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09 April 2025 | Story UFS Division of Student Affairs | Photo Supplied
SRC Graduations
Seventeen Campus Student Representative Council members are set to graduate during the week of 7 April 2025.

As the University of the Free State (UFS) commemorates the April 2025 graduation season, a group of student leaders is preparing to cross the stage not only as graduates but also as individuals who helped shape student life on our campuses.

The Office of Student Governance is celebrating 17 members of the Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC) who are graduating during the week of 7 April – a proud moment for the office and the broader UFS community.

These graduates have carried the responsibility of student leadership while staying committed to their academic journeys. Their names now join the long list of student leaders who’ve helped shape campus life and still crossed the finish line with their degrees in hand.

From Qwaqwa Campus, we celebrate Nomvuyo Nungu, Xolani Ntimane, Qhama Mqulo, Ayanda Madiba, Anele Mcineka, and Lebohang Mateka. From Bloemfontein Campus, we celebrate Martin Nyaka, Boikanyo Moleko, Portia Mtawarira, Ogorogile Moleme, Moses Davis, Oratile Lentsela, Naledi Mathakhoe, Siyabonga Dludla, Aphiwe Mbutuma, and Paballo Taoana.

Their contribution reflects the pillars of Student Affairs – student success and student development – and their legacy extends beyond office terms and meeting rooms.

Special recognition goes to those who also served on the Institutional SRC (ISRC): Nomvuyo Nungu, Martin Nyaka, Qhama Mqulo, Xolani Ntimane, and Ogorogile Moleme, whose leadership extended across all UFS campuses.

“To all current and aspiring student leaders, let this be a reminder: academic excellence and leadership can go hand in hand,” says Pholla Mbalane, Acting Head of Department for the Office of Student Governance. Continue to serve and lead, but never lose sight of your academic goals. Balance is not just possible, it is powerful.” 

Congratulations to our UFS leaders of the future!

News Archive

UFS appoints top academic
2010-05-13

 
Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo


The University of the Free State (UFS) has acquired the services of a well-known political analyst, Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo, as a Senior Professor in the university’s Centre for Africa Studies (CAS).

Prof. Kondlo, who worked for the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) prior to this permanent appointment, is an accomplished researcher and a well-heeled scholar in issues of transitional democracies, governance and social justice.

“I joined this university particularly because of its difficult history and what I have observed to be a sincere orientation to transform,” he said.

“I think that under the leadership of Prof. Jonathan Jansen (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS) and his team we are going to see a very interesting rebirth of the University of the Free State. And some of us who believe in ideas of reconciliation in negotiated democracies as part of nation formation actually feel we should throw the best we have into the transformation process and support this great guy.”

“I see my appointment as part of the excellence aspect of the transformation journey because the UFS, even though it does good work in certain areas, is not highly rated in terms of academic excellence and publications. That is why I was glad to be appointed to make a humble contribution,” he said.

“I think it is going to be useful to the UFS to have more people of high academic standing because the idea to improve scholarship is very central and of course shifts the focus to scholarly discourse. Let scholarly excellence reclaim the centre of the debate as the leadership deal with legacy issues and genuine transformation.”

“Let us see academics from this institution stand up to articulate key issues that are relevant to state formations and transformation in the country. Let us debate our role as academics in supporting the consolidation of our young democracy”

Prof. Kondlo sees his key role within the CAS as improving research output.

“In other words, I see myself as leading the way in the generation of journal articles, books and also national and international seminars,” he explained.

He said a lot of work still needed to be done, though, to profile the CAS nationally and on the continent as it was still a new initiative and thus relatively unknown.

“We will need to be very innovative in terms of research initiatives and identification of research associates in order to profile the work of the Centre,” he said.

“I think the UFS will claim its seat in the greater African academic family by virtue of the quality of its products. We do not want to re-invent the wheel; we want to come up with products that are unique and in that way help this university to claim its rightful position within the greater African academic family.”

Prof. Kondlo has also worked for, amongst others, the Department of Land Affairs, the National Prosecuting Authority and the South African Chamber of Commerce, as well as being involved with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za  
13 May 2010
 

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