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12 September 2023 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Charl Devenish
Faculty of Law signing of Memoranda of Understanding
The respective representatives from the NCC, NCR and the UFS celebrate the launch of their new partnership. From left, Thezi Mabuza, Acting Commissioner of the NCC; Nomsa Motshegare, CEO of the National Credit Regulator; and Prof Francis Petersen; Vice- Chancellor and Principal of the UFS.

The Department of Mercantile Law at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Faculty of Law, in collaboration with the National Consumer Commission (NCC) and the National Credit Regulator (NCR), launched a partnership through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). The MOUs were signed at a function held on 7 September 2023 in the Equitas Senate Hall at the UFS’s Bloemfontein Campus. 

In attendance at the signing was the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, Prof Francis Petersen; the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Serges Kamga; the CEO of the National Credit Regulator, Nomsa Motshegare; Acting Commissioner of the National Consumer Commission, Thezi Mabuza; and Timothy Radikeledi from the Provincial Consumer Protection Office, amongst others. 

“This gathering signifies the dawn of something new for the future of this institution and for consumerism. We hope that this partnership will contribute towards improved consumer protection through research which is going to influence consumer protection while addressing consumer concerns in the province and within the South African Development Community,’’ said Mabuza.

What the partnership entails

“The MOUs focus more on consumer protection in the surrounding communities of the university, the Free State province and ultimately in the country,’’ said Ntando Ncamane, a lecturer in the Faculty of Law.

Through the signing of these MOUs, the partners commit to accomplishing several objectives which will be beneficial to UFS students and beyond. For instance, this agreement allows the Faculty of Law to infuse consumer protection principles in the curriculum through developing and delivering various academic modules. The Consumer Protection and Credit Law module is one such example. The module was initially offered as a core module to second-year students, however, through this partnership it will also be included as an elective in the LLB programme as well as at a master’s degree level.

“We envisage an opportunity where real cases of the consumer commission and credit regulator will be shared with students to analyse and critique, and even develop novel approaches that address some of the consumer issues,” said Motshegare.

In addition, there is a research element infused in this agreement. According to Ncamane, the partners will work hand-in-hand to create a research-based approach that is responsive and effective in addressing consumer concerns in the Free State province.

There will also be a series of consumer protection programmes implemented in the Free State.

A partnership which upholds the values of Vision 130

The UFS is currently embarking on an ambitious plan to become a research-led and globally impactful institution by 2034. As such, Prof Kamga indicates that, “the strategic partnership between the UFS, NCC and NCR are really important to the University, they are an important step in the achievement of the UFS’s Vision 130”.

In addition, as the MOUs will make provisions for more research, Prof Kamga says “the MOUs will create opportunities to increase our research capacity and capability in the area of consumer production.’’

The significance and impact of the MOUs

Motshegare said this partnership comes at a time when concerted efforts are needed to promote and strengthen consumer protection measures in the country. Therefore, this partnership will ensure that the UFS shapes graduates who will ultimately contribute towards consumer protection across the country. 

However, she said, most importantly, this joint venture will “produce graduates who will become the consumer protection activists and champions this country so greatly needs."

Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS.
Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS.
Prof Serges Kamga, Dean of the Faculty of Law.
Prof Serges Kamga, Dean of the Faculty of Law.
Ntando Ncamane, lecturer in the Department of Mercantile Law.
Ntando Ncamane, lecturer in the Department of Mercantile Law.
Nomsa Motshegare, CEO of the National Credit Regulator.
Nomsa Motshegare, CEO of the National Credit Regulator.
Thezi Buthelezi, Acting Commissioner of the National Consumer Commission.
Thezi Buthelezi, Acting Commissioner of the National Consumer Commission.

News Archive

Researchers international leaders in satellite tracking in the wildlife environment
2015-05-29

 

Ground-breaking research has attracted international media attention to Francois Deacon, lecturer and researcher in the Department Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences at the UFS, and Prof Nico Smit, from the same department. They are the first researchers in the world to equip giraffes with GPS collars, and to conduct research on this initiative. Recently, they have been joined by Hennie Butler from the Department of Zoology as well as Free State Nature Conservation to further this research.

“Satellite tracking is proving to be extremely valuable in the wildlife environment. The unit is based on a mobile global two-way communication platform, utilising two-way data satellite communication, complete with GPS systems.

“It allows us to track animals day and night, while we monitor their movements remotely from the computer. These systems make possible the efficient control and monitoring of wildlife in all weather conditions and in near-to-real time. We can even communicate with the animals, calling up their positions or changing the tracking schedules.

“The satellite collar allows us to use the extremely accurate data to conduct research with the best technology available. The volume of data received allows us to publish the data in scientific journals and research-related articles.  

“Scientific institutions and the public sector have both shown great interest in satellite tracking, which opens up new ground for scientific research for this university. Data management can be done, using Africa Wildlife Tracking (AWT) equipment where we can access our data personally, store it, and make visual presentations. The AWT system and software architecture provide the researcher with asset tracking, GPS location reports, geo-fencing, highly-detailed custom mapping, history reports and playback, polling on demand, history plotting on maps, and a range of reporting types and functions,” Francois said.

Data can be analysed to determine home range, dispersal, or habitat preference for any specific species.

Francois has been involved in multiple research projects over the last 12 years on wildlife species and domesticated animals, including the collaring of species such as Black-backed Jackal, Caracal, African Wild Dog, Hyena, Lion, Cheetah, Cattle, Kudu, Giraffe, and Black Rhino: “Giraffe definitely being the most challenging of all,” he said.

In 2010, he started working on his PhD, entitled The spatial ecology, habitat preferences and diet selection of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) in the Kalahari region of South Africa.

 

Since then, his work has resulted not only in more research work (supervising four Masters students) but also in a number of national and international projects. These include work in the:

  • Kalahari region (e.g. Khamab Nature Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park)
  • Kuruman region (Collared 18 cattle to identify spatial patterns in relation to the qualities of vegetation and soil-types available. This project took place in collaboration with Born University in Germany)
  • Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate and Kolomella Iron Ore – ecological monitoring
  • A number of Free State nature reserves (e.g. Distribution of herbivores (kudu and giraffe) and predators (camera traps)

Francois is also involved with species breeding programmes and management (giraffe, buffalo, sable, roan, and rhino) in Korrannaberg, Rustenburg, Hertzogville, Douglas, and Bethlehem as well as animal and ecological monitoring in Kolomella and Beesthoek iron ore.

Besides the collaring of giraffes, Francois and his colleagues are involved in national projects, where they collect milk from lactating giraffes and DNA material, blood samples, and ecto/endo parasites from giraffes in Southern Africa.

With international projects, Francois is working to collect DNA material for the classification of the nine sub-species of giraffe in Africa. He is also involved in projects focusing on the spatial ecology and adaptation of giraffe in Uganda (Murchison Falls), and to save the last 30 giraffe in the DRC- Garamba National Park.

This project has attracted a good deal of international interest. In June 2014, a US film crew (freelancing for Discovery Channel) filmed a documentary on Francois’ research (trailer of documentary). Early in 2015, a second crew, filming for National Geographic, also visited Francois to document his work.

 

More information about Francois’ work is available at the GCF website. 

Read Francois Deacon's PhD abstract

Direct enquiries to news@ufs.ac.za.

 

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