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UFS lecturer earns PhD and contributes to Vision 130 through groundbreaking research

17 April 2025 | Story Onthatile Tikoe | Photo Kaleidoscope Studios

The University of the Free State (UFS) celebrated one of its own, Dr Thabiso Khoeli, a Historical and Constructive Theology Lecturer in its Faculty of Theology and Religion, when he received his PhD in Theology with specialisation in religion studies during the recently completed April graduation ceremonies.

Dr Khoeli’s achievement not only marks a personal milestone but also advances the university’s Vision 130, a strategic initiative to position UFS as a research-led institution by its 130th anniversary in 2034. Dr Khoeli’s academic journey is one of resilience, transformation, and a profound commitment to telling African stories from an African perspective.

From uncertainty to purpose

Dr Khoeli’s path into studying Theology was unplanned. As a former KovsieFootball player, his initial academic interest was in Sports Science. However, after some admission hurdles, he found himself directed towards Theology, a field that soon captured his full attention.

“Honestly, I did not choose Theology, instead it chose me,” he shares. “… Theology whispered to me and said, ‘Do not deviate, Brother. Your calling is here.” Despite initial scepticism, his first semester revealed the intellectual and spiritual depth of the discipline, compelling him to pursue it with passion.

A research focus on African voices

His doctoral research, titled ‘Exploring the Zion Christian Church’s Teachings and Qualities in Comparison with Zion Churches’, examines the theological, historical, and cultural distinctiveness of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), one of the largest and most influential religious movements in Africa. Motivated by a desire to decolonise theology and challenge externally imposed narratives, Dr Khoeli engaged directly with primary sources, including archival materials and interviews with Church elders.

“Africans must now write their own stories and never rely on the findings presented by others,” he says. His work not only fills critical gaps in theological scholarship but also reflects the UFS’s vision of becoming a centre of thought leadership on the African continent.

Research shaping teaching

As a Lecturer in Historical and Constructive Theology, Dr Khoeli’s research directly informs his methods of teaching. He approaches the classroom with a decolonised, historically grounded perspective that helps his students engage with both their spiritual heritage and contemporary realities critically.

“My research enabled me to analyse documents and align them to my objective,” he explains. “That is the strategy I use to collect the relevant reading materials to prepare for the students.” His teaching method fosters independent thinking and encourages students to become scholars who are both academically rigorous and socially conscious.

Overcoming challenges through community and conviction

Gaining access to the ZCC’s historical documents was a major challenge. The Church’s deep-rooted secrecy required careful relationship-building and persistent effort. But Dr Khoeli remained undeterred. “I intended to leave no stone unturned,” he says. Through perseverance, mentorship, and faith, he accessed essential material for his literature-based study.

He also credits colleagues at the Faculty of Theology and Religion for their belief in his potential at a time when few others would give him a chance. “It feels great,” he reflects. “I don’t have enough words to explain how overwhelming it feels to prove to yourself that you are the greatest.”

A vision beyond the doctorate

With his PhD now complete, Dr Khoeli is setting his sights on further research projects that contribute to the reconstruction of African religious history and knowledge systems. He sees his work as part of a larger mission to revive indigenous spirituality and cultural identity in the face of modern erasure.

“Modernity is converting us to be a nation without roots,” he cautions. His aim is to produce scholarship that restores heritage while also responding to the physical and spiritual needs of African communities, one of the fundamental goals of the UFS’s Vision 130.

Inspiring the next generation

To current and future UFS students, especially those considering postgraduate study, Dr Khoeli offers this message, with his own story as proof: “Believe in your purpose, even when the path seems uncertain… There is greatness in you.”

Through his academic excellence, teaching innovation, and dedication to African-centred research, Dr Khoeli exemplifies the values of the UFS’s Vision 130. His journey reflects a university that is not only committed to high-impact research but also to empowering scholars who bring change, both in the academic world and beyond.

News Archive

UFS breakthrough on SRC

2005-06-10

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) today unanimously approved the establishment of a Central Student Representative Council (CSRC) to ensure the democratic participation of students at its three campuses in the governance of the university.

In a major breakthrough and transformation step for student governance, the Central SRC will include representatives of the main campus in Bloemfontein, the Vista campus and the Qwaqwa campus of the UFS.

The establishment of the Central SRC follows the incorporation of the Qwaqwa campus into the UFS in January 2003 and the incorporation of the Vista campus in Bloemfontein into the UFS in January 2004.

According to Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs, today’s decision of Council is the result of a lengthy, negotiated agreement between the three campuses. Independent experts facilitated part of the process.

With the establishment of a Central SRC, the UFS has adopted a federal student governance model whereby the CSRC is the highest representative student body on matters of common concern for all students.

However, the three campuses of the UFS will retain autonomous SRC structures for each campus with powers and responsibilities for matters affecting the particular campus.

This arrangement will be reviewed after a year to make allowance for the phasing out of students at the Vista campus, as was agreed in the negotiations preceding the incorporation of that campus into the UFS.

The central SRC will have a maximum of 12 members made up of members of the campus SRCs, including the presidents of these three SRCs. In total, the main campus will have 5 representatives, the Qwaqwa campus will have 4 representatives and the Vista campus will have 3 representatives.

From these 12 members a central SRC president will be chosen on a quarterly basis to represent the general student body at Executive Management, Senate and Council.

In another key decision and significant step forward affecting student governance, the Council also approved amendments the constitution of the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the main campus. These amendments were the results of deliberations of student organizations, the SRC and the Student Parliament of the UFS main campus.

The amendments to the constitution of the main campus SRC determines that nine of the 18 SRC members must be elected by means of proportional representation and nine on the basis of an individual, first-past-the-post election.

This decision comes in the wake of calls by certain student organizations on main campus for proportional representation to be included as a means of electing student representatives.

The following portfolios of the main campus SRC will be contested by individual candidates on the basis of first past the post:

president
secretary
academic affairs
legal and constitutional affairs
student development
arts and culture
men’s internal liaison
ladies internal liaison
media, marketing and liaison

The following nine portfolios will be contested by affiliated organizations on a proportional representation basis.

two vice-presidents
treasurerdialogue and associations
transformation
campus affairs and recreation
sport
international affairs
community service

It also is a breakthrough to have all constitutional changes processed and approved at the June meeting of the Council, with all relevant student organizations having been part of the process and accepting the outcome of the process.

According to the chairperson of the UFS Council, Judge Faan Hancke, today’s unanimous decisions on student governance are an indication of how all UFS stakeholders represented in Council are committed to finding win-win solutions in the interest of the university.

“Once again the UFS has reached another milestone in its transformation and has shown the rest of the country that we are pioneers in the field of reaching intelligent solutions to complex situations,” Judge Hancke said.

According to Dr Moraka, the central SRC constitution will come into effect from the start of the second semester this year.

MEDIA RELEASE

Issued by: Lacea Loader
    Media Representative
    Tel: (051) 401-2584
    Cell: 083 645 2454
     E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

10 June 2005

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