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Inaugural ‘Sanlam and Santam Economist of the Year’ competition gala celebrates future economists

24 October 2024 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Stephen Collett

The inaugural ‘Sanlam and Santam Economist of the Year’ competition gala, held on 18 October 2024 at the University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus, has been hailed as a significant opportunity for growth. Hosted by the Department of Economics and Finance in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS), in collaboration with Sanlam and Santam, the event celebrated the exceptional talents of young economists.

The gala brought together representatives from Sanlam and Santam, faculty members, the top 10 competition finalists, and the department’s leading academic performers from each year group. Jaco Geldenhuys, Senior Business Manager at Sanlam, commended the participants for their dedication, noting: ’Today, we not only recognise your academic excellence but also the potential, positive impact you will have in the world.’’

Prof Johan Coetzee, Chairperson of the Department of Economics and Finance, echoed this sentiment, emphasising that the competition aims to equip graduates to become global citizens who can solve problems, think critically, and communicate effectively in a constantly changing world.

What transpired during the event

The top 10 finalists presented their analysis in a 6-minute presentation before a panel of economists from the department, demonstrating their understanding of the macroeconomic environment, the methods they used to predict key macroeconomic indicators, and the lessons they gained from the process. After these presentations, the top three finalists were chosen and were required to respond to questions from the panel, determining the overall winner.

The top three included Tricia Khoza, who secured third place, Mokai Malope, who earned second place; and Reatile Seekoei, who was named the 2024 ‘Sanlam and Santam Economist of the Year’.

All three finalists expressed their gratitude for the opportunity. Seekoei shared: “Competitions like this are invaluable because they prepare us for the working world. We have gained several graduate attributes we were introduced to at the start of our academic journey.’’

In addition to recognising the top three finalists, the department also awarded certificates to its top academic achievers, ranging from first-year undergraduate students to master's candidates.

Paving the way for the future

For many of the participants, the competition provided an invaluable glimpse into the professional world, offering them a chance to apply their classroom learning to real-world economic challenges. Geldenhuys encouraged the young economists to use their knowledge to challenge inequality, promote fairness, and drive innovation and sustainable growth.

News Archive

UFS presents colloquium on the law of delict

2008-03-06

The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently presented a unique debate on the law of delict on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. The colloquium was attended by six current and two retired judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal, including Justice Craig Howie, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, as well as two judges from the Free State provincial division. Twelve of the most prominent academics and authors on the law of delict from across the country, members of the Free State Bar, as well as staff from the faculty were present. Arguments centred on the element wrongfulness and how it should be determined as well as how it differs from fault and more specifically negligence. Unfortunately no unanimity about how judgments of the Supreme Court of Appeal on how this issue should be interpreted could be reached. Attendees however agreed that this was a useful debate that served to highlight the importance of this issue and they expressed their appreciation for the opportunity. As far as could be ascertained, this was the first time that a debate regarding the law of delict took place on this level. At the colloquium were, from the left: Prof. Johann Neethling (speaker at the colloquium and author on the law of delict, Unisa), Prof. Rita-Marié Jansen (Department of Private Law at the UFS and organiser of the colloquium), Prof. Johan Potgieter (author on the law delict, Unisa), Appeal Judge Craig Howie (President of the Supreme Court of Appeal), and Judge Mojalefa Rampai (Free State Provincial Division of the Supreme Court).
Photo: Supplied

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