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23 October 2023 | Story Carmenita Redcliffe-Paul

The University of the Free State (UFS) and the South African Chamber of Commerce United Kingdom (SACC UK) are pleased to invite you to the next conversation of the Global Citizen Series.

SACC UK representative, Director of Mindofafox, futurist, and bestselling author, Chantell Ilbury, will facilitate this thought-provoking and engaging conversation between UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Francis Petersen, and President and Chief Executive of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), Rohitesh Dhawan.

The discussion will explore the strategic priorities and breakthroughs in the mining and metals industry in relation to critical areas of climate and environmental resilience, social performance, governance, ethics and transparency, and innovation for sustainability. 

Dhawan, a Fellow and faculty member of the Africa Leadership Initiative, will reflect on leadership through collaboration to enhance the contribution of mining and metals towards sustainable development, security of minerals within a changing geopolitical environment and the progress that is possible when citizens collectively focus on improving the lives of others and our planet.

Participate in the Global Citizen event in person or online via live stream. 

Kindly RSVP on the links below and indicate your preferred method of participation.

Join the Global Citizen in person in London, United Kingdom

Date: Wednesday, 8 November 2023 
Time: 17:30-19:30
Venue: SOAS Brunei Gallery – SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Sq, London WC1B 5DQ, United Kingdom
RSVP: Friday, 27 October 2023 
Enquiries: Adrienne Hall E: adrienne@creative-partnerships.co.uk or T: +44 7469 219157

Light refreshments will be served after the event.

Join the Global Citizen event online

Date: Wednesday, 8 November 2023 
SA time 20:00-21:00 SAST
UK time 18:00-19:00 GMT
RSVP here by Friday, 3 November 2023 

The live stream link will be shared upon RSVP.

About Rohitesh Dhawan

Rohitesh Dhawan was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of ICMM in April 2021. He is passionate about the transformative power of mining, particularly in emerging markets where he has spent two-thirds of his life. Dhawan is a Fellow and faculty member of the Africa Leadership Initiative and a Raisina fellow of the Asian Forum on Global Governance. He serves on the advisory boards of the Columbia Centre on Sustainable Investment, Concordia, and Resolve.  

Read more about Rohitesh Dhawan here.

News Archive

UFS Faculty of Theology hosts expert on African Traditional Religion (ATR)
2016-05-20

Description: African Traditional Religion  Tags: African Traditional Religion

Dr Nokuzola Mndende, Prof Fanie Snyman (Dean of the Faculty of Theology), and Dr Luvuyo Ntombana (Department Head: Religion Studies)

Dr Nokuzola Mndende, an acclaimed theologian, researcher, and practitioner of African Traditional Religion (ATR), is often called upon in the media to offer her expert opinion or participate in interfaith panel discussions. Thanks to an initiative from the postgraduate diploma class in the Faculty of Theology and the efforts of Dr Luvuyo Ntombana (Department Head: Religion Studies; Faculty of Theology), Dr Mndende accepted an invitation to present her paper, “From the periphery to the centre: African Traditional Religion in a democratic state”, on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS). In his opening remarks, Dr Ntombana stated that he was heartened by his students’ desire to be “co-workers in knowledge production” by engaging with Dr Mndende.

Dr Mndende’s contention is that African Traditional Religion (ATR) was suppressed throughout colonial times, and, despite a 22-year-old democracy, continues to be moved to “beyond the periphery” by what she terms “spiritual subsets”; those who strive to amalgamate their African Traditional Religion rituals with the practices of Christianity. Quoting statistics from a 1995 survey by the SABC, she stated that ATR is a minority in its birthplace (with only 5% representation), and posed the question: “If ATR is a minority in its place of birth, where is it a majority?” Her presentation put forward the need to study and interpret ATR introspectively, but acknowledged that more “homework” would be needed in this regard.

Dr Mndende thanked the university, Dr Ntombana, and the Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Prof Fanie Snyman, for inviting her, and expressed a desire for the relationship with the UFS to continue.

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