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27 June 2023 Photo Kaleidoscope Studios
Katleho Lechoo
Katleho Lechoo is a Football Administrator at Kovsie Sport.

The University of the Free State (UFS) is celebrating Youth Month by showcasing the positive influence of the institution on career development. As part of this initiative, we are sharing the stories of UFS alumni who are now working at the university.

Katleho Lechoo, Football Administrator at Kovsie Sport, shares his UFS journey:

 

Q: Year of graduation from the UFS:

A: 2019, 2020.

Q: Qualification obtained from the UFS:

A: Bachelor of Political Sciences and a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology.

Q: Date of joining the UFS as a staff member:

A: 2021.

Q: Initial job title and current job title:

A: Then: Student Reach Assistant, International Office. Now: Football Administrator, Kovsie Sport.

Q: How did the UFS prepare you for the professional world?

A: The UFS offers great support and networking systems, allowing you to gel in the world of employment and ups and downs without any fear.   It further allows you to tap into a space of intellectuals and experts in different fields, who are more than ready and willing to step in and guide you throughout the process.  This can only be enabled if you are willing to engage throughout the time spent.

Q: What are your thoughts on transitioning from a UFS alumnus to a staff member?

A: The transition, like any other workplace or environment, has its challenges and bearing.  Plus, you get an idea of what the university is like.  Unlike being a student – there is little pressure compared to the pressure you would get as a staff member.  So, the best thing to do is to prepare yourself.  Accept that environments change, and you are here to work to the best of your ability and deliver results as expected.

Q: Any additional comments about your experience?

A: I was recently elected as the youngest Institutional Forum member at the University of the Free State.  A position I look at and remind myself that, apart from my ordinary position at the university, I also have an opportunity to contribute and influence the space positively and otherwise to its benefit.  I wake up knowing that I have yet another day to do good unto others as I would expect from them.  And to sum up my experience thus far?  As Roy T Bennett simply puts it: “Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience.”

News Archive

Q and A with Prof Hussein Solomon on ‘Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa’
2015-05-29

 

Political Science lecturer, Prof Hussein Solomon, has launched his latest book, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa: fighting insurgency from Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine and Boko Haram, on Wednesday 26 May 2015 at the UFS.

In his book, Solomon talks about the growing terrorist threat in Africa, with the likes of Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine, and Boko Haram exploiting Africa's vulnerabilities to expand their operations. Explaining both the limitations of current counter-terrorist strategies and possible future improvements, this timely study can be appreciated by scholars and practitioners alike.

Q: If you speak of Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine, and Boko Haram expanding operations, do you see possibilities for their expansion even into South Africa, or is expansion mainly focused on northern African countries?
 
A: All three movements are operating out of their respective countries. Al Shabaab has attacked Kenya and Uganda and tried to attack the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. So yes, there is a danger that they are here and, more importantly, newer groups like ISIS are recruiting in SA already.
 
Q: If the traditional military response is ineffective, what would be a better approach then?

 
A:
What is important is that the force of arms needs to complement the force of ideas. What is being waged is an ideological battle, and, just as the West defeated Communism ideologically in the Cold War, we need to defeat radical Islamism ideologically. In addition, the military response needs to complement the governance and development responses.
 
Q: External players like the US have insufficient knowledge of the context, what would be the knowledge about context necessary for anyone concerned about the terror problem in Africa?
 
A: Allow me to give you some examples. The US trains African militaries to fight terrorist groups, but, when they return to their countries, they stage a coup and topple the civilian government. The US does not seem to understand that arming a predatory military and training them makes them more predatory and brutal, which results in civilians being recruited by terrorists, as happened in Mali. Similarly, the US sent arms to the Somali government, and members of that government sold those arms to Al Shabaab terrorists, the very people they were supposed to fight. So the Americans do not understand the criminalisation of the African state, which undermines good governance and promotes terrorism.

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