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Second Southern African Mountain Conference kicks off with a resounding start in Drakensberg

19 March 2025 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Andre Damons

The Second Southern African Mountain Conference (SAMC 2025) commenced on Monday, 17 March amid a tangible sense of anticipation and a collaborative spirit at the Champagne Sports Resort, nestled in the heart of the Maloti-Drakensberg. Delegates from across the region and beyond gathered, setting the stage for a week of insightful discussions and collaborative exploration under the theme, ‘Southern African Mountains – Overcoming Boundaries and Barriers.’

Hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS) and its Afromontane Research Unit (ARU), the conference opened with a series of welcome statements that emphasised the global significance of mountain ecosystems. Prof Ralph Clark, SAMC 2025 Conference Chair and Session Chair, initiated the proceedings, setting the tone for a conference focused on actionable solutions.

Collaboration transcends mountain borders

The global reach of the conference was immediately evident, with welcome addresses from key partners. Prof Roland Psenner, President of Eurac Research – speaking on behalf of the Global Mountain Safeguard Programme (GLOMOS) – highlighted the importance of international collaboration. Alex Hickman, Chairman of the African Mountain Research Foundation (AMRF), highlighted the critical work being done on the ground. Notably, a recorded message from Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in support of the AMRF resonated with attendees, further amplifying the message of the conference.

Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS – speaking on behalf of the ARU – stressed the significance of the venue, highlighting its role as a ‘meeting place’ where borders, ecosystems, and diverse stakeholders converge. "This location symbolises the very essence of our conference," Prof Klopper stated, "a space where we transcend boundaries to address the challenges facing our mountain regions".

Welcome statements were also delivered by Sara Manuelli from the Mountain Partnership, Ambassador Mirko Manzoni of the Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa, and Ndapanda Kanime, who represented the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Dr Kelly Cerialo, representing UNESCO – the patron of SAMC 2025 – delivered a welcoming address that highlighted the organisation's commitment to supporting mountain research and conservation. The official opening was conducted by Leluma Matooane, representative of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Sharing insightful books, film, and mountains

Following the official opening, delegates attended a plenary keynote address by Dr Willem Daffue, which delved into critical aspects of mountain research. The morning session also featured a series of book launches, celebrating new publications from ARU and GLOMOS, including Sustainable Futures in Southern Africa's Mountains, Safeguarding Mountain Social-Ecological Systems, A scientific bibliography of the Waterberg, Makgabeng plateau, Blouberg, Soutpansberg and adjacent areas, and Christopher R Conz’s Environment, Knowledge, and Injustice in Lesotho: The Poverty of Progress.

Monday 17 March 2025 will be etched in the annals of Southern African mountain research and storytelling as the documentary film, Qwaqwa: Place of Barriers and Bridges, premiered to a captivated audience at the Second Southern African Mountain Conference (SAMC 2025). Hosted against the breathtaking backdrop of the central Maloti-Drakensberg, the film’s release marked a powerful moment of reflection and a catalyst for crucial dialogue.

Executive produced by Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation at the University of the Free State (UFS), and Prof Jared McDonald, Qwaqwa: Place of Barriers and Bridges offers a poignant and unflinching look at the complex social and environmental realities of the Qwaqwa region. The film, screened on the conference's opening day, served as a compelling visual narrative bridging academic discourse with the lived experiences of mountain communities.

Dialogue, networking, conference continues

Delegates, researchers, and stakeholders from across the globe witnessed the film's debut, recognising its significant contribution to understanding the challenges and opportunities within the Maloti-Drakensberg landscape. The film's premiere was not merely a screening; it was a watershed moment, sparking immediate conversations about the interplay between human activity and the fragile ecosystems of the region.

The film's release at SAMC 2025 highlighted the conference's commitment to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. By showcasing the human stories embedded in the mountains, Qwaqwa: Place of Barriers and Bridges provided a powerful emotional anchor to the conference's broader discussions on sustainability, conservation, and community resilience.

This premiere will undoubtedly resonate far beyond the conference halls, leaving an indelible mark on the collective understanding of the Maloti-Drakensberg region. The film's legacy will be one of inspiration, prompting further research, advocacy, and collaborative action to safeguard these vital mountain ecosystems for generations to come. The day will go down in history as a moment where film and scholarship intersected to illuminate the heart of the mountains.

The day concluded with a meet-and-greet hosted by the UFS Office for International Affairs, fostering networking and further collaboration among delegates.

The conference continues for the rest of the week, with a full programme of presentations, workshops, and field excursions.

News Archive

Award-winning architect firm presents the 29th Sophia Gray Memorial Lecture and Exhibition

2017-09-07

At the Sophia Gray Bursary Fund breakfast, were from the left:
Henry Pretorius, head of the UFS Department of Architecture,
AJ Corbett, and Boipelo Morule, third-year student
in Architecture and Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector
and Vice-Chancellor, at the UFS
Photo: Stephen Collett

The laureates of this year’s Sophia Gray Memorial Lecture were George Elphick and Nicholas Proome from the award-winning architecture firm, Elphick Proome Architects (EPA). Over the past 28 years this Durban firm has received 26 awards and its work has been published in 26 magazines.

From bedroom to boardroom
EPA is involved in major corporate architecture as well as several residential projects. It believes that good design is produced from careful study and research combined with sound technical knowledge and artistic judgement. At the 29th Sophia Gray lecture, presented by the Department of Architecture at the University of the Free State, EPA addressed the Bloemfontein community, stating that architecture was about people, space and light.

For EPA, architecture is the form of art with the most impact on society. “Ultimately, our architecture needs to be enjoyed and be hard to forget,” it said.

In its three decades of practice, most of EPA’s built work has been executed in South Africa. It has also completed projects beyond South African borders, including Mozambique, Kenya, Ghana, and France.

The lecture was followed by the opening of the 29th Sophia Gray Memorial Exhibition at Oliewenhuis Art Museum.

New PhD in Architecture with Design announced
A highlight at this year’s lecture was the announcement by Henry Pretorius, the head of the department, of a new and innovative doctoral programme, the PhD in Architecture with Design. From 2018, students with a MArch (professional) or MArch can enrol for this postgraduate qualification.

“The programme recognises the intelligence and ingenuity of design. Its primary objective is to harvest and study the implicit orientations, operations, and achievements of design, and to enlist creativity in the formation of new knowledge. The degree facilitates analytical reflection, stimulates creative action, and opens new insights into the unique logic of design,” said Pretorius.

“Although design-based research has gained international momentum in recent years, similar research has not been done in South Africa until now.”

Contribution to the Sophia Gray Bursary Fund
During a breakfast function, the department also announced another initiative, the Sophia Gray Bursary Fund. Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor at the UFS, said that the type of architecture in developing countries was different from places such as New York and other big cities in developed countries. For a transformed profession we need architects from different cultures and demographics in the system. The bursary fund was a fantastic starting point for this to happen.

The Sophia Gray Bursary Fund initiative is part of a greater call to alumni and friends of the department to be actively involved in the department’s continuous development and future endeavours towards imagination, care, and excellence.
AJ Corbett, founder and director of TCN Architects in East London, made the first contribution towards the fund.

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