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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

Success of Schools Partnership Programme embodies essence of UFS
2016-01-04

Description: Schools Partnership programme Tags: Schools Partnership programme

The everyday function and subsequent success of the SPP have come to embody the very essence of the UFS: inspiring excellence; transforming lives.

Addressing the urgent need for quality education at school level, the University of the Free State (UFS) established the Schools Partnership Project (SPP) in 2012. The aim of the project has been to turn ineffective schools into institutions producing outstanding results, thereby increasing the number and quality of first-year students at the UFS.

Within three years, the SPP has grown to include 68 primary and secondary schools across the Free State and the Sterkspruit area in the Eastern Cape. The programme is headed by Dr Peet Venter and run from the UFS South Campus. Expert mentors assist teachers and principals at these schools on a weekly basis, helping them to excel at their core functions. The programme’s success has been phenomenal.

Learner results from the SPP schools show a marked improvement compared to previous years. Teachers report that they have gained a broader understanding of the subjects they teach. “The university is doing a great job with this programme,” says one of the teachers. “We have developed a lot. We really appreciate this partnership.” Teachers not only gain substantial expertise in areas of planning, presentation, and subject knowledge; an increasing number of them have been receiving promotions, too.

The principals experience similar positive results, and regard the SPP as a productive contribution to their schools. The project has also established closer cooperation between principals and schools. This enables them to achieve common goals, share knowledge, and deal with challenges together.

An added spin-off of the programme has been the increased involvement of parents and care-givers. “We experience much more involvement from the community,” says mentor Danie Nieuwenhuizen. Parents start to take it upon themselves to tidy school grounds, care for vegetable gardens, and prepare food at school feeding schemes. Even the Sustained Silent Reading programme – that supplies magazines to learners – is now having an impact on households and communities. Many homes have never had magazines or other reading material before the reading programme.

The everyday function and subsequent success of the SPP have come to embody the very essence of the UFS: inspiring excellence; transforming lives.

 

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