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16 January 2025 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo Supplied
Jurie Blignaut
Jurie Blignaut, top achiever in the 2024 matric exams for quintile four schools in SA and finalist of the UFS 2024 Matriculant of the Year competition.
The University of the Free State (UFS) is proud to announce that the top achiever in the 2024 matric exams for quintile four schools in the country, Jurie Blignaut, will be studying towards an MBChB at the UFS from 2025.

Blignaut, a pupil of the Rustenburg High School, was one of the 14 finalists in the 2024 UFS Matriculant of the Year competition.

“Congratulations to Jurie on this wonderful achievement. We look forward to welcoming him and our cohort of 2025 first-year students to our campuses,” says Prof Anthea Rhoda, acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS. 

Boasting 11 distinctions and an average of 96,5%, Blignaut is not only an exceptional academic achiever but also participates in several cultural activities. He was the winner of the Kovsie Alumni Trust’s special award for personal cultural achievement in the final round of the competition. This head boy of his school is an excellent public speaker and musician. 

Blignaut’s highest achievement in public speaking was his national second place in last year’s ATKV public speaking competition in the section for Afrikaans home language. He plays the cello and has performed solo with the Pretoria Symphony Orchestra, was part of the school choir and band, and participated in the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. 

“On behalf of the university management, I would also like to congratulate Dr Mantlhake Maboya, MEC for Education in the Free State, and her executive team on the Free State being the top-achieving province in South Africa,” says Prof Rhoda. 

Other finalists in the 2024 UFS Matriculant of the Year competition who excelled during the matric exams include Susan Bender from Voortrekker High School – top achiever in the Free State province – and Chris Goosen from Grey College Secondary School, who is also one of the top achievers in the Free State. 

News Archive

Memorial lecture: Repositioning of the Free State Provincial Government
2005-08-29

The repositioning of the Free State Provincial Government to respond to the 21st century demands is the topic of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) JN Boshoff Memorial Lecture that takes place on campus next week.

The lecture will be delivered by Dr Charles Nwaila, Director-General of the Free State Provincial Government and Vice-Chairperson of the UFS Council and will take place on Thursday 8 September 2005 at 18:00 in the CR Swart Auditorium on campus.

The title of the lecture is Free State Government repositioning itself to respond to the 21st century demands with special focus on the human capital edge.

Dr Nwaila obtained his BA in 1984 at the University of the North, his BA Honors (English) in 1987 at Wits University, his MA (English) in 1990 at Durham University (UK) and D Litt (English) in 1997 from the University of Pretoria.  

Dr Nwaila is also Chairperson of the Forum of Heads of Departments, Governance and Administration and Secretary of the Executive Council.

Previously, Dr Nwaila was the Superintendent-General of the Free State Department of Education from 2002 to February 2005. Dr Nwaila also served in government as Chief Director in the Gauteng Department of Education. Dr Nwaila is highly experienced and his career includes serving as a headmaster in rural and urban schools, lecturer at the Soweto College of Education, and supervisor at ABET centres.

Enquiries can be directed to Ms Joan Nel at (051) 401-9301.

Media release

Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel:  (051) 401-2584
   Cell:  083 645 2454
   E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za

29 August 2005

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