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Kovsie ACT presents seventh Eco-Vehicle Race

24 April 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

Eco-vehicles race — Join the UFS on 18 May 2024 from 10:00-13:00 at the Red Square Parking area for the seventh annual Kovsie ACT Eco-Vehicle Race. Come and support your favourite team to victory!

Kovsie ACT at the University of the Free State (UFS) proudly presents the seventh Kovsie Eco-Vehicle Race, set to take place at the Equitas Parking area on the Bloemfontein Campus.

According to Karen Scheepers, Assistant Director: Student Life, ten teams will be participating in this year’s race, featuring the three UFS campuses as well as the Central University of Technology. The event promise excitement like never before.

Scheepers says, besides an exciting race, spectators can look forward to a new track and viewing area. She invites the public, staff and students to come and support the competing teams as they showcase their skills on the racetrack.

Event details:

Date: Saturday 18 May 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00
Venue: Red Square Parking area (opposite George du Toit Building)

Click here to Livestream

Breakdown of the programme:

09:00 -10:15 Performance by student artists

10:15 -10:35 Walkthrough by judges

10:35 -10:40 Welcoming

10:40 Races commence

12:30 -13:00 Announcement of winners

13:00 -14:00 Performance by student artists

The Eco-Vehicle Race marks the culmination of a nine-month co-curricular skills programme, aimed at empowering participating students with a set of skills for the world of work. Through this programme, they are equipped with basic knowledge and abilities on sustainable energy, enabling them not only to compete in the eco-vehicle race but also to comprehend the inner workings of the vehicle. This understanding is important to the teams for when they are doing repairs during the race.

Students will be competing in three events:

• Obstacle course: Teams will be challenged by obstacles to test their control over the car.

• Smart lap: A timed lap in which the drivers take the main track for the first time.

• Endurance race: The teams need to finish as many laps as possible using the least amount of energy in 45 minutes.

The winners of the three events will each be awarded a trophy. Additionally, there will be a trophy for the best pit stop as well as a spirit cup for the team with the best energy and support from the audience.

For more information, contact Teddy Sibiya.

News Archive

UFS staff get salary adjustment of 13,35%

2008-11-13

At the signing of the salary agreement were, from the left: Prof. Johan Grobbelaar, Chairperson of UVPERSU, Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Acting Rector of the UFS, and Ms Senovia Welman, Chairperson of NEHAWU.
Photo: Anita Lombard

UFS staff get salary adjustment of 13,35%

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) management and trade unions have agreed on an improvement in the service benefits of staff of 16,55% for 2009. This includes a general salary adjustment of 13,35% (according to the estimated government subsidy that will be received in 2009).

“The negotiating parties agreed that adjustments could vary from a minimum of 13,00%, or more, depending on the government subsidy and the model forecasts. If the minimum of 13,00% is not affordable, the parties will re-negotiate,” said Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Acting Rector of the UFS.

“The negotiations were conducted in a positive spirit and the parties are in agreement that it is an exceptionally good adjustment – being higher than for example the increase in medical premiums,” said Prof. Verschoor.

The agreement was signed yesterday by representatives of the UFS management and the trade unions, UVPERSU and NEHAWU.

An additional once-off non-pensionable bonus of R3 390 will also be paid to staff later this year.

The bonus will be paid to all staff members who were in the employ of the UFS on UFS conditions of service on 10 November 2008 and who assumed duties before 1 October 2008. This includes all former Vista staff, regardless of whether they have already been aligned with UFS conditions of service.

The bonus is payable in recognition of the role played by staff during the year to promote the UFS as a university of excellence and as confirmation of the role and effectiveness of the remuneration model.

“It is important to note that this bonus can be paid due to the favourable financial outcome of 2008,” said Prof. Verschoor.

It is the intention to pass the maximum benefit possible on to staff without exceeding the limits of financial sustainability of the institution. For this reason, the negotiating parties reaffirmed their commitment to the Multiple-year Income-related Remuneration Improvement Model used as a framework for negotiations. The model and its applications are unique and has as a point of departure that the UFS must be and remain financially sustainable.

Additional funding (0,70%) was also negotiated. This will be allocated on 1 January 2009 to accelerate the phasing-in of medical benefits and, if possible, to finalise the phasing-in process. Agreement was reached that 2,50% will be allocated for growth in capacity building to ensure that provision is made for the growth of the UFS over the last few years, as well as the incorporation of Vista staff.

The agreement also applies to all staff members of the two above-mentioned campuses whose conditions of employment have already been aligned with those of the Main Campus.

The implementation date for the salary adjustment is 1 January 2009. The adjustment will be calculated on the total remuneration package.

In 2008, a total improvement of service benefits of 9,32% and a salary adjustment of 7,52% were paid to employees. Staff received a once-off non-pensionable bonus of R3 000 at the end of 2007.

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
12 November 2007

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