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Louzanne Coetzee
Louzanne Coetzee, a visually impaired Paralympic champion, has been elected to SASCOC’s Athletes Commission.

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

Four modernised controlled environment cabinets inaugurated
2006-07-27

Photographed in a controlled environment cabinet were at the back from the left:  Mr Adriaan Hugo (head of the UFS Electronics and Mechanisation Division), Prof Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS) and Prof Koos Terblans (lecturer at the UFS Department of Physics).  In front is Mr Koos Uys (engineering consultant from Experto Designa who helped with the cooling systems of the cabinets).
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

Different look for research in controlled circumstances at the UFS  

Research in controlled circumstances at the University of the Free State (UFS) turned a new page today with the inauguration of four modernised controlled environment cabinets of the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences.

“The controlled environment cabinets, which are situated next to the glass houses on the eastern side of the Agriculture Building on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein, were installed in the early 1980’s.  The cabinets, used for research purposes in controlled circumstances by the UFS for many years, became dysfunctional and needed to be repaired and put into use again,” said Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS.

“The cabinets are used by the agronomics, horticulture and soil science divisions of the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences to control factors such as the temperature, the intensity and quality of light, synthesis and humidity.  This is done 24 hours a day, with hourly intervals,” said Prof Van Schalkwyk.

The cabinets are ideally suited to determine the joint and separate effects of these factors on the growth of plants.  The adaptability of plants to climate can also be investigated under controlled circumstances.  All of this leads to a better understanding of the growth and development process of plants, more specifically that of agricultural crops. 

“The effect of these environmental factors on the effectiveness of insect killers such as fungus killers, insecticide and weed killers can also be investigated and can help to explain the damage that is sometimes experienced, or even prevent the damage if the research is timeously,” said Prof Van Schalkwyk.

A new cabinet can cost between R2-3 million, depending on the degree of sophistication.  “Although controlled environment cabinets have been used for agricultural research for a long time, it has become costly to maintain them     and even more impossible to purchase new ones,” said Prof Van Schalkwyk.

According to Prof Van Schalkwyk the cabinets were re-built by die UFS Electronics and Mechanisation Division.  Some of the mechanisms were also replaced and computerised.   

“The re-building and mechanisation of the cabinets were funded by the faculty and because the work was done by our own staff, an amount of about R1 million was saved.  The maintenance costs will now be lower as the cabinets are specifically tailor made for our research needs,” said Prof Van Schalkwyk.

Where all monitoring was done manually in the past, the cabinets can now be controlled with a computer.  This programme was designed by Prof Koos Terblans from the UFS Department of Physics. 

According to Prof Van Schalkwyk the modernisation of the cabinets is part of the faculty’s larger strategy to get its instruments and apparatus up to world standards.  “With this project we have proved that we can find a solution for a problem ourselves and that there are ways to get old apparatus functional again,” said Prof Van Schalkwyk.

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

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