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Human Rights Month at the UFS: Championing equality and inclusivity

06 March 2025 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo Supplied

Human Rights Month 2025 — UFS: Promoting human rights and empowering equality every day.

As we celebrate Human Rights Month, the University of the Free State (UFS) remains committed to fostering a campus culture where human rights are actively upheld and respected. This ongoing dedication aligns with Vision 130, a guiding principle that drives the UFS’s efforts in creating an inclusive, equitable environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Fostering a human rights-centred education through Vision 130

At the heart of the UFS’s mission is Vision 130, a strategic framework aimed at positioning the university as a leader in inclusivity, social justice, and academic excellence. It ensures that the university’s commitment to human rights and equality is reflected not only in academic programmes but also in everyday student and staff interactions.

For students like Nomathemba Mhlafu, a final-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Psychology, these principles resonate deeply. “Honestly, it’s about having the right to education and access to resources,” Mhlafu says. “The fact that I can come here, study, and actually get my degree? That’s everything.”

Human rights: A shared responsibility

The promotion of human rights at the UFS is not only an institutional effort but one that includes students, faculty, and staff. Martie Miranda, Head of the UFS’s Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS), emphasises that promoting inclusivity for persons with disabilities requires a unified effort. She underscores that staff must provide accessible communication, including principles such as using clear, simple language in written and verbal communication and ensuring that alternative formats for documents, such as braille, large print, or digital versions, are available.

Miranda stresses the importance of respect and awareness. “Students need to treat students with disabilities with respect and dignity, being mindful of ableism and microaggressions,” she says. This everyday care practice ensures that all students, regardless of ability, can thrive.

Similarly, Oratile Lentsela, CSRC for Universal Access, advocates for a campus that embraces all students, regardless of background or ability. “We must continue to raise awareness and remove barriers to learning,” she says. “This includes creating more accessible spaces and improving support services.”

The role of students in shaping a human rights-conscious campus

Students are at the core of shaping a campus that is both human rights-conscious and inclusive. Dr Annelie De Man, Division Coordinator of the Advocacy Division at the Free State Centre for Human Rights, says, “Students have an indispensable role to play in ensuring that they are not only aware of the rights that they possess as human beings, but also the means available to them in situations where their rights are not respected, protected, and/or fulfilled.”

According to Dr De Man, students can contribute by:

• Creating or joining student associations that advocate for human rights.

• Educating peers on human rights and redress mechanisms through workshops and discussions.

• Demonstrating inclusivity and respect by fostering a welcoming environment for students from diverse backgrounds.

• Engaging in social justice discussions and contributing to solutions for addressing injustices.

• Providing peer support and guiding affected students to appropriate reporting channels when human rights violations occur.

Furthermore, the Human Rights Ambassadors programme, an initiative led by the Advocacy Division, empowers students to take the lead in promoting human rights within their residences. Ambassadors organise events such as poetry performances, debates, and awareness campaigns to inspire a culture of human rights on campus.

Public engagement as a step forward in human rights advocacy

As part of its ongoing efforts, the Free State Centre for Human Rights continues to host a variety of events to promote human rights awareness. Dr De Man highlights the importance of events like public lectures, seminars, and workshops in raising critical discussions about human rights. One such event is the centre’s first annual public lecture on 19 March 2025, which will feature Prof JL (Loot) Pretorius presenting on ‘Courts, Human Rights, and Democracy’.

“The collaboration between the different divisions of the centre allows us to engage the wider university community on issues of great importance,” Dr De Man notes. The upcoming lecture will provide a platform for the UFS community to reflect on the intersection of law, human rights, and democracy in South Africa.

A rights-conscious campus for all

A commitment to human rights is integral to both the UFS’s daily operations and long-term vision. Through initiatives like the Human Rights Ambassadors, the work of CUADS, and student leadership, the UFS continues to build a campus environment that prioritises equality, inclusivity, and social justice.

Mhlafu says this commitment extends beyond academics for her. “I had an injury once and went to Kovsie Clinic for help. It’s a service that’s always available to students, every day,” she explains. “That was a moment where I really saw how important the right to healthcare is. You don’t think about it until you need it, and when you do, it makes a huge difference.”

In line with Vision 130, the UFS remains steadfast in its dedication to providing every student with the resources, education, and support they need to succeed. With human rights at the forefront of every effort, the UFS is creating a campus where all individuals are empowered to thrive, ensuring that respect, dignity, and equality are not just ideals but a lived reality.

News Archive

UFS policies want to help all students

2005-03-09

The death of Hannes van Rensburg, a first-year student from the JBM Hertzog residence, this past weekend, placed various aspects of student life in the spotlight. Dr Natie Luyt, Dean: Student Affairs at the University of the Free State (UFS), and the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the UFS explain which policies are in place to counter these practices.

At all tertiary institutions there are rules and policies to guide students and provide direction for certain behaviour and practices. The same applies to the University of the Free State (UFS).

“At the beginning of the year the UFS provides every residence committee with a manual to establish a framework for meaningful and orderly relations within and among residences on the campus,” said Dr Natie Luyt.

However, it is one thing to set rules, but it is an impossible task to enforce all aspects thereof. Policies currently in place include an alcohol policy, a policy on the induction of first years and a policy on banned practices in residence orientation.

“The alcohol policy was compiled in cooperation with students and their input was constantly asked,” said Dr Luyt. We also liaise on a continuous basis with residences and senior students to encourage the responsible use of alcohol, especially around activities like intervarsities and Rag.

In the policy, recognition is given to the right and voluntary and informed choice of every individual to use alcohol on the UFS campus in a responsible way.

Guidelines for the use of alcohol on campus include among others the following:

Only authorised points of sale will be permitted on campus. In this case it is the various league halls in most of the male residences on campus.

Alcohol will only be made available during fixed times and is not permitted in residence rooms.

All alcohol-related functions are regulated and an application for a temporary alcohol license must be obtained from the Dean: Student Affairs.

The UFS obtained a liquor license in March 2004 which must be administered by senior leagues in various residences on campus. Normal liquor license conditions and the county’s liquor laws apply. Liquor can only be sold to members of the senior league (or special guests) and also to persons over the age of 18 years. Liquor may not be used in public (outside the senior league) or on campus.

The senior leagues may only be open three nights per week and within prescribed times. No liquor could be used in any other place than the senior league halls. Senior leagues could buy liquor from club monies generated by themselves.

The right of senior leagues to serve liquor was suspended by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor the UFS, Prof Frederick Fourie, on Monday 7 March 2005 – pending an investigation of the recent events on campus.

The policy on banned practices include among others that no swearing and shouting at first-years may take place, no first-year student may be targeted individually, no senior may enter the room of a first-year student without an invitation or permission from that first-year student and no senior under the influence of alcohol may have contact with first-year students.

The induction of first-year students takes place by means of three functions, namely an information function (the introduction to the various facets and possibilities of the university system), an induction function (the first-year student becomes involved in various campus and residence activities) and a development function (the first-year student is motivated to take charge of his development potential).

No first-year induction activity may commence before the residence committee’s contracting with the senior students is not completed. This meeting is attended by the residence head and all senior students. The induction policy, residence induction policy of first-year students and first-year rules are discussed.

The senior students sign an attendance list to show that he/she was informed about the policies. A senior who does not sign, may not be involved with any induction session with first-year students.

No physical contact is allowed during the conclusion of the first-year students’ official induction period. The induction of first-year students as full members of the residence is a prestige event, presented by the residence committee. No physical or degrading activities may take place.

The Dean: Student Affairs also has a daily meeting with the primarii of all the residences during the induction period. This helps to monitor the situation and counter any problem behaviour or tendencies.

“Enforced behaviour – where a senior student forces a first-year student to do something against his/her own free wil – is not allowed. Where there is any sign of this, it is met wortel en tak uitgeroei,” said Dr Luyt.

“In any group of people – whether it is a group of students or people at a workplace – there will always be those who will break the rules or those who would like to see how far they could push it.

The SRC, the UFS management and myself are and will stay committed to make each student’s life on this campus a school of learning and an experience which would be remembered for ever,” said Dr Luyt.

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