Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
11 July 2022 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Supplied
From the left: Dr. Annelie De Man (Coordinator - advocacy division - Free State Centre for Human Rights), Deputy Minister John Jefferey, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Martie Bloem ( Private Law Lecturer, Faculty of Law), Tshepang Mahlatsi (Student Assistant - Advocacy division) and Prof Danie Brand (The Director of the Free State Centre for Human Rights).

According to the international market and consumer data company Statista’s June 2022 data, more than 4,6 billion people worldwide are using social media; this is an increase of 1 billion people compared to the total users in 2020. 

Delivering his lecture on ‘Social Media, Freedom of Expression, and the Law’ on the University of the Free State Bloemfontein Campus on 30 May 2022, John Jeffery, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, said, “The power of social media lies in the sheer magnitude of the number of people using it.”

He said: “Section 16 of the South African Constitution provides that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom of the press and other media; freedom to receive or impart information or ideas; freedom of artistic creativity; and academic freedom and freedom of scientific research.”

He advised perpetrators of malicious social media posts about the consequences and the harm to persons who are victims.

Depending on the circumstances, a person who suffers harm because of being the subject of someone else’s social media posts, can be protected under the Protection from Harassment Act. According to the Act, this is due to mental, psychological, physical, or economic harm.

Speaking at the Odeion School of Music, Deputy Minister Jeffery said, “Social media brings with it the importance of responsible use. As a social media user, you are entirely responsible for whatever appears on your social media accounts.’

He said: “Whatever you do in life – your conduct and your words – can be put onto various platforms and they will be there for a very long time. Do better, be better – and use social media to inspire people, to have an impact on the world, and to make it a better place.”

News Archive

Business people visit the UFS
2009-05-25

 
A group of prominent business people from prestigious companies recently visited the University of the Free State (UFS). According to Ms Cathy Castagno from the UFS, the aim of this visit was to introduce business people like these to the good work that is being done on the campus. The group visited, amongst others, the Unit for Students with Disabilities, the new Computer Laboratory and the Beds of Hope Project. After visiting the Beds of Hope Project and the Unit for Students with Disabilities, Dr Phogolo Sethole, Director: Business Development of Prudential Portfolio Managers, said that there were certain things that one could not change but that one had to add value to. Mr Ram Barkai, CEO of the Cadiz Financial Strategy Group, was also impressed by the work that is done at the UFS. Present at the occasion were, from the left: Mr Barkai, Prof. Teuns Verschoor (Acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS), Mr Jospeh Kganakga (Managing Director: Recruitment and Advertising from Saatchi & Saatchi) and Dr Sethole.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

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