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Residence Committees reflect on year of growth and sustainable impact

24 October 2025 | Story Onthatile Tikoe | Photo Supplied

As the 2024/25 Residence Committees conclude their term, the annual Year-End Conversation talks, hosted by the Department of Housing and Residence Affairs, provided a platform for reflection, recognition, and renewal. The discussions captured the essence of student leadership at the University of the Free State (UFS): a commitment to service, growth, and lasting societal impact.

According to Dr Nokuthula Tlalajoe-Mokhatla, Academic Head and Senior Lecturer in the Division of Student Learning and Development, and Faculty Coordinator for the Faculty Student Council, the year has been one defined by meaningful collaboration. “The best thing that happened this year was when the leadership of House Abraham Fischer-Boetapele extended goodwill to the leadership of House Imperium through intentional outreaches and collaborations,” she shared. “It was a beautiful relationship that words cannot even begin to explain.”

Building impact through collaboration

The partnership between the two residences exemplifies the spirit of cooperation that underpins student leadership at the UFS. Their initiatives included impactful community projects, such as hosting cooking demonstrations to create awareness around high salt intake and engaging in plans to host a fun run promoting prostate cancer awareness.

“These projects go beyond fulfilling excellence criteria,” Dr Tlalajoe-Mokhatla explained. “They speak to taking up a responsibility that is bigger than us. Their impact is worth pursuing because they foster a sense of community not only among students but also within society.”

The projects reflect the UFS’s commitment to engaged scholarship, where learning transcends the classroom and contributes to real-world change.

Sustainability and long-term vision

To ensure sustainability, the residences have established collaborations with Prof Matthew Benedict from the Department of Family Medicine and Dr Lucia Meko, Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, who both play vital roles in strengthening the continuity of these health-focused initiatives.

Dr Tlalajoe-Mokhatla also highlighted the valuable contribution of Benedict Mochesela, Residence Head of the Vishuis Residence Council (RC) team. “Credit should be given to Mochesela, as all of the work by the Vishuis RC team happened under his guidance,” she said. “The legacy projects serve as a foundation for continuity. By expanding our partnerships, we ensure that these initiatives grow on a larger scale and remain relevant.”

Leadership and lifelong learning

Reflecting on the personal and professional growth of residence leaders, Dr Tlalajoe-Mokhatla highlighted communication, teamwork, and time management as the most notable developments. “Leadership goes beyond showing up for the job you are assigned to do,” she said. “It is a platform to showcase passion, engage communities, and contribute meaningfully to society.”

As new residence councils prepare to take up the mantle, her message is one of openness and adaptability. “Being rigid in your way of doing things stunts growth,” she concluded. “Through collaboration, agility, and kindness, anything is possible.”

News Archive

Right to Learn campaign seeks to fund financially needy students

2015-11-11

SRC President, Lindokuhle Ntuli, pledges financial support to the Right to Learn campaign.
Photo: Tango Twasa

In response to the dire need for financial relief for academically deserving students from underprivileged backgrounds, the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the University of the Free State (UFS) launched the Right to Learn campaign on Friday 30 October 2015. The campaign, which aims to counter deregistration, was initiated following the national #FeesMustFall campaign, which gained momentum after students from the University of Witwatersrand first mobilised against the proposed fee increases for 2016.

The SRC’s Projects Committee realised that, although President Jacob Zuma had consented to a 0% increment, the lack of an increase would not eliminate the financial burden currently facing some students.

“The campaign was conceived at the SRC’s strategic planning meeting, and is now spearheaded by the SRCs Projects Committee,” said Letsika Leqoalane, SRC: Academic Affairs. “The campaign was founded on the university's value of ‘Superior Scholarship’ and the SRC’s value of reducing student financial exclusions,” he added.

Students in pursuit of continued access to education

The Right to Learn campaign was established as a supplementary initiative to the #FeesMustFall movement. “The Right to Learn campaign is an initiative to raise funds for students who are facing financial exclusion in the coming year,” said the SRC Academics Affairs officer.

All proceeds will be channeled towards reducing the number of students who will face de-registration in 2016, the SRC textbook bursary, and food bursaries. “This campaign stands on three pillars, namely: no to de-registration, no to student food insecurity, and yes to textbooks,” explained Leqoalane.

A call for support

According to SRC President, Lindokuhle Ntuli, “SRC members have made pledges of no less than R500 each from their own pockets.” The SRC is appealing to the UFS community to make donations into the campaign bank account, and thereafter to email the proof of payment to Ntuli at NtuliL@ufs.ac.za. The account details are:

Account number: 15-7085-0721 ABSA Bank Branch
Reference: SRC FUND
Branch Code: 632005 Cheque Account
Swift code: ABSAZAJJ

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