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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

Zahara headlining Kovsie Extravaganza
2012-10-03

Photo: Thabo Kessah
2 September 2012

On Saturday 13 October 2012, the university will host the annual Kovsie Extravaganza. The music festival, named Zircus, will showcase the best of our student performers as well as the multiple South African Music Award-winning singing sensation, Zahara.

The musician will share the stage with local groups such as the UFS Choir, the Chamber Choir as well as Voices Inc. The Sêr groups of the residences Emily Hobhouse, Sonnedou, Tswelopele, Vishuis, Villa Bravado and Welwitchia have also been lined up for the show. Veritas and Marjolein, the winners of the Campus Sêr competition who came third and second respectively in the National Sêr competition are also part of the exciting line-up.

The show, the Arts and Culture office's final event of the year, promises to wow and thrill students, staff and members of the public with some breath-taking performances from the wide array of talent that Kovsies’ possesses.Tickets are available in Office 5 and 6, Thakaneng Bridge with students paying R50 while the public pay R80.

Venue: Callie Human Centre
Date: 13 October 2012
Time: 19:30

For more information call 051 401 9876/2819.


 

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