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UFS launches 2025/2026 student elections with strong focus on integrity and inclusivity

04 August 2025 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo André Damons

Prof Sethulego Matebesi, Chairperson of the University of the Free State Elections Logistics Committee for 2025 and Head of the Department of Sociology.

The 2025/2026 Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC) and Faculty Student Council (FSC) elections are officially underway at the University of the Free State (UFS), with nominations, which took place from 28 July to 1 August. The Elections Logistics Committee (ELC), chaired by Prof Sethulego Matebesi – also Head of the Department of Sociology – has implemented a robust framework to ensure that the process is transparent, fair, and inclusive.

Since the introduction of online voting in 2021, the UFS has been refining the system to increase accessibility, efficiency, and transparency. “Online voting has become a key part of our electoral process, offering students a convenient, secure, and transparent way to participate,” said Prof Matebesi. This year, the ELC also launched extended voter education campaigns, outlined clear procedural guidelines, and improved real-time monitoring mechanisms to build student trust and engagement.

Voting in the 2025/2026 CSRC and FSC elections will take place from 20 to 22 August 2025. Students are encouraged to use the online platform to cast their votes during this period.

At the heart of the elections is the principle of a ‘free and fair’ process. “At the UFS, this means creating an environment where all candidates have equal access to resources and platforms, and students can vote without fear or intimidation,” Prof Matebesi explained. The ELC is committed to ensuring that every student voice is heard – especially those of first-year students and others not affiliated with political structures.

Past challenges, such as low voter turnout, misinformation, and disruptive conduct during manifesto presentations, have informed this year’s strategy. “To address these issues, we have enhanced engagement through social media, webinars, and SMS reminders. I am impressed with how students and their leadership have embraced the feedback mechanisms we have introduced,” said Prof Matebesi.

Candidates and campaign teams are expected to uphold a strict code of conduct aligned with the Constitution of the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC). Enforcement measures range from warnings to disqualification in cases of misconduct. “Instilling respect and good conduct have a lasting impact. It is essential that candidates appreciate the responsibility that comes with contesting in these elections,” he added.

Now that the nomination phase has closed, Prof Matebesi encourages students to actively participate in the next phases. “Vote, engage with candidates, and promote respectful dialogue. Your participation strengthens student democracy and shapes the future of our governance structures. Together, we can create an election process that reflects integrity, diversity, and shared purpose.”

News Archive

UFS receives R13,7 Million for Research into Prehistoric Organisms

2007-03-27

Some of the guests attending the launch of the research contract are: Dr Siyabulela Ntutela (Deputy Director: Biotechnology at the Department of Science and Technology), Dr Godfrey Netswera (Manager of Thuthuka and the Support Programme at the National Research Foundation (NRF)), Dr Esta van Heerden (Platform Manager and lecturer at the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the UFS), Mr Butana Mboniswa (Chief Executive Officer of BioPAD), and Mr Vuyisele Phehani (Portfolio Manager for BioPAD).
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

The University of the Free State (UFS) has been awarded a massive R13,7 million contract to conduct research into prehistoric micro-organisms which live under extreme conditions, for example in mineshafts.

This is one of the biggest research contracts awarded to the UFS in recent years.

The biotechnology research contract was awarded to the UFS by BioPAD, a South African biotechnology company that brokers partnerships between researchers, entrepreneurs, business, government and other stakeholders to promote innovation and create sustainable biotechnology businesses.

The project is endorsed by the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation (NRF), which contributes to the bursaries of the 17 postgraduate students on the programme.

The contract involves the establishment of a Platform for Metagenomics - a technique which allows researchers to extract the DNA from microbes in their natural environment and investigate it in a laboratory.

“Through this platform we will be able to understand deepmine microbial populations
and their potential application in the search for life in outer space. It is most likely
that, if life were to be found on other planets in our solar system, it would probably
resemble that which existed millions of years ago on earth. Apart from all this, these
organisms have unique properties one can exploit in biotechnological application for
South Africa and its community,” said Dr Esta van Heerden, platform manager and
lecturer at the UFS Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology.
She is assisted by her collegues, Prof. Derek Litthauer and Dr Lizelle Piater.

“The platform aims to tap into the unique genetic material in South African mines
which will lead to the discovery of new genes and their products. These new and unique products will find application in the medical field (anti-cancer, anti-bacterial en anti-viral cures), the industrial sector (nanotechnology, commercial washing agents and the food industry), environmental sector (pollution management, demolition of harmful metals and other toxic waste),” said Dr Van Heerden.

According to Dr Van Heerden, the Metagenomics Platforms stems from the Life in
Extreme Environments (LExEN) programme which was started in 1994 by Princeton
University in the United States of America (USA) in South African mines with grants
from among others the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and
the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the USA. Other international collaborators
on the project include Geosynec Consultants Inc. (USA), Oak Ridge National
Laboratory (USA), the University of Tennessee (USA) and in South Africa the
Universities of the Witwatersrand, North West and Limpopo and companies like BHP
Billiton, MINTEK and mining companies like Harmony, Gold Fields and AngloGold
Ashanti.

The research field laboratory of the Metagenomics Platform, which was situated in
Glen Harvey, was moved to the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein. “In this
way the university has become the central hub for all research programmes. We are
also the liaison between the LExEN programme and the various mining companies
involved,” said Dr Van Heerden. The new laboratory was introduced during the
launch of the research contract.

“Our decision to commit BioPAD to this project stems from the company’s commitment to advance human capacity development to strengthen South Africa’s research infrastructure. It is also part of our aim to create and protect intellectual property,” said Mr Butana Mboniswa, Chief Executive Officer of BioPAD.

Talking on behalf of the UFS senior management, Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Vice-Rector
of Academic Operations, said that the university shares the excitement to be part of
the exploration of unknown forms of life, the discovery of new genes and
their products and in applying newly gained knowledge to better understand our
universe.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
27 March 2007

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