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Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences honours top graduates

14 April 2025 | Story Martinette Brits | Photo Kaleidoscope Studios

NAS Medal Winners — The four medal winners from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences are from left: Christine Rossouw, Philippus Kotzé, Michail Cloete, and Jocelyne Smith.

At the University of the Free State (UFS) April graduation ceremonies, the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences proudly celebrated the success of 1484 graduates – each one marking a milestone of academic excellence. Among these achievements, four standout students were awarded top honours for their exceptional academic performance.

Jocelyne Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours in Data Science and received both the prestigious Senate Medal - awarded for the highest weighted average across all UFS faculties - and the Dean’s Medal for achieving the top results in a bachelor honours degree within the faculty.

Joining her in academic distinction were Christine Rossouw, Philippus Kotzé, and Michail Cloete, who each received a Dean’s Medal for outstanding results in their respective qualifications. Rossouw earned top marks in a three-year bachelor's degree, Kotzé in a four-year bachelor's degree, and Cloete for a master’s degree.

From setbacks to success: Jocelyne Smith’s unexpected path to excellence

Jocelyne Smith never intended to pursue Data Science. Her dream was to study medicine and make a meaningful difference in her community. However, when things did not go as planned, she found herself at a difficult crossroads. “I was devastated and unsure what to do next,” she recalls.

A timely suggestion from Prof Eduan Kotzé introduced her to Data Science – a field she had never considered but soon came to love. Now pursuing a master’s degree, Smith says receiving the Senate and Dean’s Medals was a complete surprise. “I just tried to do my best every day,” she says. “Receiving the medals is a reminder that even when life takes an unexpected turn, the destination can still be extraordinary.”

Her journey has been one of perseverance, long nights of study, and a commitment to community and helping others understand complex material. “Helping others deepened my own understanding and made the experience more meaningful,” she adds.

Looking ahead, Smith aims to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionise education in South Africa. “AI can make a real difference if used correctly - especially in education,” she explains. Her research focuses on challenging outdated systems and empowering individuals through innovative, practical technology.

Designing for impact: Michail Cloete’s award-winning architectural journey

For Michail Cloete, architecture is not just about buildings – it is about problem-solving and creating meaningful spaces. Inspired by his father’s work, he pursued architecture with clarity of purpose and deep-rooted passion.

“My academic success was driven by balance, consistency, and a genuine passion for impactful design,” he says. That mindset paid off, earning him the Dean’s Medal for best performance in a master’s degree.

Cloete views the medal not only as personal recognition but also as a tribute to those who supported him. “It reflects the collective effort – the love, support, and sacrifices of my family and friends,” he shares.

Looking forward, Cloete hopes to join an architectural firm that creates spaces with lasting impact, continuing a journey grounded in creativity, commitment, and thoughtful design.

Rooted in passion: Philippus Kotzé recognised for academic excellence

A deep love for farming and a growing interest in agriculture led Philippus Kotzé to pursue a degree in Animal Sciences. His approach to his studies was straightforward: “I went into the course to learn as much as I could. Good marks were just a welcome side-effect.”

Kotzé’s self-discipline, coupled with encouragement of classmates and lecturers, helped him navigate the demands of a four-year degree – resulting in the Dean’s Medal for academic excellence.

“There is a saying, ‘Vele hande maak ligte werk.’ For us, the lights were on for four straight years,” he jokes, crediting the collective effort of his support network for his success.

Now farming full-time, Kotzé aims to grow and diversify within the agricultural sector – bringing the same focused dedication to his career that defined his academic journey.

Bright minds, bold dreams: Christine Rossouw shines in science

Driven by a love for problem-solving and a fascination with how things work, Christine Rossouw found her perfect fit in the sciences. “I love experimenting and figuring things out,” she says. Her curiosity and determination helped her achieve top marks in a Bachelor of Science degree specialising in Chemistry and Physics, earning her the Dean’s Medal for the best results in a three-year bachelor’s degree.

Rossouw credits her success to maintaining a healthy balance. “Work hard, stay curious, and make time to recharge,” she advises. For her academic achievement is just the beginning - a stepping stone toward big ambitions, that include designing fireworks, advancing green energy, and improving plastic recycling.

Although the full weight of the award is still sinking in, Rossouw is already looking to the future – one that promises to be as bright as her ideas.

Words of wisdom: Emmie Pietersen’s message to graduates

Emmie Pietersen, Head of Strategy and Programme Development at Peritum Agri Institute, delivered a heartfelt message to graduates at all three sessions on Thursday, 10 April. Drawing from the lessons that continue to shape her own life, she urged graduates to embrace each day as a gift – a reminder that every moment presents both a chance and a choice.

“Your presence is your brand,” she said, encouraging graduates to carry themselves with both confidence and humility. True success, she explained, lies in the ability to prioritise, to plan with intention, foster meaningful partnerships, and persevere - because failure only happens when we stop trying.

In closing, she shared a powerful message she once gave to her son: “You were fearfully and wonderfully made. Grow your career with courage, but tread softly. Make us Kovsies proud.”

News Archive

Bloemfontein's quality of tap water compares very favourably with bottled water

2009-08-04

The quality of the drinking water of five suburbs in Bloemfontein is at least as good as or better than bottled water. This is the result of a standard and chemical bacterial analysis done by the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Centre for Environmental Management in collaboration with the Institute for Groundwater Studies (IGS).

Five samples were taken from tap water sources in the suburbs of Universitas, Brandwag, Bain’s Vlei, Langenhoven Park and Bayswater and 15 samples were taken of different brands of still and unflavoured bottled water. The samples were analysed at the laboratory of the IGS, while the interpretation of the analysis was done by the Centre for Environmental Management.

“We wanted to evaluate the difference in quality for human consumption between tap water and that of the different brands of bottled water,” said Prof. Maitland Seaman, Head of the Centre for Environmental Management.

“With the exception of two samples produced by multinational companies at their plants in South Africa, the different brands of bottled water used for the study were produced by South African companies, including a local small-scale Bloemfontein producer,” said Prof. Seaman.

According to the labels, the sources of the water vary from pure spring water, to partial reverse osmosis (as an aid to standardise salt, i.e. mineral, content), to only reverse osmosis (to remove salts). (Reverse osmosis is a process in which water is forced under pressure through a pipe with minute pores through which water passes but no – or very low concentrations of – salts pass.)

According to Prof. Seaman, the analysis revealed some interesting findings, such as:

• It is generally accepted that drinking water should have an acceptable level of salt content, as the body needs salts. Most mineral contents were relatively higher in the tap water samples than the bottled water samples and were very much within the acceptable range of drinkable water quality. One of the bottled samples, however, had a very low mineral content, as the water was produced by reverse osmosis, as stated on the bottle. While reverse osmosis is used by various producers, most producers use it as an aid, not as a single method to remove nearly all the salts. Drinking only such water over a prolonged period may probably have a negative effect on the human physiology.

• The pH values of the tap water samples (8,12–8,40) were found to be slightly higher (slightly alkaline), like in all south-eastern Free State rivers (from where the water is sourced) than the pH of most of the bottled water samples, most of which are sourced and/or treated in other areas. Two brands of bottled water were found to have relatively low pH levels (both 4,5, i.e. acidic) as indicated on their bottles and as confirmed by the IGS analysis. The health implication of this range of pH is not significant.

• The analysis showed differences in the mineral content given on the labels of most of the water bottles compared to that found by IGS analysis. The possibility of seasonal fluctuation in content, depending on various factors, is expected and most of the bottling companies also indicate this on their labels. What was a rather interesting finding was that two pairs of bottled water brands claimed exactly the same mineral content but appeared under different brand names and were also priced differently. In each case, one of the pair was a well-known house brand, and the other obviously the original producer. In one of these paired cases, the house brand stated that the water was spring water, while the other (identical) “original” brand stated that it was spring water treated by reverse osmosis and oxygen-enriched.

• Nitrate (NO3) levels were uniformly low except in one bottled sample, suggesting a low (non-threatening) level of organic pollution in the source water. Otherwise, none of the water showed any sign of pollution.

• The bacterial analysis confirmed the absence of any traces of coliforms or E.coli in any of the samples, as was also indicated by the bottling companies. This is very reassuring. What is not known is how all these waters were sterilised, which could be anything from irradiation to chlorine or ozone treatment.

• The price of the different brands of bottled water, each containing 500 ml of still water, ranged between R3,99 and R8,99, with R5,03 being the average price. A comparison between the least expensive and the most expensive bottles of water indicated no significant difference in quality. In fact, discrepancies were observed in the most expensive bottle in that the amount of Calcium (Ca) claimed to be present in it was found to be significantly different from what the analysis indicated (29,6 mg/l versus 0,92 mg/l). The alkalinity (CaCO3 mg/l) indicated on the bottle was also found to differ considerably (83 mg/l versus 9,4 mg/l). The concentration of Total Dissolved Salts (TDS) was not given on the product.

“The preference for bottled water as compared to Bloemfontein’s tap water from a qualitative perspective as well as the price discrepancy is unjustifiable. The environmental footprint of bottled water is also large. Sourcing, treating, bottling, packaging and transporting, to mention but a few of the steps involved in the processing of bottled water, entail a huge carbon footprint, as well as a large water footprint, because it also requires water for treating and rinsing to process bottled water,” said Prof. Seaman.

Media Release
Lacea Loader
Deputy Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
3 August 2009

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