

Security will continue their normal duties at the guardhouses for the various gates on the campus.

2. Where do I get an access card?

You can apply at the university’s Visitors Centre front desk by producing your positive identification (ID book/passport/driver’s licence) and proof of payment for your access card.

You will then be directed to the Thakaneng Bridge where you will be able to collect your access card.

  • Go to the Cashier on the Thakaneng Bridge and pay your R65 for the dual-frequency card
  • Take your receipt, together with your existing card (if you have one), to the Card Division on the Thakaneng Bridge (next to Mellins Optometrists)
  • A new photo will be taken of you at the Card Office for your new card. Your new card will then be issued immediately.

Currently, there is a sufficient stock of the dual-frequency cards available at the Card Division on the Thakaneng Bridge.
 
Alternatively, you can apply online for your access card: http://apps.ufs.ac.za/cardapplication/application.aspx

Make sure you have the following documents ready to attach when completing the online form:

  • Copy of positive identification: ID/Driver's Licence/Passport
  • Signed declaration (http://supportservices.ufs.ac.za/dl/Userfiles/Documents/00007/4668_eng.pdf) by your service provider/employer (if you are a service provider) or a letter of confirmation from your spouse/partner/relative/coach/relevant UFS staff member or student in cases where you have to visit, pick-up or drop off your spouse/partner/relative frequently on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

Cost: R65 for a long-term card and free of charge for short-term visits and conference delegates. Pay at the Cashier on the Thakaneng Bridge or at Absa Bank, Account Number: 1 570 8500 71, Ref: 1 413 07670 0198.

3. Cutoff Date: 7 April 2015

After 7 April 2015, no pedestrian or motorist will be able to enter the campus without a valid access card. Persons without access cards will have to enter the campus at the gate in DF Malherbe Drive where the Visitors Centre is situated. You will then be referred to the Visitors Centre where you will have to apply for a day visitor’s card. It is important to note that no one will be able to enter the campus at the Visitors Centre without a formal identification document (e.g. ID book, driver's licence).

4. Dual-frequency card simplifies access to the campus

It is important to have your card ready on entering the campus.

This card will simplify access to the campus considerably, as the card reader will read the card when it is held in a vertical position at the driver’s side window in the direction of the distance reader. Please do not place the card on the dashboard. There is an antenna wire in the card. If the card is placed on the dashboard, you are not exposing the card surface to the reader, and that might influence the antenna’s response to the reader.

Remember, the distance between the reader and the boom is only a few metres.  If you approach the reader at a ’high’ speed, you are not allowing the system to identify your card, match it to the entry in the database, check if you are ‘legal’, and then send a signal to open the boom. 

All five gates are equipped with distance readers. Within the next three weeks, two extra distance readers will also be installed at the Main Gate in Nelson Mandela Drive.
 
Please note that the dual-frequency card is needed only when you enter the campus with a vehicle and you want to activate the distance reader. All the older cards will continue to work at the tag readers. 

5. Use alternative gates

At times, some of the gates carry more traffic than others, especially with the peak morning and afternoon traffic. Gates with less traffic include:

  • The gate in Badenhorst Street
  • The gate in DF Malherbe Drive
  • The gate in Nelson Mandela Drive

You are welcome to make use of one of these alternative gates.

6. Pedestrians

No pedestrian will be able to enter the Bloemfontein Campus without a valid access card. If you have left your card at home or have lost it, you should enter the campus at the gate in DF Malherbe Drive where the Visitors Centre is situated. You will be referred to the Visitors Centre where you can apply for a day visitor’s card. You will still need to produce a formal identification document (e.g. ID book, driver's licence).

7. More information

Email: visitorscentre@ufs.ac.za
Visitors Centre front desk: Tel: +27 51 401 7766 (Mondays-Fridays 07:45-16:30)
Card Division: Tel: +27 51 401 2799 (Mondays-Fridays 07:45-16:30)
Protection Services duty room: +27 51 401 2634 (24 hours)

 

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