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Long Service Recognition Awards, a celebration of the ‘best’

01 November 2022 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Stephen Collett

Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, delivering a recognition and celebratory message to 44 University of the Free State employees who have completed 20 years and more at the institution.

Speaking at the 2022 Long Service Recognition Awards, celebrating ‘the best’, University of the Free State (UFS) Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, said: “The event is a reminder that the people – the staff – are the university. You are the stars tonight.”

The annual awards ceremony, held in the Centenary Complex on the Bloemfontein Campus on 21 October 2022, is a flagship event for the UFS to recognise and celebrate staff members who have worked at the institution for 20 to 40 years and longer.

Thanking staff, including those who will be retiring at the end of this year, Prof Petersen said: “Thank you for the contribution you have made to the university. As staff, we are the custodians of the university, and while you are here – if you can – add one more brick to build a better institution that you can be proud of.”

Joining the event was Shadrack Shamane, Human Resources Business Partner in the Division of Human Resources, who has worked for the UFS for 40 years.

He started as a Labourer in the then Department of Provisioning, and in 1992 he was promoted to Supervisor and Driver.

Shamane said: “Staying at the UFS so long was for a good cause because of the opportunities offered for growth. Over the years, I managed to complete a Certificate in Labour Law in 2004, Advanced Certificate in 2006, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law in 2008.”

He is also serving as a full-time National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union shop steward.

Also recognised at this year’s awards was Ilse de Beer, Officer in the Project Management Unit of ICT Services. Ilse joined the UFS in 1987 as a Computer Mainframe Operator responsible for monitoring the mainframe, backups, and printing.

De Beer said: “I started working at Computer Services with the Sperry mainframe in 1987 till the last IBM mainframe, growing with changes in ICT Service, and today we work with data centres.”

De Beer was born on the Bloemfontein Campus in 1967 in what used to be her home – the Vishuis Bond behind the Vishuis hostel.

She said: “I grew up on campus; it was my playground and I had loads of fun times through the years. In 1975, we moved into our own house, which is now the Cairnhall Private Hospital.”

Closing the event, Prof Petersen said: “I also want to thank your partners and line managers who have stood by you, there has been a lot of input coming from them, providing the necessary support.”

He urged staff who will be retiring at the end of the year to look out for the launch of Vision 130 – ‘an elaboration of the strategic intent of the university to reposition itself for 2034, when it will commemorate its 130th anniversary.’

News Archive

UFS launches history book

2007-02-02


Attending the launch of the UFS history book were, from the left: Prof Stef Coetzee, Prof Francois Retief, Prof Wynand Mouton, Mr Pieter Cox (Chairperson on Sasol) and Prof Frederick Fourie (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS). Profs Coetzee, Retief and Mouton are former rectors of the UFS.
UFS launches history book The University of the Free State (UFS) today launched its history book titled, From Grey to Gold, on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. “The history of the UFS is one of faith, hope, struggle and determination. The book tells a fascinating story that stretches over a 100 years. It is divided into five main phases, which tells about the growth of the UFS from a poor Free State community to a mature university. Interesting stories about student days, sport, rag and hostel activities are included in each phase,” Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor said during the launch of the book. “One cannot know where you are going if you don’t know where you are coming from. You have a clearer idea of the issues facing an institution if you know the history. A book like this one is also an important source of reference for staff on the campus,” said Prof Fourie. The first research for the book was done from 1999-2003 by Prof Leo Barnard from the Department of History and a team of researchers. They also compiled the first manuscript. During the last three years, Prof Fourie was closely involved with the writing of the final phase and finishing off the history book project. “It was an honour to be so closely involved with the story of the UFS because now I have a better understanding of the institution, its people, its culture and its way of thinking. For any rector of a university, such an understanding of its institution is a requirement,” Prof Fourie said. The book is partly sponsored by Sasol. During the launch of the book, Mr Pieter Cox, Chairperson of Sasol said the company and the UFS have been partners for 57 years. “Both Sasol and the UFS are striving for excellence – Sasol for excellence in technology and the UFS for excellence in education,” said Mr Cox. “It was an easy decision when the UFS approached Sasol for financial support of the history book. Its a formidable piece of work, something Prof Fourie and the UFS can be proud of,” said Mr Cox. The book consists of more than 500 pages with hundreds of photos and a wide range of supplements of office-bearers, awards and achievements (including national and sporting colours). A timeline framework, putting the history of the UFS in context with the history of the Free State, South Africa and of the world, is also included. Besides the supplements, the history book also tells the story of amongst others the establishment of the UFS; the role of its founding fathers; black pioneers of transformation; the establishment and development of academic departments and faculties; student numbers; pioneers and trends in research; academic entrepreneurs; campus issues and campus politics; interesting facts and stories about student life (rag, intervarsity and cheerleaders, sport and the Springboks, hostel traditions); the admission of black students and anguish about race; language and culture; the development of the Main Campus; the Tickey and the Banana and much more. Emphasis is placed on a very high level of quality. “It is not every day that the university becomes hundred years old and the institution will be measured by the quality of the book. We cannot say the UFS is a university of excellence if the book does not reflect that,” Ms Edma Pelzer, Director: Physical Resources and Special Projects said. Ms Pelzer managed the project as part of the last mentioned part of her portfolio. The search for photographs was an important aspect of the book and it was a big task to find photographs and write captions. It took almost a year to translate and prepare the English edition and almost ten months to ensure the accuracy thereof, especially to correctly translate the typical Free State and UFS terminology and naturally to complete the English manuscript’s layout and proofreading. In the mean time the cover pages were designed and in September 2006 the manuscript went into the final print process. The Afrikaans title is: Van Sink tot Sandsteen tot Graniet. The cost of the book is R380 per copy. Those who already ordered the book will soon receive their copy. Orders can be placed by contacting Mr Dawid Kriel at UFS Marketing on 051 401 3409 or on the UFS web site at www.ufs.ac.za. The book is also available at Van Schaik Book Store on the Thakaneng Bridge, UFS Main Campus and at Fascination Books in Mimosa Mall, Bloemfontein. Media release Issued by: Lacea Loader Media Representative Tel: (051) 401-2584 Cell: 083 645 2454 E-mail: loaderl@mail.uovs.ac.za 2 February 2007

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