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UFS commemorates Africa Day with powerful dialogue on higher education and Africa’s global future

27 May 2025 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi and Onthatile Tikoe | Photo Kaleidoscope Studios

Africa Day Podcast — Media personality David Mashabela moderated a dynamic Africa Day dialogue with Dr Naledi Pandor and UFS Chancellor Prof Bonang Mohale at the UFS’s Albert Wessels Auditorium.

The University of the Free State (UFS) marked Africa Day (commemorated annually on 25 May) with a bold and thought-provoking podcast-style discussion hosted by the Office for International Affairs on 22 May 2025 at the Bloemfontein Campus. Now in its eighth year, the annual Africa Day commemoration was reimagined with a conversational format that blended intellectual insight with the energy of live engagement.

Centred around the theme ‘Africa’s Future: Higher Education and Global Impact’, the panel featured some of the most respected voices in leadership and academia. Media personality David Mashabela, known for his King David Studio podcast and presence on Radio 2000, moderated a rich conversation between UFS Chancellor Prof Bonang Mohale and Dr Naledi Pandor, former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.

Anchored in the broader context of Africa Month, the dialogue highlighted the critical role of African universities in shaping knowledge systems, advancing innovation, and strengthening the continent’s global positioning. It also underscored how youth, as drivers of change, are central to building a future where Africa leads through education, collaboration, and homegrown solutions.

Reimagining the role of higher education in Africa’s future

At the heart of the discussion was a shared belief that higher education is not just a site of learning, but a strategic force for shaping Africa’s future.

Dr Pandor underlined the conditions necessary for universities to truly contribute to development. “Universities play their best role in the context in which there’s freedom of expression, democracy and free academic activity,” she said. “Without these, it’s impossible for higher education to make a contribution to development.”

She also emphasised that research and innovation must be treated as central to a university’s mission. “You can, through university work, make a contribution to development,” she noted, “but it has to be integral … and must enjoy the characteristics of freedom to pursue knowledge and support for innovation.”

But contribution, she argued, can’t happen in a vacuum: While government efforts in supporting higher education are commendable, Dr Pandor called out the private sector’s absence in funding and partnerships. “We’ve got to address the inadequacies that there are in establishing this link,” she said, referring to the disconnect between industry and academia.

Prof Mohale, drawing from his experience in the business world, expanded on this disconnect. “Unfortunately, businesses succumbed to measuring itself in quarterly cycles, where nations are created in centuries,” he remarked. In his view, businesses often fail to recognise their stake in broader societal development. “If they [government] don’t create a conducive environment where businesses can thrive,” he warned, “then people become opportunistic, self-centred and egocentric.”

Still, both speakers remained hopeful, particularly about the power of the continent’s youth. Dr Pandor argued that universities must do more than teach; they must equip. “Part of the role of universities is to train us in economics, investment, business formation, and really ensuring that we create powerful youth that can effectively manage our economy and ensure that we succeed.”

Prof Mohale echoed that sentiment, adding that universities also need to lead by example. He called for institutions of higher learning to embrace not only academic excellence, but also social justice and strong ethical frameworks. “We need to bring a social justice approach to these higher learning institutions because of the disparity that is very grotesque,” he said.

Context, collaboration and the power of dialogue

Prof Anthea Rhoda, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at UFS, reflected on Africa Day as not only a commemoration but also a call to both honour and reimagine.

“Africa Day offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on our continent’s progress, challenges, and future potential,” she said. “It reminds us that universities are an integral part of the African narrative, both as custodians of our knowledge systems and as catalysts for transformation.”

Prof Lynette Jacobs, Director of the Office for International Affairs, highlighted how the event’s theme resonates with today’s world. “If we look globally, there’s a move to nationalism, closing borders, looking out for ourselves,” she noted. “And that’s where higher education makes a difference, because we bring sanity and intellect to the thinking.”

She explained that the decision to use a podcast-style format was a deliberate shift towards deeper engagement. “We didn’t want to repeat what we’ve always done. We needed a new approach, and we were pleased by the turnout and how students were fully engaged.”

The event reinforced the university’s commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue during Africa Month and beyond.

Watch the discussion here:

News Archive

Shortage of quantity surveyors discussed at UFS

2006-03-24

During the recent visit of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) to the University of the Free State (UFS) were from the left Mr Egon Wortmann (Director: ASAQS), Prof Basie Verster (representative of the Free State on the ASAQS and head of the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the UFS), Mr Greyling Venter (Chairperson: Free State branch of the ASAQS), Prof DG Brümmer(Vice-President: ASAQS) and Mr Patrick Waterson (President: ASAQS).
Photo supplied

Shortage of quantity surveyors discussed at UFS

“The South African building industry is experiencing an unprecedented high level of economic growth and prosperity. This is causing a definite shortage of registered quantity surveyors,” said Mr Egon Wortmann, Director of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors(ASAQS) during the association’s recent visit to the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the University of the Free State (UFS).

“This shortage is especially noticeable in local and national governments where unqualified and inexperienced staff, consultants and/or facilitators are now appointed,” said Mr Wortmann.

In doing so, the authorities that have adopted this approach are according to Mr Wortmann actually acting illegally and are not in compliance with the legal and statutory requirements of South Africa. “These unprofessional practices are unproductive, it leads to frustration and is strongly condemned by the ASAQS,” he said.

“The service delivery of these unqualified and unregistered service providers is often sub standard and does not comply to the legal requirements of the profession. It may also result in the tarnishing of the image and high professional standards set by the quantity surveying profession,” said Mr Wortmann.

“Universities offering programmes in quantity-surveying and construction management are also negatively affected by the high levels of activity in the building environment. Suitable lecturing staff are leaving the academic institutions as they are attracted to better opportunities being offered in the building industry. The ability of the tertiary institutions to attract young academics, to train them and to keep them in the longer term, is therefore almost impossible”, said Prof Basie Verster, head of the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the UFS and representative of the Free State on the ASAQS.

According to Prof Verster the UFS supplies more than its quota of qualified quantity surveyors to the South African building industry. “Although more than 460 students are registered in construction related programmes at the UFS, we are as the ASAQS’s concerned about the shortage of students that can enter the construction industry. In our case, we are experiencing a shortage in black female students,” he said.

“Of the 460 postgraduate students, 38% are black of which 20% are female students. Graduates do also not necessarily stay in the country. As the UFS’s programmes are accredited overseas, a lot of our students leave the country for working opportunities elsewhere,” said Prof Verster.

Mr Patrick Waterson, President of the ASAQS, appealed to quantity surveyors to, when they are approached, consider academic careers or to make themselves available to lecture on a part time basis. “I also appeal to quantity-surveying practices, construction companies and developers to consider taking part in training activities,” he said.

The ASAQS has over the years developed a proud tradition within the quantity-surveying profession. Consequently membership of this organisation is a sought after goal for many members within the building environment. International agreements with various countries are also in place whereby it is mutually agreed that local as well as overseas qualifications are mutually acceptable on a reciprocal basis.

A more recent addition to the list of agreements is the reciprocity agreement entered into with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which makes it possible for South African based quantity surveyors to practice in over 120 countries worldwide.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
23 March 2006

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