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28 February 2025 | Story Onthatile Tikoe | Photo Ben Zwane
House Imperium
House Imperium, one of the West College residences at the University of the Free State, won the 2025 FTEN Athletics Spirit Cup on 19 February 2025.

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

UFS Business School positioned as key partner in the fight against fraud
2016-11-21

A collaborative effort to curb the scourge of fraud in public and private companies has been identified as the most effective method at the launch of International Fraud Awareness week, 13-19 November.  The programme kicked off with a media briefing held in Bloemfontein, under the theme: “Curb Fraud and Accelerate Economic Transformation”.  At this occasion, the Free State Provincial Treasury and key partner institutions which are: UFS Business School, Standard Bank, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and PricewaterhouseCoopers, made a pronouncement on their efforts to stop fraud in public and private institutions.

Strategic partnerships empower companies
The UFS Business School, in collaboration with Strategic Investigations and Seminars, formed a collaborative effort to present the Advanced Certificate in Fraud Examination, thus empowering individual companies to have within their ranks, certified fraud examiners.  The programme is a registered SAQA, NQF level 7 course comprising four modules; Law, Investigation, Fraud Prevention, Detection and Ethics, Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes. Students are assisted to continue to the ACFE Board examination in order to become internationally accredited. In 2016, a new e-learning model was introduced to decrease the time spent away from the workplace, thereby encouraging more professionals to enrol.

Commitment is key driving force

Speaking at the media briefing, Jo’Anni Deacon, Senior Officer at the UFS Business School, said “by presenting the programme, the university had positioned itself as a key partner with provincial government and other entities in the fight against fraud”.

Head of Department in the Free State Provincial Treasury, Godfrey Mahlatsi, reiterated the stance of zero tolerance against fraud, and that the department was committed to ensuring that this partnership continued to grow, enabling all to strengthen the message that fraud and corruption undermined the goals and objectives of the National Development Plan.

Gerhard Geldenhuys, Director of PwC Forensic Services said: “I believe we are making a difference and further believe that the time for dialogue on fraud is now better than ever.”

The week-long campaign encourages employees (both in the public and private sector), and business leaders, to proactively take action to minimise the impact of fraud in their environments.

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