Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Xhosa Student Association and GEADO host dialogue about gender-based violence

05 September 2023 | Story Nicole Bongo | Photo Supplied

GBV dialogue 2023 — The UFS Xhosa Student Association and Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Office joined forces to host a dialogue to enlighten students on combating gender-based violence.

The Xhosa Student Association at the University of the Free State (UFS), along with the UFS Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Office (GEADO) on its Bloemfontein Campus, recently hosted a dialogue titled ‘Aiding the Victim’, to educate students about what perpetuates gender-based violence, and inform them about UFS support services available to help fight GBV.

The discussion was held at the Education Auditorium on 25 August 2023, and students were challenged to pinpoint what GBV is and what it looks like. Balisa Nqambuza, Chairperson of the Xhosa Student Association and second-year BA student majoring in psychology and philosophy, said, “There is a need to have these tough conversations, as they provide insight on how to combat GBV in the future... We have had enough talks about the problem, and it is very important to start speaking about solutions that inform people of what they can do when encountering GBV.”

The event organisers said the dialogue was an opportunity for GEADO and the Xhosa Student Association to inform students about support structures within the university that provide help for students through free counselling sessions.

“The objective was to bring awareness about GBV victims amongst us, and how to assist them better, and to also highlight comprehensive approaches, as dialogues may discuss holistic approaches that address the multidimensional impact of GBV, including psychological, emotional, physical, and economic consequences,” said Pebetsi Kgole, a guest speaker and intern from GEADO.

In May 2023, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund reported a shocking rise in violence against women in South Africa, with 969 murders and 1 485 attempted murders recorded over this period. The UFS has put many structures in place to help in the fight against the scourge of GBV.

Other support services available include a sexual offense response team made up of GEADO, Protection Services, Kovsie Health, access to psychologists and social workers, and free services to help victims feel safe in a secure environment.

News Archive

Standard Bank helps B.Iuris students prepare for profession

2009-05-19

The Centre for Financial Planning Law (CFPL) in the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently launched the Faculty of Law – Standard Bank partnership for final-year B.Iuris students. The partnership entails a R250 000 donation from Standard Bank to be used to support the financial planning programme of the B.Iuris degree and the lecturers teachingthese students. Standard Bank will also offer final-year B.Iuris students the opportunity to obtain work experience in their last semester. They will also undergo practical financial planning training. This will not only prepare them adequately for the profession of financial planning, but also provide them with the opportunity to be interviewed and appointed by the Standard Bank Group. At the launch of the partnership were, from the left: Mr Eli de Wet, Standard Bank Financial Services Consultancy, Head of Learning and Development; Mr Deon Nel, Standard Bank Regional Head; Remay Olivier, third-year B.Iuris student (best second-year B.Iuris student in her class); Prof. Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the UFS; and Adv. Wessel Oosthuizen, Director of the Centre for Financial Planning Law in the Department of Mercantile Law, UFS.
Photo: Stephen Collet

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept