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House Imperium reigns supreme at 2025 Spirit Cup

28 February 2025 | Story Onthatile Tikoe | Photo Ben Zwane

In an electrifying display of varsity spirit, House Imperium emerged victorious in not one, but two prestigious categories at the 2025 FTEN Athletics Spirit Cup for first-time entering students (FTENs). House Imperium took home top honours for both Best Day Residence and Best Co-Ed Residence for War Cries, solidifying their reputation as a force to be reckoned with!

The Spirit Cup, an annual tradition that brings together students from various residences, is a celebration of camaraderie, creativity, and sheer enthusiasm. This year’s competition was fierce, with each house bringing their A-game to the table. However, Imperium’s unwavering dedication and unrelenting passion ultimately paid off.

“It felt fulfilling due to hard work and dedication from our members becoming fruitful in the end,” said an elated Dr Nokuthula Tlalajoe-Mokhatla, Imperium Residence Head. “⁠The most memorable moment other than receiving the two trophies was watching the Griffins’ (House Imperium team members) winning spirit grow and ultimately seeing how united they were during the course of the event.”

House Imperium’s victory in the Best Day Residence category is a testament to the house’s exceptional teamwork and coordination. Their energetic performances, coupled with their impressive display of house pride, left judges and spectators alike in awe.

The Best Co-Ed Residence for War Cries award was a particularly sweet victory for Imperium, as it acknowledges the house’s ability to come together and produce a truly unforgettable experience, even amid adversity. “The biggest challenge we faced during the Spirit Cup was maintaining consistent participation from our members,” Dr Tlalajoe-Mokhatla added. “As a co-ed residence that prioritises the safety of our community, it became difficult to keep everyone involved as the night progressed. Unfortunately, the number of participants dwindled, preventing us from fully displaying our unity. However, given our commitment to ensuring the safety of our students, we understood the need for this and respected the decisions made."

As Imperium basks in the glory of their Spirit Cup triumph, the house remains committed to upholding the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and school spirit that have defined their journey. “The definition of Imperium is ‘absolute power’, and with its motto ‘Dum spiro spero’ being a Latin phrase that means ‘While I breathe, I hope’, that has and does and will continue to fuel our spirit in everything that we do.”

With their impressive Spirit Cup wins, House Imperium has undoubtedly cemented its status as a powerhouse in the world of day residences. As house members celebrate their achievements, they inspire their peers to strive for excellence and embody the spirit of friendly competition that defines the Spirit Cup!

News Archive

Renowned forensic scientist speaks at the UFS

2014-04-02

Forensic science is about the truth. At the presentation delivered by Dr David Klatzow, were, from the left: Tinus Viljoen, lecturer in Forensic Genetics, Dr Klatzow and Laura Heathfield, also a lecturer in Forensic Genetics.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

It is necessary for more research to be done in the field of forensic science in South Africa. This is according to Dr David Klatzow, well-known forensic scientist, during a lecture delivered at the University of the Free State (UFS) last week.

The university is offering, for the first time this year, a BSc degree in Forensic Science in the Department of Genetics. This three-year degree is, among others, directed at people working for the South African Police Service on crime scenes and on criminal cases in forensic laboratories. Students can also study up to PhD level, specialising in various forensic fields.

There is no accredited forensic laboratory in South Africa. “It is time to look differently at forensic science, and to deliver research papers on the subject. In light of the manner in which science is applied, we have to look differently at everything,” Dr Klatzow said.

Dr Klatzow praised the university for its chemistry-based course. “Chemistry is a strong basis for forensic science,” he said.

A paradigm shift in terms of forensic science is needed. Micro scratches on bullets, fingerprints, DNA, bite marks – all of these are forensic evidence that in the past led to people being wrongfully hanged. This evidence is not necessarily the alpha and omega of forensic science today. DNA, which seems to be the golden rule, can produce problems in itself. Because a person leaves DNA in his fingerprint, it is possible that DNA is transferred from one crime scene to another by forensic experts dusting for fingerprints. According to Dr Klatzow, this is only one of the problems that could be experienced with DNA evidence.

“No single set of forensic evidence is 100% effective or without problems. Rather approach the crime scene through a combination of evidence, by collecting fingerprints, DNA, etc. It is also very important to look at the context in which the events happened.

“A person sees what he expects to see. This causes huge problems in terms of forensic science. For example, if a criminal fits the profile of the perpetrator, it doesn’t follow that this specific criminal is the culprit. It isn’t what we don’t know that gives us trouble, it’s what we know that isn’t so,” Dr Klatzow said.

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