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Peter Makgato - from despair to medals

22 December 2022 | Story Jóhann Thormählen | Photo Anja Aucamp

If it wasn’t for Peter Makgato’s UFS support system, he would have been lost to South African athletics. The road of recovery after a serious injury can be lonesome, but he was never alone.

The promising long jumper had to learn to walk again after the injury to his Achilles tendon and could only compete more than a year after his dreams were shattered in November 2020.

Only months after returning to jumping in 2022, he was winning medals again.

Keeping me focused

“Without KovsieSport, I believe I would have hung up my spikes after that injury,” says Makgato. “Throughout the entire journey back, I had support from my coach (Emmarie Prinsloo; Head of KovsieSport Jumping Academy) and Oom DB (Prinsloo; Head of Athletics at KovsieSport).”

He also praises “the expert medical help” from Kovsie Health and says he went through nothing alone. “My progress was monitored by a team that knew me before the injury and this meant they were able to keep me focused on the progress and not on the injury.”

Although he had injuries before, Makgato says the emotional challenges were much bigger. “What really helped me were a few words from Wayde van Niekerk days after my operation when I went back to the track on crutches. He told me not to lose my head.

“That is the best advice you can give someone in my position. Physically I was broken, I had to make sure that mentally I fought to stay above the waters.”

Bigger goals in mind

He was only able to walk again from May 2021, started rehab in August 2021, and was running properly by December 2021.

He was only able to jump competitively again in March 2022, and a month later claimed a bronze medal at the South African Championships (7,47 m). This was followed by a USSA bronze in May 2022 (7,46 m).

“I had bigger goals in mind. Now that I look back, I realise that for a person who could not even run properly five months before and who had little preparation time, I was doing pretty good.”

And now the Master of Laws student has his sights on bigger things again: The World Athletics Championships next year and the Olympic Games in 2024.

News Archive

The UFS warmly welcomes 2016 first-years

2016-01-06

The University of the Free State (UFS) is ready to offer a warm welcome to all first-year and senior students for the 2016 academic year. In striving for excellence, we intend to provide an environment that is conducive to students enjoying their learning experience. To ensure that you, as new Kovsies, are able to navigate all three campuses easily, and receive the assistance you need, we have compiled a list for your information and convenience below.

Gateway Pocket Guide 2016

To assist you in finding your way on campus and to answer frequently asked questions, please read this document and refer to the accompanying map:
Information Sheet and Registration Map 2016.

Important dates

Bloemfontein Campus

18 - 22 January 2016: First-year student registration (Yearbooks) (view the full academic advice programme here)
25 - 29 January 2016: Senior resident student registration (Yearbooks) (view the full academic advice programme here)
20 January 2016: First-year athletics
23 January 2016: First-year sports tournament
30 January 2016: Rag procession
1 February 2016: Lectures start

South Campus

Registration and Orientation dates for the South Campus
1 February 2016: Lectures start

Qwaqwa Campus
Pre- and post-registration information for the Qwaqwa Campus
19-22 January 2016: Registration - first-year undergraduate students
22-25 January 2016: Gateway Orientation - first-year undergraduate students (Gateway Pocket Guide 2016)
25-29 January 2016: Registration - senior residence students (undergraduate and honours)
25 January 2016: Registration - International students
26 January 2016: Official welcoming - first-year students
18 January – 5 February 2016: Registration - master’s and doctoral students
1-5 February 2016: Module and Qualification changes (all faculties)

1 February 2016: Lectures start

Stepping to success at UFS Qwaqwa Campus
Programme for other Gateway activities

Contact numbers

Bloemfontein Campus

Switchboard: +27(0)51 401 9111	Admissions: +27(0)51 401 9864/ 3693/ 3696	Financial Aid: +27(0)51 401 7175/ 9359/ 2103
Tuition Fees: Accounts/amounts payable: Undergraduate: +27(0)51 401 2806 / 3003 Postgraduate, BML and e-Learn students: +27(0)51 401 9537	Bursaries: +27(0)51 401 9160/ 3603	Loans: +27(0)51 401 9359/ 3202
Female Residences: +27(0)51 401 3455	Male Residences: +27(0)51 401 3562	Postgraduate Bursaries: +27(0)51 401 2045

South Campus

Switchboard: +27(0)51 401 9111	Tuition Fees: +27(0)51 401 2806/ 3003
Female Residences: +27(0)51 401 3455	Male Residences: +27(0)51 401 3562
Admissions: University Preparation Programme (UPP): +27 (0)51 505 1201/ 1362 Advanced Certificate in Teaching (ACT): +27 (0)51 505 1378 National Professional Diploma in Education (NPDE): +27 (0)51 505 1221 Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE): +27 (0)51 505 1342 Varsity College: +27 (0)51 505 1378 Short Learning Programmes: +27 (0)51 505 1436

Qwaqwa Campus

Switchboard: +27 (0)58 718 5000	Admissions: +27 (0)58 718 5011/ 5012/ 5022
Tuition Fees: +27 (0)58 718 5024/ 5119	Financial Aid: +27 (0) 58 718 5062/ 5061/ 5038
Accommodation: +27 (0) 58 718 5030/ 5016

Payments and registration

Registration fees are payable five days before the registration date.

Once you have registered, you will be able to access your official timetable. Use our campus maps to easily find your way around.

For detailed payment information, visit our Tuition Fees website.

Student card

Students on the Bloemfontein Campus have to obtain a student card from the Card Division on the Thakeneng Bridge. Your student card is your official university identification, and allows you access to:

campus
residence
events
library
computer labs.

With your student card, you are also able to pay for:

meals
books
electronic items.

General

Once you are registered, important announcements will be emailed to your student email account (studentnumber@ufs4life.ac.za). Information regarding assessments and electronic study material related to the modules you are registered for at the university will be posted on Blackboard - an online learning management system. For Blackboard-related queries, dial +27 (0)51 401 9452.

Safety and security is a priority here at the UFS. Protection services are available 24 hours a day on +27(0)51 401 / 2911. In addition, the Health and Wellness Centre is here to cater for your health needs.

Please like the University of the Free State and the Kovsie2B Facebook pages to stay up-to-date about what is happening at the UFS.

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