Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Months
January February March May April June July August September October
Previous Archive
04 September 2025 | Story Lilitha Dingwayo | Photo Lunga Luthuli
Bibi Essop
Bibi Essop, newly elected Universal Access Officer of the Bloemfontein Campus CSRC, celebrates her election as a representative of CUADS and students living with disabilities at the UFS.

The University of the Free State (UFS) community proudly celebrates the appointment of Bibi Essop as the newly elected Campus Student Representative Council Universal Access Officer on the Bloemfontein Campus – a role of immense importance for inclusivity, representation, and student advocacy.

Living with brittle bone syndrome, Essop brings both personal insight and leadership to her portfolio, representing the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS). Her election is not only a personal milestone but also a testament to the university’s growing recognition of the importance of visible leadership by students with disabilities.

By stepping into this position, Essop embodies the empowerment of students who navigate both academic life and unique personal challenges. “This is the pinnacle of my achievements this year, as I have been working towards this for the past three to four years,” she says.

She emphasises that her first priority was to understand the needs of the community she represents. “I had to make sure I know the people I represent, which gave me the opportunity to learn about the other four cohorts on our campus: students with visual impairment, hearing impairment, and learning difficulties, since I am a part of the mobility impairment cohort,” she explains.

The role of Universal Access Officer is vital in ensuring that the needs of students with disabilities remain central to discussions about inclusivity, campus infrastructure, and academic support. Essop is determined to challenge misconceptions about the position. 

“Many people assume my portfolio is restricted to CUADS students only, whereas it is so diverse that it needs to be incorporated in every other portfolio. Accessibility at every event is essential for students living with disabilities,” she says. “Many students do not attend events because they presume that they will not be accommodated.” 

Looking beyond academics, Essop hopes to work closely with fellow CSRC members to ensure inclusivity across all aspects of student life. One initiative she is particularly excited about is Casual Day on 5 September 2025 - a celebration of different disabilities aimed at fostering awareness, education, and integration among all students. 

“The CSRC has reach and influence across all three campuses. By partnering with them, CUADS can amplify its work, ensure consistent messaging, and create opportunities for engagement that are student-driven. This collaboration allows us to step outside of formal support channels and become part of broader campus conversations, events, and initiatives,” says Mosa Moerane who is the liaison, advocacy and awareness officer for CUADS. 

Moerane explains that there are differences in challenges faced by students with disabilities on three campuses. “Bloemfontein, being the largest campus, often presents challenges around scale- serving a higher number of students with diverse needs. South Campus has its own dynamics, with many first-year students who may still be navigating disclosure and adjustment. Qwaqwa students face unique geographical and infrastructural challenges. CUADS responds by tailoring support through assistive technology, academic accommodations, or advocacy for improved accessibility while keeping the student’s lived experience at the centre,” said Moerane.

“The aim is always to make students in Qwaqwa and South Campuses feel as included as those in Bloemfontein. Also having offices at South Campus and Qwaqwa Campus with CUADS Coordinators assists in ensuring that our students are supported similarly to those on Bloemfontein Campus,” she added.

As UFS continues its journey towards greater inclusivity, Essop’s appointment serves as a reminder of the importance of representation across all student cohorts. It affirms that every voice, regardless of background or circumstance, deserves to be heard.

The university congratulates Bibi Essop on this well-deserved achievement. Her leadership represents a step towards ensuring that universal access is not just a policy, but a lived reality for all UFS students. 

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

 

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept