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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

Inauguration of Prof Francis Petersen as 14th Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS
2017-05-23

Description: Prof Petersen Inauguration Charl Devenish photo Tags: Prof Petersen Inauguration Charl Devenish photo

Dr Khotso Mokhele, Chancellor of the UFS, robes Prof Francis Petersen as Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS.
Photo: Charl Devenish

“At the UFS, we want to produce graduates for the world, and we need to ensure that we use our knowledge to uplift society”
— Prof Francis Petersen, 14th Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State (UFS)

On Friday 19 May 2017, the University of the Free State (UFS) celebrated the inauguration of its 14th Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Francis Petersen. The formal inauguration was held in the Odeion Theatre on the Bloemfontein Campus. The ceremony was preceded by a week-long welcoming programme on the three UFS campuses.

The guest list included representatives from local and provincial government, vice-chancellors and rectors from across South Africa, and senior members of the university’s executive management.

During the inaugural address, Prof Petersen paid tribute to his predecessors for the role they played in making the university what it is today. This included former rectors and vice-chancellors who attended the ceremony, such as Prof Francois Retief and Prof Frederick Fourie, and Prof Stef Coetzee and Prof Jonathan Jansen who were unable to attend.

Prof Petersen characterised 2015 and 2016 as watershed years for the South African higher-education system. “The Rhodes Must Fall, and subsequent Fees Must Fall student and staff protests challenged us, and re-energised a critical engagement around the purpose of the university in an equal society, both as a site of complicity and as a potential agent for social change,” said Prof Petersen.

He committed himself to developing the UFS into an institution that will have an even greater impact than before.

“This institution I am striving to establish will be one that responds positively to inclusivity, diversity, and transformation, and which can incorporate these values into our curriculum, scholarship, and research in a productive way,” said Prof Petersen.

Prof Petersen emphasised the importance of the three-campus model. “The University of the Free State is ONE university with three campuses: the Bloemfontein Campus, our South Campus, and the Qwaqwa Campus. I am committed to align the activities of the three campuses, and to integrate our activities to a greater extent.

“We must work together to infuse each campus with the values we have identified as essential if we are to make our mark as a united University of the Free State: academic excellence, diversity and inclusivity, and innovation.”

The Chancellor, Dr Khotso Mokhele, had the honour of handing over the gown to Prof Petersen. Prof Lis Lange, Vice-Rector: Academic, explained the relationship between the university and the Basotho people, and how this relationship is honoured through the official procession gowns of the UFS. The Basotho blanket is worn by kings, and the university therefore hopes that the symbolism of the gown would be a source of inspiration to Prof Petersen.

The event was concluded by congratulatory messages from former colleagues and the President of the Student Representative Council on the Bloemfontein Campus, SK Luwaca. The event was elegant and graceful – the inaugural address was thought-provoking and inspiring.

 

Official Inauguration Ceremony:

19 May 2017
Bloemfontein Campus

 Description: Official Inauguration photo small Tags: Official Inauguration photo small


"I challenge you to dream big and do big." - Prof Petersen

 

Photo Caption: Dr Khotso Mokhele, Chancellor of the UFS, robes Prof Francis Petersen as Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS.
Photo: Johan Roux

Short biography of Prof Francis Petersen
Inaugural address: 19 May 2017
Transcription of the ceremony
Photo Gallery
Video

 

Welcoming Ceremonies:

The week of 11-19 May 2017 was one of the highlights in this year’s calendar for staff and students of the University of the Free State (UFS), with various ceremonies taking place to welcome Prof Francis Petersen – who assumed his duties on 1 April 2017 – as the 14th Vice-Chancellor and Rector. The festivities culminated in the official inauguration ceremony at the Bloemfontein Campus on 19 May 2017.
 
The Qwaqwa Campus welcoming ceremony took place on Thursday 11 May 2017, attracting a wide spectrum of community leaders from the area. Prof Petersen was welcomed by representatives from the two trade unions, National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and UVPERSU, as well as representatives from the Student Representative Council (SRC), the Thabo Mofutsanyana Education District, and the House of Traditional Leaders. Paramount Queen Mopeli of the Bakoena Royal House bestowed a special honour upon Prof Petersen by clothing him in a traditional Basotho blanket and hat. She said, "From our heart of hearts, welcome, Prof Francis ..., and all Godspeed during your tenure."
 
The South Campus in Bloemfontein hosted a welcoming ceremony for the new Vice-Chancellor and Rector on 18 May 2017. The ceremony included a number of vocal performances and messages from various stakeholder groups. The same afternoon, the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ) also facilitated a panel discussion, titled Diversity, inclusivity, and social justice and the renewed call for decolonisation, in the Albert Wessels Auditorium (AWO) on the Bloemfontein Campus.

The welcoming ceremonies culminated in an event in the Callie Human Centre on Friday 19 May 2017 at the Bloemfontein Campus, with a number of performances by musicians associated with the UFS, marimbas, drum majorettes from Jim Fouche Secondary School, the Grey College Gumboots, and school choirs from Eunice Secondary School, Brebner Primary School, and Willem Postma Primary School. Representatives from key stakeholders such as Nehawu, UVPERSU, the Campus Ministries Forum, SRC, Alumni, Convocation, and the UFS Council had the opportunity to convey their messages of welcome to Prof Petersen.
 
The formal inauguration ceremony took place in the Odeion Theatre on the Bloemfontein Campus the same day.

 

Qwaqwa Campus ceremony:

11 May 2017
Qwaqwa Campus

 Description: Prof Petersen with the queen 2 Tags: Prof Petersen with the queen 2

 

"Qwaqwa Campus is the perfect laboratory for sustainable sciences.” – Prof Petersen

 

Photo caption: Paramount Queen Mopeli of the Bakoena Royal House with Prof Petersen and his wife, Cheslyn.
Photo: Mamosa Makaya

Photo Gallery
Video

Read the full story
Transcription of the ceremony

 

South Campus ceremony:

18 May 2017
South Campus

 Description: South Campus welcoming Tags: South Campus welcoming

 

"South Campus: you aspire excellence, adding to diversity and you are innovative in what you do." - Prof Petersen

Photo caption: Flag bearers and drummers walking to the Madiba Arena.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse

Photo Gallery

Read the full story
Transcription of the ceremony

 

 

Bloemfontein Campus panel discussion:

Panel discussion: Diversity, inclusivity and social justice and the renewed call for decolonisation
18 May 2017
Bloemfontein Campus

 Description: Panel discussion 18 May 2017 Tags: Panel discussion 18 May 2017


"The UFS should be a place of belonging for everyone." - Prof Petersen

 

Photo caption: from left: SK Luwaca (SRC President, Bloemfontein Campus), Prof Elelwani Ramugondo (UCT), Prof Francis Petersen (UFS), Prof Melissa Steyn (WITS), Prof Andre Keet (UFS)
Photo: Lelanie de Wet

Photo Gallery

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Transcription of panel discussion



 

Bloemfontein Campus ceremony:

19 May 2017
Bloemfontein Campus

 Description: Bloem welcoming ceremony on 19 May 2017 Tags: Bloem welcoming ceremony on 19 May 2017


"I can just say, Wow! I've experienced a lot during the welcoming functions on all three campuses." - Prof Petersen

 

Photo caption: Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS
Photo: Rulanzen Martin

Photo Gallery

Read the full story
Transcription of the ceremony


 

 

Description: Inauguration and welcoming of Prof Petersen combined gallery Tags: Inauguration and welcoming of Prof Petersen combined gallery

Photo gallery of Inauguration and Welcoming Ceremonies

 

 

 

 

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