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Thabiso Khoeli
Dr Thabiso Khoeli, Lecturer in Historical and Constructive Theology at the UFS, celebrates the completion of his PhD.

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

'England, the English and the problem of education in South Africa.’
2013-09-26

 

 

Attending the lecture were, from the left: Dr Susan Brokensha, Senior Lecturer: Department of English; Prof Rosemary Gray, Professor Emeritus (Honorary Life Vice-President of the English Academy of Southern Africa); Prof Jonathan Jansen; and Dr Thinus Conradie, Lecturer: Department of English.
Photo: Johan Roux
26 September 2013

 

Prof Jonathan Jansen: Lecture

The university celebrated the life of one of South Africa's most renowned art critics, hosting the 2013 English Academy’s Percy Baneshik Memorial Lecture on the Bloemfontein Campus.

The keynote lecture was delivered by Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, who joined a distinguished list of speakers to have delivered the lecture. Presented annually by the English Academy of Southern Africa, an association dedicated to promoting the effective use of English as a dynamic language in Southern Africa, past speakers include Prof Es’kia Mphahlele, Prof Njabulo Ndebele, Dr Alan Paton and Prof Albie Sachs. The lecture is hosted at venues across the country and this year Bloemfontein paid tribute to Percy Baneshik.

In his speech Not even colonial born: England, the English and the problem of education in South Africa,' Prof Jansen addressed the dilemma of the politics of language in both school and university education today.

Talking about the dominance of English in schools, Prof Jansen said it is the language of choice because indigenous languages are so poorly taught. "Simply learning in your mother tongue is absolutely no guarantee of improved learning gains in school. The problem is not the language of instruction; it is the quality of teaching, the knowledge of curriculum and the stability of the school."

Prof Jansen told the audience in the CR Swart Hall that Afrikaans-exclusive, or even Afrikaans-dominant white schools represent a serious threat to race relations in South Africa. "You simply cannot prepare young people for dealing with the scars of our violent past without creating optimal opportunities in the educational environment for living and learning together."

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