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24 July 2025 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Supplied
Mandela Day event at Heidedal Child and Youth Centre
Attending the Mandela Day event at Heidedal Child and Youth Centre, from left to right: Prof Joseph Pali, Associate Professor in the Department of Practical and Missional Theology; Bishop Billyboy Ramahlele, Director of Community Engagement; Jeannet Molopyane, Director of UFS Library and Information Services; Prof John Klaasen, Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion; Caroline Nombula, Heidedal Child and Youth Care Centre; and Kegomodicwe Phuthi, Assistant Director for Marketing and Community Engagement at UFS Library and Information Services.
In a powerful display of its commitment to societal transformation, the University of the Free State (UFS) marked Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July with a collaborative outreach initiative at the Heidedal Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC). 

Driven by the theme of empowerment through education and creativity, the Faculty of Theology and Religion, Library and Information Services (LIS), Community Engagement Office, School of Financial Planning Law, and UFS Makerspace partnered to officially launch a library at the centre – a milestone aimed at fostering a love of reading and academic development among the youth.

Jeanette Molopyane, Director of LIS, emphasised the lasting impact of the project. “The establishment of this library is about making a meaningful and enduring difference in the lives of these children. Through regular interaction with books and the reading club, we aim to inspire a love for reading that will enhance intellectual growth, build confidence, and open doors to a brighter future,” she said. 

Molopyane added that the initiative reflects UFS’s broader mission to empower communities and support the development of future leaders beyond the borders of its campuses. 

Prof John Klaasen, Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion, underscored the importance of engaged scholarship in meaningful research. “This was not just a day of service but a demonstration of what is possible through collaboration. It reflects a theology and religion that serves beyond the classroom and affirms our collective role in shaping a better future for all,” he noted. “Mandela Day reminds us of our calling to reconciliation, compassion, and shared responsibility – values that must anchor our teaching, research, and outreach.”

The initiative left a profound impression on the Heidedal CYCC. Carolina Nombula, representing the Centre, shared the gratitude of the staff and children: “Mandela Day brought a deep sense of joy, belonging, and dignity. The library, especially, is life-changing – it provides a safe, inspiring space for learning, imagination, and personal growth. It reminds our children that they matter, their dreams are valid, and they are not forgotten.”

Through collaborative efforts such as this, the UFS continues to give tangible expression to its mandate as a caring institution – one that champions opportunity, nurtures potential, and works towards a more equitable and inclusive society. 

News Archive

Our 2014/15 male and female Rag finalists announced
2014-11-10

More than 100 applied. Only 20 remain.

From the ranks of the semi-finalists – who managed to raise an astonishing R250 000.00 for the Kovsie Rag CS (Receive and Give Community Service) – we now have the names of our 20 finalists.

The Brutal Fruit UFS Rag CS Queen finalists are:

  • Ansunel Schutte
  • Carla de Bruyn
  • Chante Marais
  • Charissa Venter
  • Diederi Venter
  • Erne van Wyk
  • Karen Janse van Rensburg
  • Mia van Rensburg
  • Selebogo Lekalake
  • Stephanie Enslin

The Brutal Fruit UFS Mr Rag CS finalists are:

  • Marcques Fourie
  • Americo Lottering
  • Brandon van Wyk
  • Danzel Rademan
  • Kabelo Mashabe
  • Ludwig Dohne
  • Marius Croucamp
  • Thomas Kolathu
  • Spurgeon Pijoos
  • Wilmar van Niekerk

These 20 finalists had to choose a charity or organization for which they will continue to raise funds. With the support of the public and business sector, these young men and women will be able to continue to make a difference in our community.

With a current turnover of about R5.5 million, we are today reckoned as the largest Rag CS per capita in South Africa. Goods and/or money to the value of R2 million were distributed by Kovsie Rag CS during the 2013/14 book year – to the benefit of numerous charities.

The annual Brutal Fruit UFS Rag CS Coronation Ball has become a highlight on the Free State’s social calendar. The UFS RAG CS Queen and UFS Mr RAG CS 2015 will be crowned at this lustrous event on 13 February 2015.

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