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03 November 2023 | Story André Damons | Photo SUPPLIED
SDG Competition 2023
From left: Dr Brandon van Rooyen, Dr Anathi Makamane, Dr Yolandi Schoeman and Daniel Naudé participated and won the SDG Challenge South Africa. Pieter Bruwer is absent from the photo.

A team of exceptional students from the University of the Free State (UFS) has claimed victory in the prestigious SDG Challenge South Africa, a global competition that unites students and organisations to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). This remarkable achievement not only underscores the skill and dedication of UFS students but also reinforces their commitment to forging a more sustainable and equitable world.

The group of students from different disciplines within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS), came up with an interdisciplinary and forward-thinking approach which contributed significantly to their victory. The team members, including Pieter Bruwer, Dr Anathi Makamane, Dr Brandon van Rooyen (all from Sustainable Food Systems and Development), Daniel Naudé (Department of Agriculture Economics), as well as Dr Yolandi Schoeman (a postdoctoral fellow in the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM) from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, each brought their unique expertise to the challenge.

Prof Jan Willem Swanepoel, Associate Professor in the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development within the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, provided invaluable mentorship to the team. The students were also supported by Robyn Mellett from OMI Solutions.

Dr Schoeman says the SDG Challenge, designed to confront global challenges, connects students and organisations from across the globe, fostering collaboration towards achieving the UNSDGs, which encompass critical issues such as climate change and the reduction of global inequalities. Teams from South African universities, including the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, partnered with leading companies to address specific challenges tied to their corporate missions.

Develop a waste management strategy

Team UFS joined forces with Ivanhoe Mines, a prominent mining company operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo to develop a waste management strategy for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. This endeavour was laden with complexities due to the limited waste management options available in the area. The challenge was not just about managing multiple waste streams from the mining complex, but also about addressing socioeconomic and biodiversity challenges stemming from the burgeoning population in the region, which led to a range of environmental concerns.

“In response, the UFS team innovatively conceived ÉcoFlotille, a solution that not only tackled essential waste management issues but also promoted biodiversity net gain. The plan extended its reach to support local agribusinesses and small and micro-enterprises through the repurposing and reuse of waste materials, while presenting a unique biofinancing opportunity. The EcoFlotille solution represents a distinctive aspect of their triumphant journey.

“ÉcoFlotille not only aligns with the SDGs but also plays a crucial role in realising the vision of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which emphasises the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Additionally, it aligns with the goals of Agenda 2063 for Africa, striving to advance the continent’s development objectives and create a prosperous and harmonious future for the region,” says Dr Schoeman. 

The scalability of ÉcoFlotille across Africa holds great promise. Its innovative waste management approach and biofinancing potential could serve as a model for addressing similar challenges in diverse regions of the continent. This opens up opportunities for wider adoption and positive impacts throughout Africa.

Creating a more sustainable and equitable world

The SDG Challenge South Africa is an integral part of Soapbox’s global mission to mobilise university students and organisations in working collaboratively toward the UNSDG. These goals aim to address the world’s most pressing challenges, requiring collective efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion by 2030.

The UFS’s remarkable success in the SDG Challenge not only highlights the university’s dedication to fostering global citizenship and sustainability but also underscores the remarkable potential of its students in driving positive change in Africa and the world.

According to Dr Schoeman, the UFS team’s victory in the SDG Challenge stands as a testament to their unwavering commitment to creating a more sustainable and equitable world. Their innovative solution, ÉcoFlotille, serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating how the vigour and ingenuity of the younger generation can propel us closer to realising the UNSDG by 2030, effectively ticking all 17 SDG boxes.

Solving a real-world problem

Prof Swanepoel says the SDG Challenge is a global competition that unites students and organisations to address the UNSDGs. These goals encompass some of the most pressing challenges facing our world today, such as climate change, poverty, and inequality.

According to him, by participating in the SDG Challenge, the UFS students had the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to solve a real-world problem experienced by one of the biggest mining houses in the world. They gained valuable experience in collaborating with the private sector.

“I am immensely proud of the students' achievement in the prestigious Soapbox SDG Challenge South Africa. Their interdisciplinary approach and forward-thinking mindset are a testament to the calibre of education and mentorship they receive at the UFS,” Prof Swanepoel says. 

“Furthermore, I am confident that the skills and experience gained through the SDG Challenge will help the students to make a positive impact on the world. They are the next generation of leaders who will be responsible for addressing the complex social and environmental challenges Africa face. I also believe that coming out as victors in this competition would open more doors for them and the university in the private sector.”

News Archive

Medical screening tests can help detect health risks at an early stage
2013-09-09

09 September 2013

It is once again time for the annual medical screening tests done by the Centre for Health and Wellness, which helps staff at the University of the Free State to watch their health.

All staff members are invited to participate and to find out how healthy they really are.

Dr Anette Prins, Deputy Director of the Centre for Health and Wellness, says their aim this year is to get every staff member to go for a checkup.

“For this reason, the tests will be done on different days and in different buildings. In this way, we take the test to the staff and they don’t have to come to a particular point as was done in the past.”
According to Discovery Health’s Healthy Company Index for 2013, in which the UFS also participated, about half of South African employees suffer from four or more health risk factors (blood pressure, obesity). The worst is that almost 70% of employees in this group believe that they are both fit and healthy. Fifty-three percent of those employees do not go for the essential preventative health checkups.

However, this picture may change as a result of the annual medical screening tests for staff of the UFS, because risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and high blood sugar levels can be detected at an early stage.

The tests take about 30 minutes per person and include a physical test, as well as an electronic questionnaire. The entire process is very confidential.

This year there are also prizes up for grabs, such as a Nexa Polaris 7.0 tablet and travel bags, during each session.

TIME

Monday
9 September

Tuesday
10 September

Wednesday
11 September

Thursday
12 September

Friday
13 September

09:00 – 12:00 Winkie Direko Building, K139 Agriculture Building, Lecture Hall B and C Physical Resources Hall

Stef Coetzee Building,Committee Room

Agriculture Building, K8
12:00 – 15:30 Flippie Groenewoud Building, Lapa
  • Flippie Groenewoud Building K110
  • 12:00 - 14:00 Main Building K16
George du Toit Building, Large Committee Room (3rd floor)

Francois Retief Building, Reception area

Sasol Library, K 433

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