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28 October 2023 | Story Jóhann Thormählen

The University of the Free State (UFS) is tremendously proud of the Springboks for claiming a record fourth title and for once again having former Kovsies part of a World Cup champion side.

Jacques Nienaber – the Boks’ head coach and UFS alumnus – and his rugby team united the country when South Africa became the first team in history to win the William Webb Ellis trophy a fourth time. They are also the first South African side to win consecutive World Cup tournaments.

The UFS community celebrates this remarkable achievement with the rest of South Africa and cannot wait to welcome back the latest world champions after defeating New Zealand 12-11 in the final in Paris on Saturday (28 October 2023).

It is truly incredible! The victory means so much to our country. And for our university it also means a lot, especially with all the former Kovsies involved in the planning and execution of the whole World Cup campaign. Congratulations to the Springboks! It is awesome - Jaco Swanepoel (Head of Rugby at KovsieSport)

UFS alumni at helm

The triumph in France is also the second time in four years that a Kovsie has steered the Boks to World Cup victory. In 2019 in Japan, Rassie Erasmus was the head coach.

Erasmus still counts among a handful of former Shimlas and Kovsies in the class of 2023.

The former Springbok player, together with Nienaber, Daan Human (scrum coach), and Bongani Tim Qumbu (strength and conditioning coach) are all in the Bok management, while the former Shimla Ox Nche helped the team beat the All Blacks on the field.

The final was also the last game as head coach for Nienaber, who studied physiotherapy at the UFS and later became a coach. He will be joining the Irish club Leinster as an assistant coach.

Another UFS alumnus, Jaco Peyper, represented South Africa as a World Cup referee in 2023. He refereed his second World Cup opening match and was in charge of the quarter-final between Wales and Argentina, where he was unfortunately injured.

Jaco Swanepoel, Head of Rugby at KovsieSport, congratulated the Springboks. He said it takes determination, planning, and hard work – from the players, coaches, and all involved.

“It is truly incredible! The victory means so much to our country,” he said.

“And for our university it also means a lot, especially with all the former Kovsies involved in the planning and execution of the whole World Cup campaign.”

“Congratulations to the Springboks! It is awesome!”

Kovsies part of all four World Cup victories

The UFS not only had former Kovsies in the 2023 Bok side, but also in all three previous South African World Cup winning teams (1995, 2007, and 2019) – either as players or team management.

“The UFS Rugby Club is very proud of the Springboks, and of course the former Kovsies involved, for winning the World Cup again,” said Marius van Rensburg, UFS Rugby Club Chairman.

He said a Bok jersey from the 2007 World Cup winning team, signed by all the UFS alumni involved, is part of the memorabilia in the Shimla Room at Shimla Park.

“It would be great if we could get another Springbok jersey – signed by all the Kovsies who won the 2023 World Cup –to add to our collection.

News Archive

UFS awarded R3,6-million to train court interpreters
2008-05-15

 
 At the training session for court interpreters that took place on the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein recently are, from the left, front: Ms Zandile Mtolo, Pietermaritzburg, Ms Lindiwe Gamede, Bethlehem; back: Mr Sipho Majombozi, Port Shepstone, Prof. Lotriet, and Mr Mzi Nombewu, Upington. The four learners are working at their respective magistrates courts.
Photo: Lacea Loader

UFS awarded R3,6-million to train court interpreters

A contract to the value of R3,6-million has been awarded to the University of the Free State (UFS) to train court interpreters throughout South Africa.

The contract was awarded to the Department of Afro-asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice at the UFS by the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA).

“We are the only tertiary institution in the country that offers a national diploma in court interpreting. It provides a unique opportunity to court interpreters to be trained by a group of eight lecturers who are experts in the field,” says Prof. Annelie Lotriet, associate professor at the Department of Afro-asiatic Studies, Sign Language and Language Practice.

Prof. Lotriet is an internationally renowned interpreting expert who was also responsible for the training of interpreters for the former Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

According to Prof. Lotriet no co-ordinated training programmes for court interpreters existed and there was also no control over the training processes. The programme, initiated by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, is managed by the SASSETA. “It is the first time that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development initiates such an extensive training programme for court interpreters,” says Prof. Lotriet.

The group of 100 court interpreters on the programme are from all over the country. Of the group, ten are unemployed learners who interpret for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on an ad-hoc basis.

The programme, which stretches over two years, comprises of theoretical and service training. Contact sessions take place in Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Cape Town, four times a year for two weeks at a time. The second contact session for Bloemfontein was recently completed.

“Learners are nominated by their regional offices. The programme consists of interpreting theory, interpreting practice and basic law subjects. The training material is developed and written by the SASSETA and facilitated and presented by the UFS. The learners interpret in all the 11 languages. Some of them can speak a couple of languages each,” says Prof. Lotriet.

“Everything is going very well with the programme and we are receiving a lot of positive feedback from the learners. This first group is an experiment and it depends on their success whether the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will expand the programme,” says Prof. Lotriet.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
15 May 2008 
 

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