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Mandela Day
The DiMTEC team marked Mandela Day by planting indigenous trees on campus, promoting sustainability and community resilience through nature-based solutions.

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Centre for Disaster Management Training and Education Centre (DiMTEC) commemorated Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July by planting trees that help embed nature-based solutions at the heart of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

“It’s a simple act, yet deeply symbolic – a commitment to sustainability, climate resilience, and future generations,” said Dr Tlou Raphela-Masuku, a Senior Lecturer at DiMTEC. “Nature-based solutions, such as planting indigenous trees, are not just theoretical strategies; they are practical tools to reduce disaster risk, restore ecosystems, and build community resilience.” 

One of the trees planted, the indigenous, resilient Wild Olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana), known locally as Mohlware, embodies the drive to place nature-based solutions at the forefront of disaster risk reduction. “This tree is drought-tolerant and well-adapted to Bloemfontein’s semi-arid climate,” Dr Raphela-Masuku explained. “It stabilises soil, prevents erosion, supports biodiversity, and cools urban spaces. Its thick canopy shelters birds and small mammals, while its deep roots nourish and protect the earth. In a warming world, every Wild Olive planted is a small act of resistance against climate change.” 

 

Collaborative programme

Dr Raphela-Masuku said the tree-planting programme, a collaboration with UFS Protection Services and University Estates, ties directly into the principles the centre teaches in its Master's of Disaster Management module Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (ECO-DRR). 

“From the viewpoint of the African Union’s Science and Technology Advisory Group, it is befitting that as part of the work dedicated to disaster risk reduction initiatives in the African continent, this day is a reminder that we promote community service, resilience and social justice in the ‘Africa we want’. Furthermore, Mandela Day activities align with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR)’s priorities of understanding risks and strengthening disaster governance at all levels,” remarked Prof Alice Ncube, an Associate Professor at DiMTEC.

She added that, “In a city like Bloemfontein, which is not exempt from drought accelerating frequently and temperatures rising yearly, choosing to plant climate-resilient, indigenous species isn’t merely wise, it’s necessary. Trees like the Wild Olive don’t just provide shade and beauty; they help cool urban environments, support biodiversity, and protect our university community from floods and storms. They represent a forward-thinking investment in a sustainable, climate-adapted future. Mandela Day reminds us that service should be continuous, not confined to a single day. A tree planted today will outlive us, offering shade, shelter, and hope to those who come after. As Mandela himself said, ‘The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.’”

 

Commitment to change

Mandela Day also fits in with the UFS’ Vision 130 strategic intent. It is a day that reminds us that everyone has the power to make a difference. In the spirit of Madiba’s legacy, we can commit to fostering social justice, human dignity, and sustainable development through academic excellence and meaningful community engagement. In the face of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, each seed we plant becomes an act of defiance as well as an act of hope.

Prof Samuel Adelabu, Vice-Dean: Postgraduate and Research in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, applauded the team’s efforts. “We are planting trees that represent sustainability, things that can stay for long. I believe we are all practising sustainability in this initiative we are doing today to show that the university, as well as the faculties, are in line with sustainability.” 

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Twee broers lewer intreerede
2004-06-10

‘n Unieke geleentheid sal homself môre, 9 Junie 2004, voordoen wanneer twee broers - proff Francois en Janse Tolmie - tydens dieselfde geleentheid hul intreeredes aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) sal lewer.

Prof Francois Tolmie is verbonde aan die UV se Departement Nuwe Testament en die onderwerp van sy lesing is Die impak van die metodologie op die verstaan van die Nuwe Testament. Prof Janse Tolmie, sy jonger broer, is verbonde aan die UV se Departement Rekenaarwetenskap en Informatika en die onderwerp van sy lesing is Die rol van inligtingstegnologie in kennisbestuur.

Hoewel die studievelde vér verwyderd staan, klop die twee broers se missies wat betref die terugploeg van die verworwe vakkennis ten bate van die gemeenskap. Prof Francois Tolmie is nóú betrokke by dowes en Prof Janse Tolmie tap weer kunsmatige intelligensie ten bate van die mediese wetenskap en geestesgesondheid.

Prof Francois Tolmie verwerf die grade BA, BA Honneurs (Grieks), MA (Grieks), B Th en M Th almal cum laude aan die UV. In 1992 verwerf hy 'n D Th (Nuwe Testament) en in 2004 'n Ph D (Grieks) aan dieselfde universiteit. Na sy militêre diens as kapelaan in Walvisbaai aanvaar hy 'n beroep na die NG-gemeente Walvisbaai. Hy begin sy akademiese loopbaan op 1 April 1990 as senior lektor in die Departement Nuwe Testament en word in 1999 tot medeprofessor en in 2003 tot professor bevorder.

Sy navorsingspesialiteit is die Johannesevangelie en die Brief aan die Galasiërs. Hy is tesourier van die Nuwe Testamentiese Werksgemeenskap van Suid-Afrika, lid van die Society of Biblical Literature en die Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, redakteur van Acta Theologica en assistent-redakteur van Neotestamentica. Hy het reeds 34 artikels in geakkrediteerde tydskrifte gepubliseer, asook drie populêr-wetenskaplike boeke en talle bydraes in populêr-wetenskaplike boeke. Hy het twee akademiese boeke in die buiteland gepubliseer - onderskeidelik in Nederland en in die VSA. Later vanjaar verskyn 'n derde akademiese boek in Duitsland. Hy is ook een van die vertalers van die Afrikaanse Bybel vir Dowes.

Prof Janse Tolmie verwerf die grade B Sc, B Sc (Hons) en M Sc (Cum Laude) in Rekenaarwetenskap aan die UV.

Hy is vanaf 1989 betrokke by die UV en was ook ’n dosent aan die Militêre Akademie in Saldanhabaai in 1990/91 en het klas gegee by DePaul Universiteit in Chicago in 2002.

In 1992 is hy vir ses maande gesekondeer na ’n patologiese firma, Van Drimmelen en Vennote, in Johannesburg vir die ontwikkeling van kennisgebaseerde sagteware. Met hierdie projek word hy een van slegs ’n handjievol navorsers in die wêreld wat daarin kon slaag om ’n mediese kundigheidstelsel te ontwikkel wat werklik gebruik word.

Hy verwerf sy Ph D in 1994 en in 1994/95 doen hy navorsing aan die Besigheidskool van Carleton Universiteit in Ottawa, Kanada. Hy word in 1997 bevorder tot mede-professor en in 2003 tot volprofessor. Vanaf 2003 tree hy op as departementele voorsitter van die UV se Departement Rekenaarwetenskap en Informatika.

Hy het meer as 30 publikasies al die lig laat sien, insluitend verskeie internasionale kongresbydraes en artikels in geakkrediteerde joernale. Hy was ook vir 2 siklusse geëvalueer by die NRF. Sy portfolio sluit in die ontwikkeling van sagteware of prototipes vir groot maatskappye soos Van Drimmelen en Vennote en Bayer Diagnostics (VSA). Sy privaatbesigheid fokus op die ontwikkeling van nismarksagteware vir tersiêre instellings. Die sagteware word tans gebruik deur afdelings aan verskeie universiteite in Suid-Afrika.

Die geleentheid vind om 19:00 in die CR Swart-ouditorium op die kampus plaas.

MEDIAVERKLARING

Uitgereik deur: Lacea Loader
Mediaverteenwoordiger
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Sel: 083 645 2454
E-pos: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
 

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