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20 September 2023 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Supplied
UFS KovsieCare GBV 2023
KovsiesCare and say no to gender-based violence.

The University of the Free State (UFS) maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based violence (GBV), recognising it as a severe violation of human rights that detrimentally impacts physical, sexual, reproductive, mental, and social well-being on a global scale. Prevalent manifestations of GBV encompass sexual harassment (including unwanted physical contact, sexual remarks, and comments targeting individuals or groups), rape, cyberbullying, stalking, voyeurism, stealthing, femicide, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault.

#KovsiesCare GBV campaign

In response to the pressing demand for increased awareness and proactive measures against GBV across all three UFS campuses, the KovsiesCare campaign was conceived. The primary objective of this initiative is to educate, raise awareness, and equip students with resources to access information concerning GBV and other forms of violence frequently experienced by marginalised student communities, including persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQQIAAPD+ communities, and persons from the diverse gender spectrum.

Gernus Terblanche, the Campaign Lead and Research Assistant at Kovsie Support Services within the Division of Student Affairs, elaborated on the overarching goal of the campaign, stating, "Our mission is to enlighten students about the array of available resources across our campuses and to ensure that they are well-informed about the procedures in place for addressing GBV at the UFS."

To provide valuable insights into the involvement of Support Services offices in combating GBV and violence against marginalised groups, an activation event is scheduled for 22 September 2023. This event will facilitate engagement between students and diverse stakeholders. The KovsiesCare GBV activation is made possible through collaboration with key entities such as the Division of Student Affairs, the Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Office, the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support, and the Department of Protection Services.

Join the KovsiesCare GBV activation:

Date: 22 September 2023
Time: 11:00-15:00

Venue: Thakaneng Bridge, Bloemfontein Campus

For additional information, please contact Gernus Terblanche at TerblancheGIDP@ufs.ac.za.

News Archive

Prof Steyn to receive Jan H Marais Prize in Stellenbosch
2017-05-09

Description: Prof Jaap Steyn Tags: Prof Jaap Steyn

Prof Jaap Steyn, who started his career as
journalist at Volksblad, later entered the academy,
and was a professor at the University of the
Free State for many years.
Photo: Marthie Kemp

Although Prof Jaap Steyn will be honoured officially for his contribution to Afrikaans as an academic language at the end of this month, he only became aware of his nomination after he had won the award.

According to this research fellow in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French at the University of the Free State (UFS), he is grateful for the recognition. He has recently been awarded the Jan H Marais Prize for his outstanding contribution to Afrikaans.

Former Kovsie honoured together with Prof Jan van der Watt
According to a statement by the South African Academy for Science and Arts, the award was jointly made to Prof Steyn, who is probably the best-known South African language historian, and Prof Jan van der Watt van Nijmegen from the Netherlands. The prize money of R500 000, which they will share, will be presented in Stellenbosch on 30 May 2017.

Prof Steyn is a former Kovsie, who was a research professor at the UFS from 1985 to 1997, and at the age of 78 is still a research fellow. “After the announcement of the prize, I learnt that I was nominated by two of my colleagues,” he says.

His most difficult work was probably also his best
Over the past 50 years several of his publications, biographies, and books have seen the light. He believes that nothing one does is perfect. His most difficult work was the biography of NP van Wyk Louw. “It was probably also my best work,” he says. “The book I enjoyed working on most, was the biography of the author MER, or ME Rothmann.”

Prof Steyn has also received awards such as the Stals Prize, the Louis Hiemstra Prize, the NP van Wyk Louw medal, and honorary membership from the South African Academy for Science and Arts.

He says the staff in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French are very friendly and helpful to still render him assistance as a research fellow.


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