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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

Intravarsity brings Kovsie Campuses together
2012-05-09

 

Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses find each other in sport, arts and culture.

 

Intravarsity Photo Gallery
 

Intravarsity

Two campuses, one university, students coming together for a weekend filled with sport, arts and culture. That was the backdrop to Intravarsity 2012, which was held at the University of the Free State (UFS) on 4 and 5 May 2012.

Students from the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses came together on the Main Campus to compete in soccer, netball, cross-country, basketball, debating and chess.

The Qwaqwa Campus raked up victories in soccer with their men’s and women’s teams beating their Bloemfontein counterparts. The women’s team won 3-2, while the men triumphed with 1-0.

Bloemfontein Campus beat Qwaqwa Campus 34-12 in netball, 2-0 in chess and 36-34 in basketball.

However, Intravarsity is not just about sport. Students from the two campuses also engaged in art, cultural and leadership events. These events included a musical festival with top local DJs and a leadership breakfast attended by the student leadership from both campuses.

Talking at the leadership breakfast, Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo, Head of the Centre for Africa Studies, urged student leaders to strive for selfless leadership. “We want our student leaders to be better leaders than we are. Perhaps at one moment some of you may end up leading this country. I hope when your time comes you will save South Africa from the democratisation of shamelessness and corruption, which has gained the upper hand.”

Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, told the student leaders that the institution was in crisis five years ago. “Today our campuses are together. I hope the significance of the weekend is not lost.”

Intravarsity 2012 replaced this year’s Intervarsity. The annual Intervarsity between the UFS and North-West University (NWU) has been postponed to 2013.
 

Kovsie student leaders discuss leadership at Intravarsity


Student leaders from the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses attended a leadership breakfast during the Intravarsity weekend of 4 and 5 May 2012. The breakfast, held on the Main Campus, was hosted by the Division: Student Affairs.

Taking lessons in leadership from Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo, Head of the Centre for Africa Studies, the Kovsie student leaders discussed the duties and responsibilities of leadership, not only on our campuses but also throughout the country.
 
Highlighting the role of student leadership Prof. Kondlo told students they needed to be active partners in building a cohesive and united university.
 
“Student leadership is important in the life of any university; it creates conditions the university requires for the construction and production of knowledge. This is very important; hence cooperation between student leadership and management is so vital.”


Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo’s speech that he delivered at the leadership breakfast.
(pdf format)
 

 

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