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28 March 2022 | Story Jóhann Thormählen | Photo Supplied
Rassie Erasmus en Jacques Nienaber
A few Kovsies were winners at the South African Sports Awards. Rassie Erasmus (Coach of the Year) were among the current and former Kovsies honoured. Pictured here with Jacques Nienaber, Springbok Head Coach.
The influence of the University of the Free State (UFS) on the South African sporting landscape and the world stage is outstanding.

DB Prinsloo, Director of KovsieSport, says this was emphasised when a few Kovsies were among the winners at the South African Sports Awards held on 12 March 2022.

According to him, this is testament to the contribution that the university makes on a daily basis in the careers of sportsmen and -women.

The UFS shared in the spoils at the 15th version of the awards in Durban as former Shimla Rassie Erasmus was named Coach of the Year, while Miné de Klerk was the Newcomer of the Year. The young athlete, who is studying in America, is a member of the Kovsie Athletics Club.

The UFS also had a hand in the Team of the Year award, which went to the Springboks. Many former Kovsies are involved with the team.

Hard work pays off

“We are very proud of administrators, sportsmen and -women who excel in this way,” says Prinsloo.

“It is a reward to the individuals and teams for their infinite determination and focused hard work.”

He says it shows the university’s impact to the rest of the country. “The hours, days, months, and years of hard work have paid off.”

Erasmus is South Africa’s Director of Rugby and was the 45th Springbok produced by the UFS. He helped the Boks achieve success in 2021, including a series victory over the British and Irish Lions.

De Klerk won gold (shot put) and silver (discus) medals at the World Athletics U20 Championships last year.

Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber (Head Coach), and Daan Human (Scrum Coach) are all former Kovsies and part of the Springbok management, while the former Shimla, Ox Nché, plays for South Africa.

Attracting prospective students

Another Kovsie, Louzanne Coetzee (T11), was nominated for a SA Sports Award. 

The UFS Akasia Residence Head won silver (T11; 1 500 m) and bronze (T12; marathon) medals at the Paralympics.
She and her guides, Estean Badenhorst and Claus Kempen, were nominated for Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability. The sprinter Anruné Weyers (T47) took the honours.

Prinsloo says these achievements have an impact on prospective students. 

“Through this, they are made aware of the contribution that the UFS and KovsieSport make, and its attitude towards sport and the promotion thereof.”
Mine de Klerk

(Miné de Klerk was named Newcomer of the Year at 2022 SA Sports Awards. Photo: Dan Vernon (World Athletics) 

News Archive

Fracking in the Karoo has advantages and disadvantages
2012-05-25

 

Dr Danie Vermeulen
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar
25 May 2012

Fracking for shale gas in the Karoo was laid bare during a public lecture by Dr Danie Vermeulen, Director of the Institute for Groundwater Studies (IGS). He shared facts, figures and research with his audience. No “yes” or “no” vote was cast. The audience was left to decide for itself.

The exploitation of shale gas in the pristine Karoo has probably been one of the most debated issues in South Africa since 2011.
 
Dr Vermeulen’s lecture, “The shale gas story in the Karoo: both sides of the coin”, was the first in a series presented by the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science under the theme “Sustainability”. Dr Vermeulen is a trained geo-hydrologist and geologist. He has been involved in fracking in South Africa since the debate started. He went on a study tour to the USA in 2011 to learn more about fracking and he visited the USA to further his investigation in May 2012.
 
Some of the information he shared, includes:

- It is estimated that South Africa has the fifth-largest shale-gas reserves in the world, following on China, the USA, Argentina and Mexico.
- Flow-back water is stored in sealed tanks and not in flow-back dams.
- Fracturing will not contaminate the water in an area, as the drilling of the wells will go far deeper than the groundwater aquifers. Every well has four steel casings – one within the other – with the gaps between them sealed with cement.
- More than a million hydraulic fracturing simulations took place in the USA without compromising fresh groundwater. The surface activities can cause problems because that is where man-made and managerial operations could cause pollution.
- Water use for shale-gas exploration is lower than for other kinds of energy, but the fact that the Karoo is an arid region makes the use of groundwater a sensitive issue. Dr Vermeulen highlighted this aspect as his major concern regarding shale-gas exploration.
- The cost to develop is a quarter of the cost for an oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Dolerite intrusions in the Karoo are an unresearched concern. Dolerite is unique to the South African situation. Dolerite intrusion temperatures exceed 900 °C.

He also addressed the shale-gas footprint, well decommissioning and site reclamation, radio activity in the shale and the low possibility of seismic events.
 
Dr Vermeulen said South Africa is a net importer of energy. About 90% of its power supply is coal-based. For continued economic growth, South Africa needs a stable energy supply. It is also forecast that energy demand in South Africa is growing faster than the average global demand.
 
Unknowns to be addressed in research and exploration are the gas reserves and gas needs of South Africa. Do we have enough water? What will be the visual and social impact? Who must do the exploration?
 
“Only exploration will give us these answers,” Dr Vermeulen said.

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