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Intsika Garden to encourage engagement and sustainability

17 January 2025 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Supplied

Intsika Food Garden — The newly redeveloped Intsika Garden on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus, designed to promote accessibility, sustainability, and community engagement. The garden's flexible spaces offer opportunities for students to relax, collaborate, and connect with one another.

The UFS Qwaqwa Campus is transforming its landscape to provide more than just a physical connection between buildings. The redevelopment of the garden in front of the Intsika Building marks a shift towards integrating communal spaces that support interaction, inclusivity, and sustainability.

According to Nico Janse van Rensburg, Senior Director: Facilities Planning at University Estates, the primary aim of the redevelopment is to celebrate the diversity of the university as its ‘greatest asset’ by creating spaces that promote community engagement. “Previously, the garden was underutilised and did not connect properly to the rest of the campus’ circulation network. We identified an opportunity to develop it into a social space where academia and visitors can connect,” Van Rensburg explained.

Accessibility and sustainability

The Intsika Garden redevelopment aligns with the broader strategic goals of the institution, particularly in infrastructure planning. The project focuses on making the space universally accessible, ensuring that it caters for people with disabilities while improving overall circulation on the campus. “The development strives to improve the accessibility to different functions on the campus by making the space and circulation routes universally accessible,” said Van Rensburg.

This initiative is also embedded in the university’s commitment to sustainability, as waterwise plants, artificial grass, and low maintenance finishes have been carefully selected to reduce the environmental footprint. “Artificial grass was used in combination with natural vegetation, which requires minimal water and maintenance,” he added.

In addition to accessibility, sustainability plays a central role in the redevelopment. The project is designed to contribute to the university’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint by promoting pedestrian-friendly spaces and minimising the reliance on fossil-fuel-driven vehicles.

Van Rensburg highlighted the efficiency gains in the management of green spaces, noting that the design will reduce the frequency of maintenance, which in turn reduces carbon emissions and energy consumption. “By promoting pedestrian circulation and integration with public transport, the use of vehicles using fossil fuels is minimised,” he said. Walking, he added, is not only a more environmentally friendly option, but also promotes the health and well-being of the campus community.

Social spaces for collaboration

The redevelopment introduces six new social nodes across the campus, each offering unique opportunities for student engagement and collaboration. “Smaller pockets have been created, which form part of the larger public space, resulting in a microclimate where people can relax and socialise,” Van Rensburg explained.

The spaces are designed with flexibility in mind, featuring various seating arrangements, including spaces for meetings and group collaborations. Among the new additions is an amphitheatre, which provides a multifunctional space for lectures, performances, and other activities. “Flexible communal spaces were created for recreational opportunities, resulting in a balanced campus lifestyle,” Van Rensburg added.

Recognising the increasing reliance on technology, the redevelopment also incorporates features such as charging stations and Wi-Fi connectivity. The spaces are envisioned as ‘information zones’, providing students and staff with convenient access to online resources while they relax or connect outdoors. “With Wi-Fi connectivity, the spaces function as an extension to traditional libraries,” noted Van Rensburg.

While the Intsika Garden redevelopment is a significant step forward, plans are already underway for further infrastructure and green initiatives. “The soft landscaping and signage contracts were awarded for the Intsika Garden,” Van Rensburg confirmed. He also revealed that much-needed renovations to the front of the Intsika Building are in the pipeline, with a contractor soon to be appointed for the construction work. The planned upgrade will align with the garden’s aesthetics by drawing inspiration from indigenous art and culture, creating a cohesive identity for the campus.

As these developments progress into 2025, the Qwaqwa Campus will continue to evolve, offering students and staff spaces that not only enhance their academic experience, but also contribute to a more sustainable and connected environment.

News Archive

UFS policies want to help all students

2005-03-09

The death of Hannes van Rensburg, a first-year student from the JBM Hertzog residence, this past weekend, placed various aspects of student life in the spotlight. Dr Natie Luyt, Dean: Student Affairs at the University of the Free State (UFS), and the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the UFS explain which policies are in place to counter these practices.

At all tertiary institutions there are rules and policies to guide students and provide direction for certain behaviour and practices. The same applies to the University of the Free State (UFS).

“At the beginning of the year the UFS provides every residence committee with a manual to establish a framework for meaningful and orderly relations within and among residences on the campus,” said Dr Natie Luyt.

However, it is one thing to set rules, but it is an impossible task to enforce all aspects thereof. Policies currently in place include an alcohol policy, a policy on the induction of first years and a policy on banned practices in residence orientation.

“The alcohol policy was compiled in cooperation with students and their input was constantly asked,” said Dr Luyt. We also liaise on a continuous basis with residences and senior students to encourage the responsible use of alcohol, especially around activities like intervarsities and Rag.

In the policy, recognition is given to the right and voluntary and informed choice of every individual to use alcohol on the UFS campus in a responsible way.

Guidelines for the use of alcohol on campus include among others the following:

Only authorised points of sale will be permitted on campus. In this case it is the various league halls in most of the male residences on campus.

Alcohol will only be made available during fixed times and is not permitted in residence rooms.

All alcohol-related functions are regulated and an application for a temporary alcohol license must be obtained from the Dean: Student Affairs.

The UFS obtained a liquor license in March 2004 which must be administered by senior leagues in various residences on campus. Normal liquor license conditions and the county’s liquor laws apply. Liquor can only be sold to members of the senior league (or special guests) and also to persons over the age of 18 years. Liquor may not be used in public (outside the senior league) or on campus.

The senior leagues may only be open three nights per week and within prescribed times. No liquor could be used in any other place than the senior league halls. Senior leagues could buy liquor from club monies generated by themselves.

The right of senior leagues to serve liquor was suspended by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor the UFS, Prof Frederick Fourie, on Monday 7 March 2005 – pending an investigation of the recent events on campus.

The policy on banned practices include among others that no swearing and shouting at first-years may take place, no first-year student may be targeted individually, no senior may enter the room of a first-year student without an invitation or permission from that first-year student and no senior under the influence of alcohol may have contact with first-year students.

The induction of first-year students takes place by means of three functions, namely an information function (the introduction to the various facets and possibilities of the university system), an induction function (the first-year student becomes involved in various campus and residence activities) and a development function (the first-year student is motivated to take charge of his development potential).

No first-year induction activity may commence before the residence committee’s contracting with the senior students is not completed. This meeting is attended by the residence head and all senior students. The induction policy, residence induction policy of first-year students and first-year rules are discussed.

The senior students sign an attendance list to show that he/she was informed about the policies. A senior who does not sign, may not be involved with any induction session with first-year students.

No physical contact is allowed during the conclusion of the first-year students’ official induction period. The induction of first-year students as full members of the residence is a prestige event, presented by the residence committee. No physical or degrading activities may take place.

The Dean: Student Affairs also has a daily meeting with the primarii of all the residences during the induction period. This helps to monitor the situation and counter any problem behaviour or tendencies.

“Enforced behaviour – where a senior student forces a first-year student to do something against his/her own free wil – is not allowed. Where there is any sign of this, it is met wortel en tak uitgeroei,” said Dr Luyt.

“In any group of people – whether it is a group of students or people at a workplace – there will always be those who will break the rules or those who would like to see how far they could push it.

The SRC, the UFS management and myself are and will stay committed to make each student’s life on this campus a school of learning and an experience which would be remembered for ever,” said Dr Luyt.

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