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15 September 2022 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo UFS Photo Gallery
Representatives of the UFS Law Clinic and the Free State Centre for Human Rights
Representatives of the UFS Law Clinic and the Free State Centre for Human Rights recently visited Thaba 'Nchu and Dewetsdorp to empower women by educating them about their Constitutional rights.
With September being Heritage Month, South Africans are reflecting on where we come from. During this time, many look back at how far we have travelled, and how much further we still need to go. 

Gender-based violence, a constant stain on the fabric of our society, means any celebratory moments are tempered by the need to interrogate where we are going wrong. Dr Rita Ozoemena, Senior Lecturer at the Free State Centre for Human Rights (FSCHR), has reminded South Africans that we can take comfort from at least one certainty: “The Constitution is a living heritage of all South Africans that has provided for the protection of all persons, including women’s rights,” she said.

Living traditionally ever after

At a recent community engagement programme the University of the Free State Law Clinic and the FSCHR visited Thaba 'Nchu and Dewetsdorp to empower women by educating them about their rights as protected in the Constitution. Experts explored the theme ‘Women’s Rights and Customary Law Marriages’.

Having a living heritage in the form of the Constitution gives a voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless, the audience heard. In the case of customary law, Dr Ozoemena said, “Lobola forms part of the conclusion of a customary marriage. The ‘handing over’ of a bride is an aspect of custom and practice. Young girls under the age of 18 cannot be married under customary law.” 

She added that women of legal age who wish to live ‘traditionally ever after’ need to “ensure that their marriage complies with the requirements set out in Section 3 of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, and also make certain that the customary marriage is registered with the Department of Home Affairs to avoid unintended consequences.”

Customary law is our heritage

On 27 and 28 October 2022 the FSCHR will host a conference titled ‘African Customary Law and Transformation: Towards a Gender Responsive Approach’. Since African customary law is an integral part of the post-1994 South African legal system, the conference will focus on the South African transformation project and how it has influenced the development of African customary law in marriage.  

Robust discussions will hone in on topics around feminist jurisprudence in African customary law; customary marriage in South Africa and its future; the role of rituals in customary law; gender equality and African customary law; and women and traditional leadership.

News Archive

Researcher shares platform with Nobel Laureate at conference on nanomedicine
2013-01-10

Prof. Lodewyk Kock at the Everest viewpoint with Mount Everest behind him.
10 January 2013

Profs. Lodewyk Kock and Robert Bragg from the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the University of the Free State (UFS) both presented lectures at the first International Conference on Infectious Diseases and Nanomedicine that was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, late last year.

At the conference, also attended by senior representatives from the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS), Prof. Kock delivered one of the two opening lectures, titled: Introducing New Nanotechnologies to Infectious Diseases (the other opening lecture was presented by Nobel Laureate, Prof. Barry J. Marshal). Prof. Kock also participated in the farewell address.

In two excellent lectures, Prof. Bragg spoke on Bacteriophages as potential treatment option of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and on Bacterial resistance to quaternary ammonium compounds.

For Prof. Kock this very first conference on infectious diseases and nanomedicine was followed by a very exciting yeast research excursion through the Mount Everest Highway which winds through the villages of the Sherpa tribe.

He describes his journey: “The Mount Everest Highway is a rough road stretching through hills and glacial moraines of unfamiliar altitudes and cold temperatures. Throughout the journey I had to take care of not contracting altitude sickness which causes severe headaches and dizziness.

“The only way of transport is on foot, on long-haired cattle called Yaks, donkeys and by helicopter. After flying by plane from Kathmandu (the capital of Nepal), I landed at Lukla, regarded as the most dangerous airport in the world due to its short elevated runway and mountainous surroundings. From Lukla, the land of the Sherpa, I walked (trekked) with my Sherpa guide and porter (carrier) along the Everest Highway surrounded by various Buddhist Mani scripture stands, other Buddhist representations and many spectacular snow-tipped mountains of more than 6 000 m above sea level. Of these, the majestic mountain called Ama Dablam (6 812 m), the grand 8 516 m high peak of Lhotse and to its left the renowned Mount Everest at 8 848 m in height, caught my attention.

“Dwarfed by these mountain peaks on the horizon, I passed various villages until I eventually reached the beautiful village called Namche Bazar, the heart of the Khumbu region and hometown of the Sherpa. This took three days of up to six hours walking per day, while I spent the nights at the villages of Phakding and Monjo. From there I walked along the Dudh Kosi River which stretches towards Mount Everest, until I reached the high altitude Everest viewpoint – the end of my journey, after which I trekked back to Lukla to return to Kathmandu and South Africa.

“This expedition is the first exploration to determine the presence of yeasts in the Everest region. Results from this excursion will be used in collaborative projects with local universities in Nepal that are interested in yeast research.”

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