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20 September 2024 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Ian Van Straaten
Vincent Mahapa 2024
The Campus Principal, Prof Prince Ngobeni and the Dux award Winner Vincent Mahapa.

The University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus recently celebrated academic and holistic excellence at its annual Student Excellence Awards. The event honoured high-achieving students from various disciplines, as well as those who have made significant contributions to the campus community.

The air was electric with anticipation as the campus community gathered to honour its brightest stars. The annual Student Excellence Awards showcased the exceptional talents and achievements of students across academic and extracurricular realms. This event took place in the iconic Mandela Hall.

Vincent Mahapa, a dedicated 21-year-old from Bronkhorstspruit east of Pretoria, was recognised for his exceptional academic achievements by being awarded the prestigious Dux prize at the event.

Mahapa is on the verge of completing his Bachelor of Administration and Management degree in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) and has consistently demonstrated academic excellence. In his second year, he achieved an impressive average of 82%, securing a remarkable seven distinctions in 2023. These outstanding results were further acknowledged through his induction into the prestigious Golden Key International Honour Society, Class of 2023.

Driven by a passion for public administration and management, Mahapa has a strong interest in black empowerment, organisational leadership, and community development. He aspires to leverage his skills and knowledge to drive positive change within these fields.

Overcoming challenges, achieving success

Mahapa's journey to academic excellence was not without its hurdles. He openly acknowledges the challenges he has faced in effectively managing time, balancing academic and personal life, staying motivated, and overcoming social anxiety. However, his determination to succeed shone through as he strategically tackled these obstacles.

Commenting on this laudable recognition, he said, “By creating a well-balanced schedule, setting realistic goals, and seeking support from peers and lecturers, I developed effective coping mechanisms.” He emphasised the importance of creating a study plan and adhering to it, along with techniques such as breaking down complex topics into manageable sections and employing the Pomodoro technique to optimise study sessions.

Words of wisdom for fellow students

As a Dux awardee, Mahapa offered valuable advice to his fellow students who aspire for academic excellence. He encourages them to:

  • seek help and support when needed;
  • remain consistent and persistent in their efforts;
  • set clear goals and work diligently towards achieving them;
  • develop strong organisational skills and manage time effectively; and
  • surround themselves with positive influences that will motivate and support their endeavours.
  • Finding balance for academic and personal well-being

Being an introverted individual, Mahapa acknowledges the importance of striking a healthy balance between academic commitments and personal life.  He achieves this by meticulously planning his schedule, allocating specific time slots for studying, relaxation, and personal activities. Setting realistic goals and further prioritising tasks allows him to manage his time effectively.

Additionally, he stresses the importance of creating a designated study space that is comfortable, organised, and minimises distractions, thus boosting productivity. Distinguishing the importance of self-care, Mahapa highlights activities that bring him joy and relaxation. He does not hesitate to seek support from loved ones and lecturers when needed, and regularly reviews and adjusts his approach to ensure a healthy balance that meets his individual needs.

The university congratulates him on this well-deserved achievement and commends him for his commitment to using his knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on society.

And a big congratulations to all the winners. Indeed, we are inspiring excellence!

News Archive

Extending new discoveries in the deep subsurface – UFS paper published in Nature Communications
2015-11-30



Scanning electron microscopy of some of the Eukarya recovered from two different mines. (a) Dochmiotrema sp. (Plathyelminthes), (b) A. hemprichi (Annelida), (c) Mylonchulus brachyurus (Nematoda), (d) Amphiascoides (Arthropoda). Scale bar, 50 µm (a,b), 100 µm (c), 20 µm (d).

Following the discovery of the first Eukarya in the deep subsurface (Nature, 2010) by a research group from the Department of Microbial, Biochemical, and Food Biotechnology at the University of the Free State (UFS) and their international collaborators, intense interest has developed in understanding the diversity of more complex organisms living in these extreme environments.

Prof Gaetan Borgonie from Extreme Life Isyensya, together with a group of UFS researchers, took this research further, resulting in a paper on this research released in Nature Communications – impact factor 11.47.  This paper is an extension of the first reports of more complex life at great depths, and their abilities to survive these harsh conditions.

Ten authors from the UFS contributed with the array of expertise needed to define this discovery. The group was supported by staff from the different mining groups, long-term leading collaborators from the USA and Canada, and the idea specialist driver of the paper, Prof Borganie.

“After a sampling campaign that lasted more than two years, we identified that Platyhelminthes, Rotifera, Annelida and Arthropoda are thriving at 1.4 km depths in fissure water up to 12,000-years old in the South African mines of Driefontein and Kopanang,” said Prof Borgonie, who was appointed as associated researcher in the Department of Microbial, Biochemical, and Food Biotechnology.

This paper really opens a “can of worms” so to speak. According to Prof Esta van Heerden from the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the UFS they extended to define protozoa and fungi. “However, they are present in low numbers,” she said.

Characterisation of the different species reveals that many are opportunistic organisms. In house-adapted video equipment was used to film inside the fissure for the home of the organisms.

This is the first-known study to demonstrate the in situ distribution of biofilms on fissure rock faces using video documentation. Calculations suggest that food, not dissolved oxygen, is the limiting factor for population growth. The discovery of a group of complex multicellular organisms in the underground has important implications for the search for life on other planets in our solar system.

More articles

The strange beasts that live in solid rock deep underground
A microscopic ‘zoo’ is found deep, deep underground

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