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12 June 2025 | Story André Damons | Photo Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation
Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa
Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, a specialist in indigenous knowledge systems from the Department of Pharmacology at the University of the Free State (UFS), and Jansie Niehaus, NSTF Executive Director and Company Director, at the Second Ministerial Belt and Road Science and Technology conference (BRT) in China.

Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, a specialist in indigenous knowledge systems from the Department of Pharmacology at the University of the Free State (UFS), is part of a delegation with Prof Blade Nzimande, minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), to the Second Ministerial Belt and Road Science and Technology conference (BRT) in China. 

The conference is being held in Chengdu from 11-12 June 2025 and will gather representatives from state-level agencies, scientific academies, and innovation enterprises from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The theme of the conference is “Together for Innovation, Development for All – Jointly Building a Scientific and Technological Innovation Community for the Belt and Road”. 

Prof Matsabisa, Research Director of the African Medicines Innovations and Technologies Development at the UFS, is the only person from a South African university to be invited by Prof Nzimande as part of this ministerial trip. Other members of the delegation include members from the minister’s department, CEOs and board members of agencies that report to the DSTI – namely Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), National Advisory Council on Innovation, Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa, South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), South African National Space Agency and the National Research Foundation (NRF). 

As a guest professor at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) in Beijing, Prof Matsabisa accompanied the delegation on a visit to the university where he has a longstanding relationship. The UFS has the only active university collaboration within the China-South African Science and Technology bilateral agreement.

 

Supporting around aspects of traditional medicine 

According to a statement on the South African government website, Prof Nzimande expressed the department’s intention to strengthen collaboration with the Beijing University and the Aerospace Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in the areas of indigenous knowledge systems and space science, respectively. The minister visited both the BUCM and the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences this week. 

“It is an honour to be part of the minister’s delegation given that I am the only person from a university amongst the agencies. The UFS is indeed very honoured to have been the only one identified to be in this ministerial trip. I am honoured to make connections with the decision-makers such as the chairperson of the board of TIA and the CEO of NSTF and all the other CEOs. It’s indeed an honour to share our work with people from NACI and the minister’s office at DSTI. This really could not have been a better opportune moment for me,” says Prof Matsabisa. 

According to him, he is there to support Prof Nzimande around aspects of traditional medicine as well as with his meeting with the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology during the signing of a letter of intent on traditional medicines including in the BRT conference where the minister will give a talk that will cover traditional medicines. Prof Matsabisa says he is looking forward to strengthening the relationships between the UFS and BUCM and China as well as sharing with the minister the joint projects and joint students from both institutions, hoping for continued support and funding.

“This trip has opened new opportunities. TIA has invited me and the UFS to be part of their new project on neurodegenerative diseases with Cuba. It was wonderful to hear that both the CEO and the chairperson of the board had already been briefed about me to be part of the project.

“It is also great to be present at the signing of the letter of intent on traditional medicine as it is important to know where the policies are heading.”

News Archive

Prof. Jonathan Jansen receives an honorary doctorate from Cleveland State University
2010-05-27

 
 Prof. Jonathan Jansen


The Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, was recently awarded an honorary doctorate by the Cleveland State University in the United States of America (USA).

The degree, an Honorary Doctor of Higher Education Administration, was conferred on him at the graduation ceremony on 15 May 2010 in Cleveland.
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this wonderful gift from one of the most distinguished public universities in the world,” Prof. Jansen said in his acceptance speech.

“I am especially excited to share this grand moment with you, the proud graduates of Cleveland State University,”

“Both you and I live in countries that have made significant progress in human relations. Yet the long shadows of racial, ethnic and religious divisions continue to haunt so many parts of the world – from Rwanda and Zimbabwe, to the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Whether it is Ventersdorp in South Africa or Arizona in the USA, our world needs leaders who build bridges, and who work against the logic of hatred, division and retribution.”

“For this to happen, we need counter-cultural leadership from a new generation of graduates. You see, it is easy for me to take sides, to stand by fellow black South Africans against the other side, to see the world only through my injury. But counter-cultural leadership in broken communities means to do what is unexpected. You see, this kind of leadership in a man like Nelson Mandela whom they sent to prison for 27 years and when he emerged insisted on reconciliation with those who had imprisoned him,” he told the graduates.

Prof. Jansen was honoured for his outstanding contribution towards the transformation of education, politics and diversity for the citizens and students of South Africa and the world.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt@ufs.ac.za  
27 May 2010
 

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