Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Months
January February March April May June July August September October November December
Previous Archive
15 July 2022 | Story Lacea Loader

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) approved the lifting of the institution’s COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy with immediate effect.

“Since the declaration by the Government on 22 June 2022 that the COVID-19 regulations will be repealed, the UFS has conducted a risk assessment to determine the risk of exposure to staff and students. From the assessment, it was clear that the university’s COVID-19 infections are currently a low risk,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

Factors that contributed to this low risk include the following:

  • No COVID-19 positive cases among UFS staff and students have been reported in the past month.
  • The high number of vaccinations among UFS stakeholders. In addition, the current national immunity level of the total South African population is high.
  • Certain faculties and postgraduate students are currently proceeding with hybrid/online learning, which minimises the risk of possible COVID-19 infections on the university’s three campuses.
  • In its correspondence of 23 June 2022, the UFS urged all staff and students to continue wearing masks should they have comorbidities and/or symptoms of illness, thus safeguarding other stakeholders.

“We believe that COVID-19 no longer poses an immediate threat to the safety of our staff and students, and that the pandemic is at a stage where they should take responsibility for their own safety. This can be mainly ascribed to the success of the implementation of the policy. Staff and students who still wish to wear masks are urged to do so at their own discretion. Those who have not yet been vaccinated against the virus and have no

known condition preventing them from doing so, are advised to get vaccinated for their own safety and protection,” said Prof Petersen.

The UFS COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy was approved by the University Council on 26 November 2021 and implemented on 6 December 2021. The university commenced restricting unvaccinated individuals from accessing its campuses as of 14 February 2022.

“If the national regulatory environment with respect to COVID-19 is changing to such an extent that the policy needs to be re-implemented, the university’s executive management will act accordingly, and hence the COVID-19 Regulations and Required Vaccination Policy remains a policy of the university as approved by the UFS Council on 26 November 2021.” said Prof Petersen.

 

Uplifting of the COVID-19 vaccination policy - mitigation strategies of the University of the Free State.

News Archive

Shimlas get back on track
2014-02-26

The Shimlas overpowered a startled UJ side in Bloemfontein on Monday, scoring seven tries en route to a 52-16 victory in the fourth round of the Varsity Cup competition.

The UFS’s second win in four weeks saw them climb the log standings to a well deserved third position. The Shimlas took an early lead in the match, with blindside flank Oupa Mohoje scoring the opening try from an attacking line-out.

Our boytjies was on a roll, with wing Maphuto Dolo scoring in the corner after a break from a scrum by scrumhalf Kevin Luiters. Kovsies' flyhalf Gouws Prinsloo knocked both conversions over to put our team in a commanding 16-0 lead before the first strategy break. Not long after, the Shimlas scored their third try as left wing Sethu Tom found the corner to make it 21-0. T his was followed by yet another onslaught when Shimlas’ skipper, Joubert Engelbrecht, crashed over for the bonus-point try. Outside centre, Tertius Kruger, put even more pressure on the UJ side when he crossed the try line, leaving the Shimlas with a 34-0 lead at half-time.

Prinsloo slotted a penalty early in the second half for Shimlas, followed by skipper Engelbrecht’s second try. After 15 minutes into the second half, UJ managed to score two converted tries to change the scoreboard to 44-16. T his did, however, not spur the visitors on to complete a comeback and the Shimlas' Divandré Strydom gave our team the last say with one final try.

The scorers:
For FNB UFS-Shimlas:
Tries: Oupa Mohoje, Maphuto Dolo, Sethu Tom, Joubert Engelbrecht (2), Tertius Kruger, Divandré Strydom
Cons: Gouws Prinsloo (5)
Pen: Gouws Prinsloo

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

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