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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“Since the declaration by the Government on 22 June 2022 that the COVID-19 regulations will be repealed, the UFS has conducted a risk assessment to determine the risk of exposure to staff and students.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

Champion Shimlas coach takes charge of Dream Team
2015-04-14

 

UFS Shimlas rugby team thrashed North-West University (NWU) Pukke 63-33 to claim their first ever Varsity Cup title at Shimla Park on Monday 13 April 2015.

And the good news keeps coming for the undefeated 2015 Varsity Cup champs as their coach, Franco Smith, will be in charge of the Varsity Cup Dream Team to face off against the Junior Springboks at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on 21 April.

Four Shimlas players will also join their coach for the clash in Stellenbosch. Shimlas wing, Maphutha Dolo, and flanker, Henco Venter, are set to be in the starting line-up, while Gerhard Olivier (also flanker) and Mthokozisi Mkhabala will be on the bench.

Smith will be head coach for the Dream Team, and will be assisted by Hendro Scholtz (also from Shimlas staff) and David Manual (University of Pretoria Tuks). Quintin van Rooyen will be team manager and Tanya Green, the physio, both from Stellenbosch University Maties. UFS sport scientist, Timothy Qumbu, will see to the Dream Team’s fitness and conditioning.

Varsity Cup Dream Team:
 

15 Rhyno Smith (NWU-Pukke)
14 Maphutha Dolo (UFS-Shimlas)
13 Rowayne Beukman (NWU-Pukke)
12 Daniel Kriel (UP-Tuks)
11 Jean-Paul Lewis (Maties)
10 Innocent Radebe (UKZN-Impi)
9 Dillon Smit (NWU-Pukke)
8 Jeandre Rudolph (NWU-Pukke)
7 Henco Venter (UFS-Shimlas)
6 Wiaan Liebenberg (UP-Tuks)
5 Reniel Hugo (captain) (UP-Tuks)
4 Irne Herbst (UP-Tuks)
3 John-Roy Jenkinson (NWU-Pukke)
2 Chad Solomon (UCT-Ikeys)
1 Johan Smit (NWU-Pukke)

Replacements:
 

16 Nqobisizwe Mxoli (UP-Tuks)
17 Jaco Visagie (UP-Tuks)
18 Dayan van der Westhuizen (UP-Tuks)
19 Walt Steenkamp (NWU-Pukke)
20 Gerhard Olivier (UFS-Shimlas)
21 Mthokozisi Mkhabela (UFS-Shimlas)
22 Johnny Welthagen (NWU-Pukke)

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