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22 September 2023 | Story Supplied | Photo Supplied
Mogotsi
Milton Mogotsi, a PhD student in Medical Virology, won the Dr Lehlohonolo Mathengtheng Trophy at the Faculty of Health Sciences’ Faculty Research Forum.

Milton Mogotsi, a PhD student in Medical Virology, was awarded the Dr Lehlohonolo Mathengtheng Trophy at the recently held Faculty of Health Sciences’ Faculty Research Forum. 

Mogotsi was the recipient of the trophy for best presentation by a PhD student in the laboratory category. He is supervised by Prof Martin Nyaga, Associate Professor in the Division of Virology and Head of UFS-NGS Unit, and co-supervised by Prof Trudi O’Neill, Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry.

The Research Forum offers staff members and postgraduate students an opportunity to present the results of their research. The Faculty Research Forum aims to provide a platform to disseminate outputs and findings of all the research conducted in the faculty, and to also provide junior researchers/postgraduate students exposure.

Results of his study 

Mogotsi presented the results of his PhD study titled “Longitudinal gut virome analysis provides insights into early gut colonisation and temporal dynamics in paediatric subjects from the Free State Province, South Africa”. His research sought to understand the longitudinal evolution of viruses colonising the gastrointestinal tract of infants during their first year of life. In this study, metagenomic next generation sequencing was performed on faecal specimens collected longitudinally from a cohort of 17 infants during their first six months. These infants were recruited from three public hospitals around Bloemfontein after consent was attained from the mothers. 

The results of this study revealed that the guts of infants are highly colonised by diverse and dynamic viral communities, formed by a richness of different viruses infecting humans, predominantly those that are associated with gastroenteritis in children. These pathogenic agents were detected as early as one day old and increasing in abundance and diversity over time, even in the absence of clinical manifestations. 

The detection of such pathogenic viruses highlights the importance of screening for intestinal pathogens at an early age to close existing gaps and enhance the effectiveness of current treatment. In addition, the detection of viruses of unknown origin in faeces of infants underscores the need to extend sampling to mothers to better understand transmission patterns of such pathogens. Importantly, interventions to improve water quality, sanitation, and hygiene at the household level would be very impactful in minimising viral transmissions to infants and reducing the high childhood morbidities and mortalities in Africa.

A great honour

“As an emerging research virologist, presenting at such forums provides me with a platform to introduce my research, but also presents the opportunity to initiate discussions with other researchers, and exchange ideas that can help improve my future scientific approaches,” says Mogotsi. 

“Being awarded the Dr Lehlohonolo Mathengtheng Trophy is such a great honour, and it came at the right time when I’m near completion of my PhD. It has really motivated me to work even harder and make sure I obtain this qualification. However, this would not have been possible without the guidance and support from my supervisor, Prof Nyaga. I want to thank him for giving me the opportunity to conduct this research project under his supervision. The continued support and encouragement from my colleagues in the UFS-Next Generation Sequencing Unit is also highly appreciated,” he concludes.

Mogotsi is finalising the write-up of his PhD thesis which he will be submitting in November 2023 for examination and is also preparing manuscripts for submission in high-impact internationally recognised peer-review journals. 

Other winners:

  • John van der Riet Medal Winners

Robyn Smith, Veronica Ntsiea, Stephen Brown, and Joanne Potterton, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, UFS.

Pre-operative neurodevelopmental assessment in young children undergoing cardiac surgery in central South Africa: feasibility and clinical value.

  • Muller Potgieter Medal Winners

Johannes van den Heever, Christiaan Jordaan, Angelique Lewies, Dreyer Bester, Jacqueline Goedhals, Lezelle Botes, Pascall Dohmen, and Francis Smit, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, UFS.

Comparison of the function and structural integrity of cryopreserved pulmonary homografts versus decellularised pulmonary homografts after 180 days implantation in the juvenile ovine model.

  • Kerneels Nel Medal Winners 

Lizemari Hugo-Van Dyk, Champion Nyoni, Margaret Williams, and Benjamin Botha, School of Nursing, UFS.

Preceptor support during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations for continuing development.

News Archive

UFS committed to transformation
2005-02-23

UFS committed to transformation

The management of the University of the Free State (UFS) takes note that plans are being made to stage a student protest at the UFS main campus on Monday 28 February 2005 .

This is in line with a concerted national campaign to highlight the issue of transformation at higher education institutions.

At this stage the UFS management has not received any application from student formations to stage such a protest at the main campus in Bloemfontein .

The UFS upholds the right of all staff and students to hold legal, non-violent protests and in this spirit encourages the student formations to apply for permission to hold their protest. However, the UFS management has been - and always will be willing to discuss the important issue of transformation of the UFS with staff unions and student formations.

Again the UFS management appeals to student formations to make use of this open door policy and not to adopt a confrontational position. In fact the management and the Senate of the UFS have come out in support of a new phase of transformation at the UFS.

In his speech at the official opening of the UFS earlier this month (on 4 February 2005 ), the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, announced that a comprehensive transformation plan for would be drafted for the UFS.

This Transformation Plan would address issues such as:

  • a new institutional culture for the UFS
  • the need for representivity in the staffing of the UFS
  • ensuring relevance of curricula for the South African and African context
  • enhancing excellence in the overall academic life of the UFS
  • ensuring greater interaction among black and white students and staff
  • addressing outstanding issues in the incorporation of the Qwaqwa and Vista campuses, among others

Concerning some of the issues that are being put forward to motivate for a protest march, the UFS would like to highlight the following facts:

  1. The situation at the Qwaqwa campus
  • It is not true that the UFS has decided to close down the Qwaqwa campus. This is a complete falsehood. The campus was incorporated into the UFS in January 2003 and since then every effort is being made to ensure the viability of the Qwaqwa campus.
  • In fact the UFS has just upgraded residences at the Qwaqwa campus – to the tune of R6,8-million.
  • In addition, another R1,4-million has been set aside for the upgrading of other facilities on the Qwaqwa campus.
  • More staff has been appointed and the library is acquiring more books etc.
  • The management of the UFS wants to assure staff at the Qwaqwa campus once again that there has been no decision to close the campus.
  • We realise that the incorporation of the campus into the UFS has given rise to certain fears and concerns, but these are being addressed, including the question of reporting lines of staff and the further delegation of powers to the head of the Qwaqwa campus, Prof Peter Mbati.
  1. The situation at the Vista campus
  • A number of processes are currently under way to address outstanding issues following the formal incorporation of the Vista campus into the UFS in January 2004.
  • This includes the integration of former Vista staff into the UFS as well as the alignment of the conditions of service of the former Vista staff with the UFS conditions of service.
  • Indeed, over the last few weeks, a climate of trust has been developing and a number of meetings have taken place in contrast to the situation that obtained at the end of 2004.
  • Just last week, the Rector reassured the Vista Task Team representing the former Vista staff that these staff members are indeed part of the UFS staff complement.
  • When the Vista campus was incorporated into the UFS, it was agreed that no new first years would be registered there, so as to avoid duplication with the main campus which is only a few kilometers away.
  • Instead, those students who were registered as Vista students at the time of incorporation (January 2004) would be allowed to complete their studies.
  • In terms of this agreement another process of consultation with key stakeholders on and off campus would be initiated to determine how the physical facilities of Vista could be used to contribute to educational and skills provision in the region and the province.
  • This process is still in its early stages and no final decision has been made regarding the long term strategic reconfiguration of the Vista campus.
  • In any case, as stated by the Rector, former Vista staff do not have to fear about their work security as this is not dependent on the future use of Vista campus – the two issues are not related.
  1. Financial aid for students at the Qwaqwa campus
  • Concerning financial aid to students at Qwaqwa, the UFS has to date (that is up to 22 February 2005 ) made available R25 000 each to 705 students.
  • That amounts to R17,6 million.
  1. Financial aid for students at the Vista campus
  • Concerning financial aid to students at Vista , the UFS has to date (that is up to 22 February 2005 ) made available R14 500 each to 104 students.
  • That amounts to R1,5 million.
  1. Registration
  • The registration processes at both these campuses are not yet completed. So final figures are not yet available.
  • What we can say so far, is that 1339 students have registered at the Qwaqwa campus and that more are expected to register. At Vista , 545 students have registered so far, and more are expected to do so.
  • In an effort to assist students during the registration process, management has put in place a structure which is called the Monitoring Committee.
  • This Monitoring Committee provides counseling on courses of study but also sorts out problems relating to academic fees, etc.
  • This is how the UFS management in a concrete way gives expression to its commitment to broadening access for academically deserving students.
  1. Alleged racism
  • There have recently been unsubstantiated allegations of racism leveled at the UFS.
  • We would like to state unequivocally, that the UFS does not and will not tolerate racism in any way.
  • There are policies and procedures in place to deal with such allegations and those who feel aggrieved should bring this to the attention of the Director of Diversity, Mr Billyboy Ramahlele.
  • The UFS also has sensitisation programmes for staff and students to assist in bringing about a truly non-racial, non-sexist, inclusive, multicultural and multilingual campus.

.

  1. Conclusion
  • The UFS management remains committed to the further transformation of the institution so that it can play its role in supporting the goal of a non-racial, democratic South Africa united in its diversity.
  • We are committed to the successful incorporation of the Vista and Qwaqwa campuses and to the speedy resolution of all outstanding issues facing staff and students on these campuses.
  • We appeal once again to staff and students on these campuses, who are indeed members of the broader UFS community, to play a constructive role in the debate about the strategic direction of the UFS and all its campuses.

 

Issued by: Mr Anton Fisher

Director: Strategic Communication

Cell: 072-207-8334

Tel: 051-401-2749

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