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Join the Africa Month celebrations

07 May 2024 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Supplied

UFS Celebrating Africa Month — The University of the Free State celebrates 2024 Africa Month.

May is widely recognised across African nations as Africa Month, a time dedicated to commemorating the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, a precursor to the African Union (AU). This historic milestone marked a significant shift towards continental unity and the collective pursuit of nation-building, championing the ideals of freedom and liberation from oppression.

On 25 May 2024, Africa celebrates the 61st anniversary of the founding of the OAU, now evolved into the AU. In alignment with this rich tradition, the University of the Free State (UFS) is proud to embrace Africa Day and its core principles once again in 2024, hosting a series of engaging events to highlight the importance of African indigenous knowledge in higher education, both locally and globally.

Honouring our legacy

Even preceding the formation of the OAU in 1963, countless initiatives spearheaded by Africans, both on the continent and within its diaspora, aimed to reclaim Africa’s rightful place on the global stage. South Africans have notably been at the forefront of these efforts, with figures like Pixley ka Isaka Seme delivering his seminal speech on the “Regeneration of Africa” in 1906, a sentiment echoed by subsequent generations through various initiatives geared towards decolonisation and revitalisation.

Africa Month serves as a platform to promote and cultivate appreciation for African arts and culture, fostering robust trade markets and stimulating economic growth across the continent.

Shaping the future

Vision 130 stands as the UFS’s strategic roadmap towards 2034, when the university will celebrate its 130th anniversary. One of its core values of ‘Innovation and Impact’, underscores the institution’s commitment to driving societal progress through impactful endeavours. Embracing creativity and challenging conventional norms, the UFS aims to leverage its knowledge resources to propel the development of the Free State, South Africa, and the African continent, while also contributing to global knowledge and understanding. With a firm commitment to regional engagement, the UFS seeks to be a catalyst for positive change, both locally and continentally.

Events calendar

For 2024, the theme of Africa Month is “Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century”, as designated by the African Union. In celebration of this significant milestone, the UFS is organising a diverse array of events throughout the month of May:

5km Fun Run & Walk

The Faculty of Health Sciences will host a 5km Fun Run & Walk, featuring live music, fitness sessions by KovsieFit, and exciting prizes.

Date: 11 May 2024

Time: 06:00

Venue: Francois Retief Building, Bloemfontein Campus.

World citizenship and African higher Education

The Office for International Affairs will host an event on World Citizenship and African Higher Education focusing on preparing students for a globally connected world.

Date: 22 May 2024

Time: 16:00-18:00

Venue: Centenary Complex, Bloemfontein Campus

Livestream to Qwaqwa Campus: https://events.ufs.ac.za/e/events.ufs.ac.za/e/africa2024

Africa Month book launch

The Centre for Gender and Africa Studies (CGAS) will host a launch a book titled Migration, Borders, and Borderlands꞉ Making National Identity in Southern African Communities which was edited by Dr Munyaradzi Mushonga, Prof John Aerni‑Flessner, Prof Chitja Twala and Dr Grey Magaiza.

Date: 22 May 2024

Time: 14:00 – 15:30

Venue: E0014, Education building, Qwaqwa Campus

Livestream: https://livestream.ufs.ac.za/

Africa Day Memorial Lecture

The CGAS on the Qwaqwa Campus will also host the Africa Day Memorial Lecture titled “Peacebuilding in Africa: Challenges, Trends, and Futures” presented by Prof Ismail Rashid.

Date: 22 May 2024

Time: 16:00-18:00

Venue: E0014 Education Building, Qwaqwa Campus

Livestream: https://livestream.ufs.ac.za/

Faculty of Theology and Religion Africa Day celebration

The Faculty of Theology and Religion on the Bloemfontein Campus will host an Africa Day Celebration.

Date: 24 May 2024

Time: 12:00-13:00

Venue: 10 H van der Merwe Scholtz Hall, Bloemfontein Campus

News Archive

Deadline for written submissions extended to 12:00 on Wednesday 15 November 2017

2017-11-08

Deadline for written submissions extended: Investigation/review into the handling of student protests on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses by private security companies during october 2017.

A panel, consisting of Mr Ashraf Mahomed and Ms Nomfundo Walaza, has been appointed by the University of the Free State (UFS) to investigate/review the handling of student protests on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses by private security companies during October 2017.

Mr Ashraf Mahomed is an attorney and director at Ashraf Mahomed Attorneys in Cape Town. He specialises in constitutional law, administrative law, public law, alternative dispute resolution (including mediation, arbitration, negotiation and facilitation), and land reform law. Mr Mahomed serves as a board member of the Dullah Omar Institute (DOI) for Constitutional Law, Governance and Human Rights at the University of the Western Cape, as well as the Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education. He recently completed his second term as President of the Cape Law Society (CLS).

Ms Nomfundo Walaza is a clinical psychologist who has worked in the human rights field for the past two decades. For the past nine years, she has served as the CEO of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre and also served for 11 years as the Executive Director of the Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture in Cape Town. Ms Walaza is currently the Executive Director of PeaceSystems – a civil-society organisation that supports the development of sustainable institutions and systems that prevent, manage, and resolve conflict in African societies.

This is an independent panel, which was requested by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS on behalf of the UFS Executive, and supported by the President of the Central Student Representative Council on behalf of the student body.

Submissions by students and staff are awaited and can be submitted as follows:

1. Written submissions

The deadline for written submissions has been extended to 12:00 on Wednesday 15 November 2017. Submissions can be sent to news@ufs.ac.za.

2. Oral submissions

The panel will visit the campuses as follows to receive oral submissions:

Bloemfontein Campus:
Monday 13 November 2017
Time: 09:00-17:00
Venue: SRC Chambers, Steve Biko Building

Kindly confirm attendance of the sessions by contacting Ms Rochelle Ferreira at +27 51 401 9808 or FerreiraR1@ufs.ac.za by 14:00 on Friday 10 November 2017.

Qwaqwa Campus:
Tuesday 14 November 2017
Time: 09:00-17:00
Venue: Senate Hall, Intsika Building

Kindly confirm attendance of the sessions by contacting Ms Thabile Zuma at +27 58 718 5094 or ZumaMT@ufs.ac.za by 14:00 on Friday 2017.

Enquiries can be directed to Mr JC van der Merwe at vdmjc@ufs.ac.za.

Released by:
Lacea Loader (Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Telephone: +27 51 401 2584 | +27 83 645 2454
Email: news@ufs.ac.za | loaderl@ufs.ac.za
Fax: +27 51 444 6393

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