Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Free State, Prof Francis Petersen, is pleased to invite you to the launch of the Artists in Residency Programme. This event marks the exciting start of a new initiative at the university.
We are honored to have Mike van Graan, a distinguished independent artist and playwright, as our inaugural artist and playwright in residence. Van Graan boasts an impressive career, having authored 36 plays and contributing significantly to the cultural landscape. His expertise extends beyond playwriting, encompassing cultural policy, artist network development (both locally and across Africa), and advocacy work. Notably, he held leadership positions within esteemed organisations such as Arterial Network, the African Arts Institute, and the STAND Foundation. Van Graan's dedication to cultural activism and artistic creation is widely recognised.
Please join us for this momentous occasion:
Date: Thursday 27 June 2024
Time: 15:00-17:00 (followed by a cocktail reception)
Venue: Scaena Theatre, UFS Bloemfontein Campus
For further information, contact Alicia Pienaar at pienaaran1@ufs.ac.za.
Programme highlights include:
- Staged Reading: An excerpt from Return of the Ancestors, a play that pays homage to the satirical South African political play, Woza Albert, explores themes of democracy and sacrifice through the return of figures such as Steve Biko and Neil Aggett.
- Closed Premiere: The Good White, set against the backdrop of the 2015/16 student protests in South Africa, delves into contemporary issues such as race, social justice, and the complexities of human relationships.
Thirteen UFS students among Top 100 at GradStar awards
2016-11-04

Minette Nortjé, Jon-Dylon Petersen and
Bongani Mtotoba from the University of the Free State,
were part of South Africa’s Top 100 graduates.
Photo: Rulanzen Martin
Thirteen students from the University of the Free State were selected as part South Africa’s Top 100 graduates in the GradStar programme.
The programme, which is sponsored by FNB and Fasken Martineau, was set up by BlackBark productions and GradConnection. It is a unique opportunity for each graduate to draw upon the expertise and knowledge of those gone before them.
GradStar programme 2016
The GradStar programme matches the country’s best future graduates with potential employers and business mentors. The Top 100 students were selected based on leadership criteria and readiness for the workplace, in addition to their academic performance. The programme ended in employer workshops with the Top 100.
To have been in the Top 100, the candidates went through a rigorous four-phase judging process. This process consisted of the application to the 2016 GradStar programme, psychometric testing, video interviewing and an assessment day followed by the awards ceremony. The list was announced at a gala dinner at Wanderers Club on 27 September 2016.
13 top students from the UFS
The top students from the UFS and their majors are:
• Bongani Anthony Mtotoba: Law and Accounting
• Jon-Dylon Petersen: Quantity Surveying
• Helena Scholtz: Economics
• Mbali Moeketsi: Media Studies and Journalism
• Minette Nortjé: Law
• Molebogeng Motseke: Marketing Communication
• Neo Mathinya: Agronomy
• Phila Tantsi: Money and Investments
• Ramona Govender: Criminal Law
• Tiisetso Mashele: Mathematical Statistics
• Tshimologo Roestoff: LLB Law
• Tyrone Morehen: LLB Law
• Vhuthuhawe Sadiki: Corporate Marketing and Communication