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08 September 2022 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Rulanzen Martin
Bartimea school outreach
Annemarie Le Roux and two of the learners from the Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind.
It was a perfect Spring Day with laughter, cupcakes, and the brightest smiles on excited little faces of learners from the Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind in front of the Main Building of the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS). The UFS Department of Deaf Studies and South African Sign Language hosted the school on 1 September 2022 for a day of learning, fun, and lots of games to kickstart #DeafAwarenessMonth. 

The relationship between the department and the school is stronger than ever, and after a two-year hiatus both staff and learners were basking in the excitement of the day. The school faced closure back in 2016 and it was in this year that the department and the student group Signals started a project to visit the school, which saw them participate in different activities with the learners. “We helped the school with the cleaning up of the school grounds and painting the playgrounds,” said Annemarie Le Roux, South African Sign Language lecturer at the UFS. 

UFS could set blueprint for outreach to Deaf communities 

The department and the UFS are in a unique position to set a blueprint for engaged scholarship with the Bartimea school in Thaba ’Nchu and the Thiboloha School for the Deaf and Blind in Phuthaditjhaba (formerly Qwaqwa). 

The Bartimea outreach is an important project for the department because it not only enables the students to put their teachings into practice but also demonstrates the engaged scholarship mandate of the UFS. Le Roux believes more teachers should be able to use SASL in schools, and the UFS could facilitate such training opportunities. “It would be wonderful if the university and the school could work together in engaged teaching and learning.” She added that leaners at the two schools sometimes do not get all the information they need when applying to universities. 

Le Roux thinks the relationship between Bartimea and the department could enable meaningful action to foster engaged citizenship. “We can help with fundraising, because the school is always in need of funding, as most parents cannot contribute to helping the school.” 

Putting teaching excellence into practice

This engagement with Bartimea allows students to put what they have learned in lecture halls into practice. “Students who attend the visits to the school or the school to the university understand more about the culture, and want to learn more and develop their language skills,” Le Roux said. “Before the COVID-19 pandemic we took our third-year and honours students to the school to give them access to the Deaf community.” Furthermore, the engagement helps students gain a better understanding of Deaf culture and sign language.

Also visit our Deaf Awareness Month webpage for more information.  

 

News Archive

KovsieSport lauds its heroes of the year
2013-10-20

 

Maryka Holtzhausen and Wade van Niekerk
20 October 2013

The University of the Free State (UFS) honoured its top achievers at the Loch Logan Waterfront on Friday 18 October 2013. Maryka Holtzhausen and Wade van Niekerk were named the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year respectively.

The Junior Sportsman and Sportswoman for 2013 are Jacques du Toit and Izelle Lategan.

This year the university’s sport stars were honored in five categories. This includes:

  • Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year (everyone that represented South Africa at a senior level, was eligible for the title). The winners each received a trophy and each sportsman and sportswomen in this category were honored with a medal.
  • Junior sportsman and sportswoman of the year. The winners each received a trophy.
  • Sport stars that represented South Africa at senior and junior level. The achievers received certificates.
  • Sport stars that represented the UFS in the national student teams. The sport stars also received certificates.
  • Certificates were also awarded to the KovsieSport club sport stars.

The following students represented South Africa at senior level:

  • Maryka Holtzhausen was a member of the Protea Netball team that participated in the Fast5 World Series in Auckland, New Zealand, in November 2012. Maryka captained the victorious Protea Netball team in the African Cup in Malawi in May 2013 and was also the captain of the Protea team that toured England in September 2013.
  • Adele Niemand was a member of the victorious Protea Netball team in the African Cup in Malawi in May 2013. Adele obtained her 50th cap for the Proteas when she played for the Protea Netball team that toured England in September 2013.
  • Izelle Lategan was a member of the SA Senior Women’s Protea team that participated in the World Hockey League Round 1 and 2, as well as in the semifinals of the World Hockey League. Izelle was also part of the Protea Women’s team that participated in the Investec Series in England.
  • Tanya Brits was a member of the SA Senior Women’s Protea team that participated in the World Hockey League Round 1 and 2, as well as in the semifinals of the World Hockey League. Tanya was also part of the Protea Women’s team that participated in the Investec Series in England.
  • Hananja Steyn was a member of the national team that participated in the African Fencing Championships in Cape Town in 2013. Hananja also participated in the World Championship in Budapest during 2013.
  • Elsabe le Roux participated in the WKF Senior World Karate Championships in Paris in 2013. Elsabe was a member of the SA Protea team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Championships in Namibia in June 2013.
  • Diana Welmans was a member of the SA Protea team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Karate Championships in Namibia in June 2013.
  • Elme de Villiers was a member of the SA Badminton team that won gold at the All Africa team event and she played in the semifinals in the singles at the same event. Elme also reached the quarterfinals in the singles and obtained gold in the doubles at the Mauritius Open.
  • Sandra le Grange was a member of the SA Badminton team that won gold at the All Africa team event and she obtained a bronze medal in the singles at the same event. Sandra also reached the quarterfinals and obtained gold in the doubles at the Mauritius Open.
  • Karla Mostert was a member of the Protea Netball team that participated in the Fast5 World Series in Auckland, New Zealand, in November 2012. Karla was a member of the victorious Protea Netball team in the African Cup in Malawi in May 2013 and also toured England as a member of the Protea Netball team in September 2013.
  • Balungile Ngcofe was a member of the SA Protea team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Karate Championships in Namibia in June 2013.
  • Jan Petrus van der Merwe was a member of the SA Swimming team that participated in China and Australia during 2013.
  • Wayde van Niekerk was a member of the SA Athletics team that participated in the World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia, in 2013.
  • Wim Boshoff was a member of the SA Protea team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Karate Championships.
  • Tanya Basson was a member of the SA Judo team that competed in the World Kata Championships in Italy in 2013. Tanya was a member of the SA team to compete in the Africa Championships in Maputo in 2013 and she also competed in the World Kata Championships in Japan.

Sport stars that represented South Africa on junior level, are:

  • Danelle Willemse was a member of the SA U/21 Netball team that participated in the Netball Junior World Cup in Glasgow in 2013. She also represented the SA U/21 Netball team in the World Youth Championships in Singapore in 2013.
  • Diana Welmans was a member of the SA Protea team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Karate Championships in Namibia in June 2013. She also participated as a member of the SA U/21 team in the UFAK Africa Karate Championships in Tunisia in August 2013 where she received a bronze medal.
  • Line Malan was a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that participated in the Hockey Junior World Cup in August 2013. She was also a member of the SA U/21 team that toured Europe in July 2013.
  • Nicole Walraven was a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that participated in the Hockey Junior World Cup in August 2013. She was also a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that toured Europe in July 2013. The SA U/21 team, of which Nicole was a member, won the Africa Cup Tournament in order to qualify for the Junior World Cup.
  • Cornelle Botha was a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that toured Europe in July 2013. The SA U/21 team, of which Cornelle was a member, won the Africa Cup Tournament in order to qualify for the Junior World Cup.
  • Lisa Hawker was a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that won the Africa Cup Tournament.
  • Izelle Lategan was not only a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that participated in the Hockey Junior World Cup in August 2013, but also captained the team. She also captained the SA U/21 Hockey team that toured Europe in July 2013 and won the Africa Cup Tournament in order to qualify for the Junior World Cup. Izelle’s outstanding performances was recognised by SAHA when she was announced as the SA Junior Hockey Player. She was also a member of the SA Senior Women’s Protea team that participated in the World Series Hockey League.
  • Tanya Brits was a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that participated in the Hockey Junior World Cup in August 2013. She was also a member of the SA U/21 Hockey team that toured Europe in July 2013 and won the Africa Cup Tournament in order to qualify for the Junior World Cup. Tanya was also a member of the SA Senior Women’s Protea team that participated in the World Series Hockey League.
  • Jacques du Toit was a member of the SA U/21 Rugby team that participated in the IRB Junior World Championships in 2013.
  • Andries Gous played as a SA U/19 Cricket player in a test series against England in January and February 2013, as well as in the One-Day Series against England during February and March 2013.
  • Wim Boshoff participated as a member of the SA U/21 team in the UFAK Africa Karate Championships in Tunisia in August 2013 where he received a bronze medal. He also participated in the Istanbul Open in Turkey in September 2013.

The KovsieSport club sport stars are:

  • Maryka Holtzhausen – Netball
  • Jaco Fourie – Hockey
  • Izelle Lategan – Hockey
  • Leonard Killeen – Cricket
  • Teboho (Oupa) Mohoje – Rugby
  • Duke Munro – Tennis
  • Christi Potgieter – Tennis
  • Ricco Sutil – Soccer
  • Choaro Khumisi – Soccer
  • Wayde van Niekerk – Athletics
  • Danelle Prinsloo - Athletics

B Category:

  • Jan Petrus van der Merwe – Aquatics
  • Elsabe le Roux – Karate
  • Tanya Basson– Judo

The USSA international participants were:

  • Wayde van Niekerk participated in the World Student Athletic Games in Russia in July 2013.
  • Gideon Trotter participated in the World Student Athletic Games in Russia in July 2013.
  • Rynhardt van Rensburg participated in the World Student Athletic Games in Russia in July 2013.
  • Dumisane Hlaselo participated in the World Student Athletic Games in Russia in July 2013.
  • Jaco Fourie participated in the World Student Hockey Games in Russia in July 2013.
  • Luke Sanan participated in the World Student Hockey Games in Russia in July 2013.
  • Robbie van Schalkwyk participated in the World Student Rugby Games in Russia in July 2013.
  • Elme de Villiers participated in the Student World Badminton Championships in Korea in November 2012.
  • Sandra le Grange participated in the Student World Badminton Championships in Korea in November 2012.

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