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Steadily increasing PhDs among UFS academics

26 April 2023 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Charl Devenish

Faculty of Law doctoral recipients produce impactful research and increase the number of UFS academic staff with PhDs. From the left; Dr Martie Bloem; Dr Kudzai Mpofu, and Dr Anthea-Lee September-Van Huffel.

Our vision is that by 2034, the proportion of academic staff with PhDs will increase to 75%. With each graduation ceremony, the University of the Free State (UFS) is moving closer to making this a reality. Our aspirations of becoming a research-led institution that prides itself on academic excellence, quality, and impact, are outlined in Vision 130, which is the strategic intent to reposition the UFS for its 130th anniversary.

This year’s April graduation saw a general total of 94 PhDs being conferred, which is a significant growth compared to the 84 conferred during last year’s April graduation ceremonies.

On 20 April 2023, three of the ten candidates conferred the new title of ‘Dr’ by the Faculty of Law, were UFS academic staff. Dr Kudzai Mpofu (Research Assistant in the Department of Mercantile Law), Dr Anthea-Lee September-Van Huffel (Private Law lecturer), and Dr Martie Bloem (Private Law lecturer) were just a few of many UFS academics to receive their doctoral degrees this autumn.

Saving small businesses through quality research

Dr Mpofu's study contributes to the development of business rescue legislation aimed at restructuring small businesses in financial distress. He used a comparative research methodology to evaluate the business rescue models of small enterprises in Kenya, the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa.

In his thesis, titled: A business rescue model for unincorporated business entities in South Africa, he proposed a business rescue model that provides eligibility criteria, a procedural framework consisting of a step-by-step rescue process, and an institutional framework addressing the roles/duties of the debtor, business rescue practitioner, and the judiciary in ensuring that unincorporated business entities are rehabilitated.

Part of the Vision 130 plan is to enhance research capacity and capabilities by placing a greater emphasis on the balance between research, teaching, and learning for impact. Dr Mpofu is driven by the desire to make an impact.

“I am motivated to use my expertise and research to make a positive impact on society. I look forward to applying my research findings to real-world problems, engaging with policy makers, industry professionals, and community organisations, and making meaningful contributions to society through my academic work,” he said.

Interrogating government’s regulation of South Africa’s natural resources

Dr September-Van Huffel’s research study, titled: A critical investigation of state custodianship and its implications for the South African property regime, evaluates the potential for change in the interaction between the government as public trustee or custodian and private property holders as far as land reform is concerned.

Her thesis investigates a state custodianship approach to rural agricultural land, particularly within the context of land reform initiatives and increased regulatory control over natural resources such as water, minerals, and land for public interest; and the efficacy of the construct of state custodianship should it be applied to land as a natural resource. Her research considers the socio-political basis for the legal construct of state custodianship, and whether this novel construct has proven capable of delivering transformative outcomes such as equitable redistribution.

Advocating for diversity to transform the legal system

With her thesis, titled: The requirement of ‘fit and proper’ for the legal profession: a South African perspective, Dr Bloem challenges the entry criteria for practising law.

“With this thesis, I challenge the current understanding and application of the ‘fit and proper’ requirement for admission to legal practice, finding that it is superficial and one-dimensional. I argue for the re-imagining of the requirement to allow for diversity and for the critical thinking needed to enable transformation of the legal profession.”

Dr Bloem adds, “The study draws a direct link between objectives such as public interest, access to justice, and social justice. I also propose that being ‘fit and proper’ should be a continuous responsibility of all legal professionals and informed by constitutional values, not mere compliance with fixed rules of conduct. With this thesis, I intend to contribute to the transformation of the legal profession as well as legal education.”

News Archive

Kovsie artists to rock at Vryfees

2014-06-18

Photo: Conrad Bornman

It is the dead of winter in the heart of the Free State. The Vryfees is laying full steam ahead.

However, the talent that makes of this annual arts festival such a phenomenal success doesn’t only come from outside of our Bloemfontein Campus. This year’s productions will abound with performances by Kovsie staff, students and alumni from our Department of Drama and Theatre Arts.

Behind the scenes, our people will also play a vital role in the achievement and progress of the festival. Prof Luwes is a member of the festival committee and together with Dr Venter and Godfrey Manenye, he also serves on the artistic selection committee for theatre.

Thys Heydenrych, lecturer in the above department, was appointed as the technical manager of this year’s Vryfees. This means that he is in charge of the placement and assigning of venues for productions on campus. All the technical aspects for these venues rest on Heydenrych’s shoulders. For this huge task, he is supported by a team of technical staff which includes mostly students.

Take a look at the list of all our Kovsie artists who are working hard to make the 2014 Vryfees better than ever:

Don Juan onder die Boere
Lecturers: Walter Strydom, Gerben Kamper (director),
Students: Mark Dobson, Michael Garbett, Helet de Wet
Former students: Marijda Kamper (Wynand Mouton theatre manager), Ilne Fourie, Hilletje Möller, Chanmari Erasmus, Michelle Hoffman, An-Mari Loots, Madré van Straten

S(t)out en Peper
Lecturers: Dr Pieter Venter (director), Thys Heydenrych
Former students: Ilne Fourie, Michelle Hoffman

Nag van die Hiëna
Head of Department: Prof Nico Luwes (author and director)
Lecturers: Gerben Kamper, Minette Grové
Former students: Carel Nel, Lindy-Lee Kleynhans, Ilne Fourie, Angelo Mockie (staff member at Student Affairs)
Student: Peter Taljaard (PhD student)

Rondomskrik
Former student: Chrystal-Donna Roberts (currently Pasella presenter and previously on the set of 7de Laan)

Slaaf
Former student: Carel Nel

Te Veel vir ? Coloured Girl
Former students: Angelo Mockie (staff member at Student Affairs), Olivie Sauer

The Bar
Lecturer: Godfrey Manenye (director)
Former students: Angela Edwards, Jane Mpholo
Students: Yoliswa Jacobs and Luandro Carstens

Victoria se Geheim
Lecturer: Dr Pieter Venter (director)
Former students: Chanmari Erasmus, Carel Nel, Gené McCaskill, Michelle Hetzel
Students: Helet de Wet, Marli van der Bijl (NRF Magister Intern), Jana Coetzer, Marnel Bester

Een Kleine Lientjie
Lecturer: Walter Strydom
Former student: Anna Visser (author and director, OFM presenter)
Students: Marli van der Bijl, Charl Henning, Jana Coetzer

For more information on the productions or the Vryfees programme, follow this link:
http://www.vryfees.co.za/

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