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UFS reflects on human rights and the law

27 March 2024 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Sonia Small

Human Rights 18 March 2024 — Vanessa Rose September, Chair of the Albie Sachs Trust, hands over donated books to Prof Serges Kamga, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State.

Echoing the words of Nelson Mandela, Prof Francis Petersen, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State (UFS), emphasised the profound significance of human rights. “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity,” he said during his opening address at the Human Rights Celebration held by the UFS Faculty of Law on 18 March 2024.

Acknowledging the pivotal role played by stalwarts such as Emeritus Justice Albie Sachs and Sir Sydney Kentridge, Prof Petersen delved into the strides made since the inception of South Africa’s contemporary constitution.

Underlining the university’s unwavering commitment to human rights, Prof Petersen added, “For universities, it remains critical that every aspect of academic life is viewed through the lens of human rights. The principle of equality lies at the centre of our purpose and operations.”

Furthermore, Prof Serges Kamga, Dean of the Faculty of Law, highlighted the institution’s vision encapsulated in Vision 130, striving to produce graduates who embody excellence and contribute to societal transformation.

Panel discussion: Sir Sydney Kentridge’s enduring legacy

Former Justice Zak Yacoob, renowned for his tenure at the Constitution Court of South Africa, paid tribute to Sir Sydney Kentridge in a panel discussion focusing on Kentridge’s contributions to human rights both nationally and internationally.

Reflecting on his personal experiences working alongside Sir Kentridge, Justice Yacoob highlighted the practical essence of human rights advocacy. He recounted Sir Kentridge’s seminal role in shaping the constitutional court’s early judgments, particularly emphasising the incorporation of human dignity into the constitutional framework.

Justice Yacoob’s insights shed light on the profound impact of Sir Kentridge’s jurisprudence on society, particularly in shaping notions of dignity, equality, and freedom. “The contribution he made was absolutely amazing. He wrote the first-ever judgement delivered by that court in April 1995. It was the first judgement that brought forth the issue of human dignity and its importance.”

Joining the discussion were esteemed panelists including Honourable Madam Justice Yvonne Mbatha and Dr Adri Du Plessis, who provided expert commentary on Sir Kentridge’s contributions to the legal fraternity. The discussion was moderated by Prof Elsabe Schoeman, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria.

Honouring legal icons

Vanessa Rose September, Chair of the Albie Sachs Trust, presented books donated by the trust. The biography titled Arthur Chaskalson: A life dedicated to justice for all chronicles the life of Chaskalson, a towering figure in South Africa’s legal landscape.

Emeritus Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs delivered a thought-provoking lecture, pondering the question of whether there is cause for celebration on the 30th anniversary of human rights in South Africa.

With a rich history of activism and legal scholarship, Justice Sachs reflected on the evolution of South Africa’s judiciary and the enduring legacy of the Constitutional Court. Despite acknowledging prevailing challenges, Justice Sachs remained optimistic, citing the country’s constitutional framework as a beacon of hope and progress. “There’s lot to be angry about, there’s lots to complain about, there’s lots that has to be renounced, but there’s lots to celebrate. We’ve got a country, we’ve got a constitution, we’ve got rights, we’ve got instruments that we can use,” he said.

In conclusion, the Human Rights Celebration served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for dignity, equality, and justice, reaffirming the university’s steadfast commitment to upholding these fundamental principles in academia and beyond.

News Archive

UFS Communication and Brand Management receives two prestigious international awards

2015-07-07

Lelanie de Wet, Lacea Loader and Leonie Bolleurs

The Department of Communication and Brand Management at the University of the Free State (UFS) received two of the six Gold Quill Awards – that were awarded to South African companies and institutions - at the International Association of Business Communicator’s (IABC) Excellence Gala ceremony in San Francisco, US on 15 June 2015.

The awards ceremony formed part of the 2015 IABC World Conference, which took place from 14-17 June 2015. The department received a Gold Quill Excellence Award for its social media campaign, UFS #FaceOfFacebook and a Gold Quill Merit Award for the B Safe Take Action campaign.

From the 15 countries that entered, a total of 120 Gold Quill Excellence awards and 189 Gold Quill Merit awards were awarded. Other South African award winners included Barclays Africa Group Limited, Mediclinic and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).

This is the second year in a row that the UFS has been recognised by the IABC for its communication projects. In 2014, the department was awarded the Jake Wittmer Research Award for a Stakeholder Perception Audit conducted in February 2014. The audit was considered – by the IABC - as one of the best breakthrough strategies used by a university to measure the perceptions of its stakeholders.This made the UFS the first tertiary institution in Africa to receive the research award. The stakeholder perception audit also received an Africa Gold Quill in 2014.

"Being recognised by a global association such as the IABC for the second time, is a great honour and I am very proud of what my colleagues have achieved by entering the two campaigns. Winning the awards is a true indication of what can be done when a team of expert communicators is committed towards engaging their target audiences with campaigns that speak of quality and innovation. The fact that the UFS is one of only two tertiary education institutions in the country to receive these prestigious awards, makes it even more special," said Lacea Loader, Director: Communication and Brand Management at the UFS.

IABC World and Africa conferences 2015

The IABC is a global membership association with a network of 12 000 members in more than 80 countries, representing many of the Global Fortune 500 companies. It serves professionals in the field of business communication, bringing together the profession’s collective disciplines.

With the theme: Changing landscape: Informing the future, the 2015 world conference was attended by over 1 200 delegates from across the world. Delegates were offered an opportunity for learning, discovering, and connecting. Loader also made a presentation entitled ‘Award-winning measurement endorses sound reputation management strategy’ at the world conference.

The department will also be receiving two Africa Gold Quill Awards from the Africa chapter of the IABC for the same campaigns on 30 July 2015 in Johannesburg.

UFS #FaceOfFacebook Campaign

The university received a Gold Quill Excellence Award for its social media campaign, UFS #FaceOfFacebook. This initiative originated in the university’s commitment to its Human Project, which sets the standard for good behaviour and care.

Lelanie de Wet, Manager: Social Media and Website Content and project leader of UFS #FaceOfFacebook, said the project was born from the need to communicate with students. Thus a virtual friend, #FaceOfFacebook, was created. “Yearly auditions are being held to choose the new face representing the UFS on Facebook. Short video clips of the #FaceOfFacebook – whether it is attending events or communicating important messages - are posted on the UFS Facebook page. The successful candidate holds the title #FaceOfFacebook for 12 months.

“When I look at a campaign such as #FaceOfFacebook, from the time it took its first tentative steps in 2013, and see how it inspired staff and students alike, my heart swells with pride. Often you can see the impact you have made only in retrospect. The ripples you send into the world will inevitably create waves,” she said.

B Safe Take Action Campaign

The B Safe Take Action campaign of the university received a Gold Quill Merit award from the IABC.

The campaign was activated in September 2013. “It targeted on- and off-campus students and staff, aiming to create social ownership of personal safety, and to raise awareness of the safety measures put in place by the university,” said Leonie Bolleurs, Manager: Internal Communication and project manager of the campaign.

The campaign looked at a number of safety aspects, focusing not only on crime but also on being safe from road accidents and stress/burnout.

It is the second time this year that the BSafe campaign has been recognised for its innovative strategy. Earlier this year it received a PRISM Award (Gold) from the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA). The annual PRISM Awards are about recognising and celebrating great public relations campaigns.

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