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UFS’s Louzanne Coetzee selected to SASCOC Athletes Commission

01 April 2025 | Story Onthatile Tikoe | Photo Supplied

Louzanne Coetzee, a Paralympian and trailblazer in South African sport, has always embodied resilience, determination, and a passion for pushing boundaries. Recently, Coetzee achieved another milestone in her career – being selected to serve on the Athletes Commission of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) for the next Olympic and Paralympic cycle. For Coetzee, this recognition is not just a personal achievement but an opportunity to drive meaningful change for athletes, particularly those with disabilities.

“Being selected as part of the SASCOC Athletes Commission is a great privilege,” she says. “It gives me the opportunity to represent athletes at the SASCOC level and take their issues forward. I was part of the previous commission, and I look forward to building on the work we have already started.”

As a visually impaired (classification T11) athlete with a distinguished career, Coetzee’s experiences inform her approach to this new role. Although she is not directly part of the SASCOC board, her seat on the Athletes Commission allows her to act as a crucial advocate for athletes, contributing to decisions that impact South African sport. “The commission will have its training soon, and we will learn more about our new responsibilities there,” she explains. “But my focus is clear: I want to improve classification opportunities for para-athletes and contribute towards enhancing high-performance athlete support in South Africa.”

Her vision extends beyond just the athletes she represents – she recognises the unique challenges that athletes with disabilities face. “The drive to succeed needs to come from within. You, as an athlete, are responsible for your performance, and that mindset is essential,” Coetzee says. She adds that the commission hosts athlete indabas, where athletes can voice their concerns and share the challenges they face. “We will continue to address these issues and work towards solutions that make a real difference.”

Coetzee has a clear message for young athletes with disabilities: “Your drive for success needs to be part of who you are. You alone control whether you succeed. And when challenges arise, don’t be afraid to voice them and seek assistance. Be creative in finding solutions to your unique challenges.”

Her advice extends beyond the competitive arena. After balancing a successful athletic and academic career with leadership aspirations, she emphasises the importance of time management for those seeking to excel both in sport and leadership. “It might be hard to do both, but it’s achievable if you plan properly,” she says, offering valuable guidance for aspiring athletes who wish to follow in her footsteps.

Her passion for improving inclusivity and accessibility in South African sport drives her to advocate for greater awareness of para-sports. “I want more people to know these athletes and support them on their journey,” she says. “There needs to be more awareness regarding para-sport, and as athletes we need to speak up. If we don’t, things won’t change for the betterment of us as athletes.”

Despite her incredible achievements, Coetzee remains motivated by a simple love for her sport. “I really enjoy what I do. It’s not just a job; it’s a passion,” she says. She also emphasises the importance of diverse representation on boards like SASCOC. “It’s vital that athletes have a say in the decision-making processes that impact their careers,” she says. “If we don’t speak up, things won’t change.”

Her success is also a testament to the support and opportunities she has received throughout her journey. “Everyone at the University of the Free State (UFS), especially KovsieSport and the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS), has played a major role in my success,” she says. “The support has helped me compete at the highest level while remaining academically strong. I am truly honoured to be backed by such a great institution.”

Finally, Coetzee calls on the public to help raise awareness and support for athletes with disabilities. “Show support for these athletes, be interested in the sports they play, and watch Paralympic sports when available. Be vocal about your support, as that can make a huge difference in recognition and opportunity,” she encourages.

As Louzanne Coetzee continues to break barriers and inspire others, her commitment to improving the lives of athletes, especially those with disabilities, remains unwavering. Through her leadership on the SASCOC Athletes Commission, she is not just advocating for athletes today but also paving the way for future generations to succeed in an inclusive and supportive sporting environment.

News Archive

UFS in partnership with USA ’s Council on Economic Education

2006-02-01

A visit to the campus of the UFS was part of the recent NCEE workshop. Standing from the left are Prof Soehendro (Chairperson: National Education Standardisation Body of Indonesia), Prof Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS), Prof Elena Reshetnyak (Vice-Dean for International Programs, Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute, Kharkiv, Ukraine) and Mrs Annely Minnaar (local coordinator of the NCEE and professional officer of the UFS Department of Agricultural Economics). Seated are from left Prof Sutjipto ( Chairman of the Indonesian Council on Economic Education) and Dr Patty Elder (Vice-President of the NCEE's national programme).
Photo: Stephen Collett

UFS in partnership with USA ’s Council on Economic Education

A group of 50 teachers in Economics, learning facilitators and lecturers from eight countries attended a ‘train the trainers’ workshop this past week in Bloemfontein. The workshop forms part of the outreach programme of the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) in the United States of America’s (USA) effort to improve the quality of the training in Economics of teachers and lecturers across the world.

The UFS and the Free State Department of Education are the NCEE’s first partners in Africa. “The initiative started in the Free State because of the connection that existed between the UFS and the NCEE,” said Prof Klopper Oosthuizen, from the UFS Department of Agricultural Economics and initiator of the cooperative agreement with the NCEE.

Three faculties at the UFS are involved in the cooperative agreement namely the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, the Faculty of the Humanities and the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

A group of 84 teachers and learning facilitators in the Free State attended the ‘train the teacher’ workshop at the UFS in December 2005 in an effort to improve the quality of Economics classes at schools in the Free State. The last national workshop will take place in June 2006 in Bloemfontein. During this workshop a group of 40 teachers and learning facilitators in the Free State will be trained by the NCEE.

“Because of the success with the programme in the Free State Dr Patty Elder, Vice-President of the NCEE’s national programme, announced during last week’s workshop that the initiative will now be extended to the other provinces in the country,” said Prof Oosthuizen. According to Prof Oosthuizen discussions around a strategy to get the other provinces on board of the programme also took place between Dr Elder and Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean of the UFS Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Prof van Schalkwyk will take the lead in this regard.

“The presence of Dr Elder and the executive directors of similar education networks in the Ukraine and Indonesia is an indication of the NCEE’s seriousness with the programme in Africa,” said Prof Oosthuizen.

Prof Oosthuizen explained that South Africa is competing to obtain funds from the NCEE to have a total South African representation in the workshops in the following one-year training period.

South Africa has a good chance of establishing the network quickly because of the presentation of the last national workshop in Bloemfontein in June 2006. “We are going to try to have as much South African representation as possible at this workshop,” said Prof Oosthuizen.

Concurrent with the workshop in June 2006, a programme will be developed that will be attended by at least five other provincial education departments and representatives of five other universities. These representatives will then be able to observe on a first-hand basis how this action learning takes place and how the participating countries plan to establish and expand their networks,” said Prof Oosthuizen.

“The NCEE has been working together with international partners since 1992 to strengthen their Economics teaching systems. They have already succeeded in increasing literacy in Economics of schools in the USA and more than 20 East Block countries. More than 1,5 million learners in the East Block countries have already been served by this initiative,” said Prof Oosthuizen.

According to Prof Oosthuizen the focus of the NCEE has since 2004 moved away from the East Block countries to Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. The representatives that attended last week’s workshop were from South Africa, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Indonesia, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay. Countries such as Egypt, who was also present at last week’s workshop, are eager to start a similar network.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
31 January 2006

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