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13 December 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Charl Devenish
Lieutenant Colonel Dr Rifa Tshivhase
Lieutenant Colonel Dr Rifa Tshivhase, Head of the Department of Surgery at 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein, addressed graduates within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State on 10 December 2024.

Momentous and joyous – these are some of the words used to describe the December 2024 graduations at the University of the Free State (UFS). In celebration of the academic achievements of its students, the UFS hosted graduation ceremonies at the Callie Human Centre on its Bloemfontein Campus from 9 to 10 December 2024.

Prof Anthea Rhoda, acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, encouraged the graduates to always acknowledge and recognise the significance of this achievement as they transition from being UFS students to being UFS graduates.

Undergraduate and postgraduate achievements

At least 2000 undergraduate qualifications and postgraduate qualifications were conferred. As such, there were some standout academic achievements across the sessions. For instance, Itumeleng Pooe received his Advanced Diploma in Theology cum laude, making him the only graduate in the Faculty of Theology and Religion to receive his qualification with distinction during these graduations. In addition, Dr Bobuin Jr Valey Gemandze Oben – at just 28 years old – was the youngest PhD graduate from the Faculty of Law at the graduation ceremony, which took place on the morning of 9 December 2024.

Conferring Honorary Doctorates

Some highlights from these graduations were the recipients of honorary doctorates, as well as the keynote speakers. The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at the UFS conferred an honorary degree on Prof Murray Leibbrandt, Research Chair in Poverty and Inequality Research in the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). In addition, the Faculty of The Humanities at the UFS conferred an honorary degree on HE Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace, and Security.

On the final day of the graduations, graduates within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the UFS were addressed by Lieutenant Colonel Dr Rifa Tshivhase, Head of the Department of Surgery at 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein. In her address, Lieutenant Colonel Dr Tshivhase encouraged and challenged the graduates to actively seek out good in the world.

As the December 2024 graduations concluded, several of the graduates within the Faculty of Health Sciences indicated that the most memorable moments in the session were the cheers and applause they received as they walked across the stage.

News Archive

UFS presents Trust and Estate Planning Seminar
2010-10-04

At the seminar were, from the left: Mr James Faber, Centre for Planning Law; Mr Marius Botha, independent trainer in Financial Planning; Willie van der Westhuizen, Trust and Estate specialist, Millers Attorneys; Mr Louis van Vuren from B.O.E.; Ms Shirly Hyland, Centre for Financial Planning Law; Mr Kenneth Mould, Centre for Estate Planning Law; and Dr Bradley Smith, Department of Private Law.
 
The Centre for Estate Planning Law, in collaboration with the Centre for Financial Planning Law at the University of the Free State (UFS), recently presented their second Trust and Estate Planning Seminar.

This seminar was presented with the aim to convey new developments in the area of the law of succession, trust law and estate law in a practical manner to the public, as well as do research about relevant aspects of these disciplines. Prof. Willie van der Westhuizen, Trust and Estate specialist from Millers Attorneys was a speaker at the event and he discussed the topic, “Are trusts still useful and can it work for the advisor?”

Mr Marius Botha, independent trainer in Financial Planning, did a presentation on “The effect of abolishment of estate duty on financial planning needs”. Mr Louis van Vuren from BoE, main sponsor of the seminar, ended the afternoon with the topic “A gentle reminder of the general pitfalls in estate planning, will-drafting, estate and trust administration”.

Planning for next year’s Trust and Estate Law Colloquium, as well as has Prof. Willie van der Westhuizen’s annual Trust Law Seminar, has already started.

The seminar was attended by 90 financial planners and practising attorneys.

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