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06 May 2025 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo Supplied
Critical Dialogue
Guest speaker, Prof Gordon Zide, delivers his keynote address at the EDSA Critical Dialogue Series 2025.

The Office of the Executive Director: Student Affairs at the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted its annual Critical Dialogue Series on 29 April 2025 at the Centenary Complex on the Bloemfontein Campus. The dialogue brought together students, staff, and university leadership for an engaging conversation around ethical and servant leadership in higher education.

 

A conversation rooted in purpose

In his opening address, Temba Hlasho, Executive Director for Student Affairs said the dialogue was designed to provoke honest reflection and engagement on issues that affect student experience and institutional culture.

“We believe that there has to be some sort of transparency in terms of having to talk about topical issues that are very critical, that also touch on the very nerve of student experience,” Hlasho said.

He encouraged student leaders to see the platform not as ceremonial, but as a call to action. “You are in a country today where ethics have almost decayed. You, as the future of this country, will rely solely on the young people to change the narrative.”

 

Leadership anchored in service

UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Hester C. Klopper delivered a powerful message on the importance of ethical and servant leadership in guiding the university’s direction. “Leadership – and specifically ethical and servant leadership – forms the cornerstone of what we stand for at the University of the Free State.”

She spoke about accountability, fairness, and leading with integrity. “It means treating every student fairly regardless of background or belief, and holding yourself accountable for your actions and decisions.”

Prof Klopper also highlighted the vital role student leaders play in shaping a culture of trust and excellence. “Leadership is not a title or a position, but a daily choice to serve with integrity, empathy, and purpose.”

 

Ubuntu, transformation, and power dynamics

The event’s keynote speaker was Prof Gordon Zide, an accomplished scholar, academic, intellectual, Africanist, author, transformation specialist, motivational speaker, and a former Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Vaal University of Technology. Prof Zide is also a former Registrar at the University of South Africa. Drawing from a lifetime of experience in the sector, he interrogated the moral responsibilities of leadership within the South African higher education landscape.

“Leadership is a function of being a servant and being in charge of others,” he said. “It also requires the capacity to give strategic direction for the effective, efficient, and valued functioning of organisations.”

He emphasised that ethical leadership should be grounded in values such as vision, passion, patience, integrity, honesty, decisiveness, character, and charisma. Reflecting on the African philosophy of ubuntu, Prof Zide remarked: “When talking about servant leadership, it’s important to recognise other people and say to yourself: ‘I am what I am because of other people.’”

He encouraged students, particularly the current generation, to take charge and assume ethical leadership roles in their spaces. Referencing prominent anti-apartheid figure Robert Sobukwe, he urged, “Even when we are no longer here, they will always remember that we were there.”

Prof Zide also noted the practical benefits of ethical leadership in institutions, saying that it improves brand image, boosts morale among staff and students, and strengthens the recruitment process. He concluded by challenging the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), saying its tendency to micromanage universities undermines the autonomy and leadership authority of institutional management.

 

A call to lead with intention

Reflecting on the impact of the event, Acting President of the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) Mpho Maloka said, “These kinds of conversations are needed because they help us go back to the ‘why’ – why we became student leaders in the first place, and how we can serve students in ways that actually make a difference.”

She added, “People have turned student leadership into something so political that others don’t even want to get involved. Dialogues like this bring it back to what really matters – serving students and growing as ethical leaders.”

As Prof Klopper concluded: “The lessons in ethical and servant leadership that you learn and practise here prepare you not just for impactful careers, but for responsible citizenship in a world desperately in need of ethical leadership.”

News Archive

During 2011: Sport
2011-12-01

Our sports stars set their gaols high and with hard work, dedication a good measure of determination they show that they will not give up until these goals are met. A place in the national team or a medal or award in hand is enough proof that our Kovsie sportsmen and women are serious about their successes on the sports field.

 Description: 2011 Sport_Cricket Tags: 2011 Sport_Cricket  Description: 2011 Sport_Karate Tags: 2011 Sport_Karate  Description: 2011 Sport_Hockey Tags: 2011 Sport_Hockey  Description: 2011 Sport_Netball Tags: 2011 Sport_Netball  Description: 2011 Sport_Rugby Tags: 2011 Sport_Rugby

Some of our stars this year were:

Athletics:

Thuso Mpuang, our Kovsie Sportsman of the year, represented South Africa during the World Athletic Championships in Deague, Korea. He obtained the silver medal in the 200m during the World Student Games in Shenzhen, China and a gold medal as a member of the 4 x 100m relay team.

Janette Siebert represented South Africa during the Southern Africa Championships in Maputo, Mozambique.

Boy Soke represented South Africa during the Africa Cross Country Championships in Cape Town. He also represented South Africa during the World Cross Country Championships in China.

Cricket:

The 21-year-old former Kovsie, Obus Pienaar, who was still playing cricket for our university club until the end of the season (end of March), has been playing abroad for the Irish cricket club Waringstown from the end of April 2011.
We are proud of Obus’ achievements, in particular his contribution to the match against the CIYMS. During this game, Obus hit the highest score ever in the Northern Cricket Unions when he scored 244 runs in only 114 balls. This included 22 sixes and 13 fours. During his innings in this match, Obus also broke the July 2004 record of his compatriot, AB de Villiers of the Proteas.

Hockey:

Lesley Ann George represented the Protea Women’s Hockey Team during the series against China, Belgium and Azerbaijan. She was also a member of the Protea Women’s Hockey Team during the Champs Challenge in Ireland. The team finished fifth.

Nicole de Vries represented the Protea Women’s Hockey Team during the series against China, Belgium and Azerbaijan. She was also a member of the Protea Women’s Hockey Team during the Africa Cup in Bulawayo. The team obtained a gold medal.

Hettie Oosthuizen represented the Protea Women’s Hockey Team during the series against China, Belgium and Azerbaijan.

Izelle Lategan represented the Protea Women’s Hockey Team during the series against China, Belgium and Azerbaijan.

Nicole Kemp was a member of the Protea Women’s Hockey Team during the Africa Cup in Bulawayo. The team obtained a gold medal.

Karate:

Elsabe le Roux was a member of the Protea JKA Shotokan Karate Team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Championships in Maputo where she obtained a gold and silver medal.

Bruno Schwalbach was a member of the Protea JKA Shotokan Karate Team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Championships in Maputo where he obtained two gold medals. He was also a member of the Protea JKA Shotokan Karate Team that participated in the Common Wealth Karate Championship in Australia where he obtained one silver and two bronze medals. He was a member of the Protea JKA Shotokan Karate Team that participated in the All Africa Games in Maputo Mozambique where he obtained a bronze medal.

Balungile Nchofe was a member of the Protea JKA Shotokan Karate Team that participated in the Africa Zone 6 Championship in Maputo, where he obtained a gold medal.

Netball:

Kovsies’ netball team has performed well over the past year with, amongst others, the inclusion of players in the SA Universities World-cup Group.

Karla Mostert and Maryka Holtzhausen participated during the World Cup in Singapore in the SPAR SA Protea team.

We are also proud of the eight players who have been included in the SA team. They are Zimari Smit, Sheri Duimpies, Ane Botha, Danique du Toit, Nieke Loubser, Karla Mostert, Fikile Mkhuzangwe and Lauren-lee Christians.

At the SA tournament, Ane Botha was named as the centre-court player of the tournament, whilst Karla Mostert was named as the best defending player. Karla has also been included in the SPAR SA Protea team to the All African Games, which start in Mozambique at the end of August.

Rugby:

Boom Prinsloo and Robert Ebershohn are representing the Springboks in the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Soccer:

Gabisile Hlumbane, our Kovsie Sportswomanof the year, is a member of the Banyana Banyana National Soccer Team. The team obtained a bronze medal at the African Women’s Championships during October 2010, a gold medal at the Unity Cup Hosted during December 2010, a silver medal at the COSAFA Women’s Championship hosted during July 2011 and qualified for the London Olympics in 2012.

Squash:

Paul Rodrigues represented the South African U/ 23 team at the All Africa Squash Championships in Johannesburg.

Triathlon:

Nelmaré Loubser represented the SA Elite Team during the World Championships in Spain.

 

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