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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

New residences open on Bloemfontein Campus
2013-01-21

 

Photo: Johan Roux
21 January 2013



Beginning 2013, the Bloemfontein Campus is seeing the opening of two new residences where male and female students will be housed under one roof but in separate units. Each residence will house 250 students.

House ConLaurês and House Outeniqua were opened for their first-years and Residence Committee (RC) on Friday 18 January 2013. The two newly Residence Heads, Mr Frank Makhabane (ConLaurês) and Mrs Leani Wimble (Outeniqua) welcomed the new residents.

The uniqueness of these residences is that they will be the first co-ed residences on campus. These residences are wheel chair friendly with fully equipped disabled rooms available. All signage has also been done in Braille. Each floor of the new residences has two lounges, as well as a fully fitted kitchen.

The Prime of House ConLaurês, Sherilyn Roelofse, says, “We aim to create a living space that is holistic and welcoming and will allow our residence members to be able to excel in a number of things”. Sherilyn says ConLaurês comes from the word “Condo Laurus”, which means dreams of victory. The House’s slogan is “The Symphony of Dreams”. Students came up with the name for the residence.

Tsatsi Mokoena, RC member responsible for RAG at House ConLaurês says RC members have been working hard for the past few months, trying to imagine how to do things without a physical structure. ConLaurês will be a residence with an inspirational living space where each student feels welcome, respected for who they are and at home, so that they will have the confidence to follow their dreams.”

The Prime of Outeniqua, Vusumzi Mesatywa says, “Change is always welcome and that is the mindset that we will be embracing as the new residences. When a student graduates, we need them to graduate not only as academics, but also as humans, holistic beings”.

Marla Stanier, RC First-Year Mentor at Outeniqua, says that new experiences await every student that walks through the doors of the residence. “As excited as we are, this new experience will test us in many ways.However, if we stand together as one, we will succeed.”

Mr Quintin Koetaan, Director of Housing and Residence Affairs, says, “The opening of ConLaurês and Outeniqua is a dream come true, providing accommodation for a new generation of students in the 21st Century”.

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