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26 March 2025 | Story Edzani Nephalela | Photo Lethabo Machabaphala
Theology MOU 2025
Prof Zorodzai Dube, Head of the Department of Religion Studies at the UFS, and Thabo Seotsanyana, representative for the African Centre of Excellence, formalised a collaboration to advance research into African spirituality.

The University of the Free State (UFS) Faculty of Theology and Religion recently made history as the first institution to partner with the African Centre of Excellence in a significant collaboration advancing research and education on African indigenous spirituality.

This partnership is set to foster a deeper understanding of African indigenous knowledge, highlighting its importance and addressing misconceptions about its practices.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the parties outlines the facilitation of joint research and teaching initiatives. According to Prof Zorodzai Dube, Head of the Department of Religion Studies at the UFS, the MoU will provide UFS students with the unique opportunity to engage with African indigenous knowledge systems, particularly those related to herbs, healthcare, and traditional healing practices.

“The collaboration aims to enrich the students’ academic experience and provide them with critical insights into African indigenous spirituality,” Prof Dube said. “Furthermore, this partnership is seen as a key step toward furthering UFS’s vision to become a leading institution in research, including Africanisation and pan-African research.” He added that the faculty views this collaboration as a springboard for strengthening its position as a leader in addressing Africa-related issues in education and research.

Significance of this partnership

Thabo Seotsanyana, Curriculum Developer for the African Centre of Excellence, emphasised that this partnership will challenge long-standing misconceptions about African spirituality while fostering a deeper appreciation for its value and relevance in contemporary society. “This collaboration is a landmark event for several reasons. It emphasises the importance of African indigenous spirituality in academic discourse and provides a platform for decolonising knowledge systems.”

In his address, Seotsanyana highlighted that the African Hidden Voices is committed to transforming mindsets, particularly within African nations. He spoke about how generations have been influenced by ideologies that dismiss African spiritual practices in favour of foreign belief systems, and how this partnership aims to reverse that trend.

“We are delighted to be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with one of the most highly regarded institutions in South Africa,” Seotsanyana shared, reading a message from Imboni Dr uZwi-Lezwe Radebe, founder of African Hidden Voices. “This marks a significant milestone in our history that will be remembered for years.”

Impact on future generations

Seotsanyana highlighted that the organisation is dedicated to educating individuals about African spirituality, fostering African leadership, and embracing traditional African ways of life.

“Our mission is to nurture a new generation that understands, values, and actively engages with African spirituality,” he explained. “This initiative marks a significant step in the academic exploration and preservation of African indigenous spirituality. It aims to leave a lasting legacy that inspires future generations to reconnect with their heritage, challenge outdated views, and adopt an inclusive, spiritually enriched way of life. This aligns with the University of the Free State’s Vision 130, which promotes inclusivity and ethical values, ensuring that everyone feels represented, welcomed, and has access to the university’s resources.”

News Archive

Kovsie wins luxury apartment in Paarl-Franschhoek Valley
2016-11-09

Description: Win A Home    Tags: Win A Home

Palesa Moisi, winner of the Win A Home
competition on the Afternoon Express
Show on SABC 3.
Photo: Win A Home

The saying “Dreams do come true” is a perfect explanation for 25-year-old Palesa Moisi who was announced winner of the Win A Home competition.

Palesa, who is currently completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of the Free State, is the proud owner of a beautiful apartment worth almost R3 million. The day after the announcement, she was escorted to the Val de Vie Estate to pick her dream apartment from three beautiful designer apartments.

Proud owner of apartment at Val de Vie

With Win A Home Season 3 on SABC 3’s Afternoon Express, viewers not only stood a chance to win bi-weekly prizes, but Palesa walked away with a two-bedroomed furnished apartment in the Polo Village at the prestigious Val de Vie Estate in the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley near Cape Town. The draw took place on 26 August 2016 at the Afternoon Express Studios.

Time stood still for a moment

Palesa says when she stepped towards the safe, which each contestant was assigned to, and opened it, everything just stood still. A key to the apartment was inside one of the safes. “My mind was somewhere else and when I saw the key I realised: ‘Hey I need to take it out and show it to everyone’.”

Financial constraints are a big issue for her family. Her mother is a single parent and Palesa has a younger sister who needs to be cared for. “I’m still a student and I think that if I rent out the house for now, I will be able to pay for my fees and take some pressure off of my mother,” she says.

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