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17 May 2022 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Supplied
Dr Sello Thinane
Dr Jonas Thinane graduated with a PhD from the University of South Africa.
Dr Jonas Thinane, who recently obtained his PhD in Theology from the University of South Africa (Unisa), has been working in the Department of Hebrew since his first year as a Theology student; he is currently employed as departmental administrator in the department. 

It was his diligence and comments that convinced Prof Cynthia Miller-Naude to offer him employment as student assistant in the department.  His work involves overseeing the administration of three entwined units within the department.  “I am really proud of all that he has accomplished since then, seizing every opportunity available for learning and growing, without allowing obstacles to block his path,” said Prof Miller-Naude. 

His PhD focused on Human rights abuse by some self-styled spiritual leaders within the ‘Nyaope religion’ in South Africa and was supervised by Prof MS Kgatle from the Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology at Unisa. 

An avid academic and researcher 

Apart from the research he undertook to complete his PhD in less than two years, he published nine accredited articles and a chapter in a book between 2021 and 2022. “I currently have six articles undergoing peer review and am working on more to publish in local and international journals this year,” says Dr Thinane. 

Dr Thinane’s research specialisation lies within Missiology, where he has introduced new knowledge to the subject matter through extensive writing on concepts of missio hominum (mission of human beings) in relation to the broader setting of the Missio Dei (Mission of God). “Beyond this, some of my published articles cover broad yet relevant topics such as COVID-19 and vaccine challenges in South Africa, the question of mandatory vaccination from a religious perspective, the ANC step-aside rule in conflict with Thuma Mina objectives, and many other topics relevant to our current challenges in South Africa,” Dr Thinane says. 

“I am sure that he will make a great contribution to academia for the benefit of society in the future,” says Prof Miller-Naude. 

Support and motivation from department 

Dr Thinane is very appreciative of the support he received from the department throughout his PhD journey. 
This is indeed a great achievement within the scope of the UFS’ encouragement for publication on subjects that greatly contribute to the cognition and advancement of our society.
Dr Thinane graduation
From the left: Dr KJ Padi (UFS Practical and Missional Theology), Dr A Motsei (UFS African Languages), Dr JS Thinane (Department of Hebrew),
Dr M Choane (UFS Political Studies and Governance), Prof MS Kgatle (UNISA Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology),
Dr ME Maibi (UFS alumnus). (Photo: Supplied)

News Archive

UFS awards its innovative thinkers
2009-11-18

Here are, from the left: Prof. Van Wyk with first-prize winners Precious Setlaba and Themba Motsoeneng and Prof. Muriel Meiring, the students’ promoter.
Photo: Stephen Collett


The University of the Free State (UFS) recently announced the winners of the Innovation Fund Competition. This national competition, which is organised by the Department of Science and Technology aims to promote entrepreneurship through the commercialisation of the innovative ideas of young entrepreneurs.

Every participating educational institution first has an in-house competition in which a total prize money of R100 000 is at stake. At the UFS 14 business plans from students were received and evaluated by six external adjudicators. The three winners now have to take part in Phase II of the competition where 60 competitors from 20 universities will compete. The winners of the National Competition will receive prizes of up to R300 000. This money must be used for the development of the innovative idea with which the prize was won.

The first prize in the UFS’s Innovation Fund Competition of R50 000 was won by Themba Motsoeneng and Precious Setlaba from the Department of Haematology for the development of low-cost diagnostic assays for thrombotic diseases and bleeding disorders with the aim of supplying these test assays at a much lower cost to pathology laboratories all over the country. “This exciting idea appealed to many of the judges, especially because it can contribute to low cost health care in the country,” says Prof. Gerrit van Wyk, organiser of the Innovation Fund Competition at the UFS. The second prize of R30 000 was won by Charl Jaftha, MSc student in Physics. He has developed a low-cost hearing aid the size of a cigarette box. It contains a microphone and electronics to amplify the sound. The third prize of R20 000 was won by Adriaan Taylor and Jaco Brink, both MBA students. They designed a two-in-one lawnmower that would enable the average gardener with a bulky garden to shred the garden refuse and recycle it through composting or disposal through the normal disposal system. “One judge called this a novel use of existing technology,” says Prof. Van Wyk.
 

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