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Celebrating excellence on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus

15 September 2025 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Supplied

Qwaqwa Dux — Prof Prince Ngubeni, Campus Principal; Dux Award winner, Tshepiso Mabitsela; and Prof Cias Tsotetsi, Vice-Principal: Academic and Research

The University of the Free State (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus recently hosted its annual Student Excellence Awards, a prestigious event dedicated to honouring the remarkable accomplishments of its students. The ceremony, held in the Mandela Hall, brought together students, academic staff, and university leadership to celebrate the collective strength and individual achievements of Qwaqwa Campus students.

The 2025 Student Excellence Awards showcased the dedication, talent, and resilience of the UFS student body. As the university continues to provide a nurturing environment for academic and personal growth, these students stand as a testament to the power of perseverance and the promise of a brighter future.

A celebration of perseverance

Prof Prince Ngobeni, Campus Principal, warmly welcomed guests and praised the students for their hard work and dedication. In his address, he highlighted the students’ outstanding achievements.

“This ceremony is not just about handing out awards; it is a celebration of hard work, dedication, and resilience,” Prof Ngobeni said. “It is a recognition of the countless hours spent in libraries, the late nights fuelled by coffee, and the moments of doubt that you overcame with sheer determination. Today, we celebrate not just the achievements of a select few, but the collective spirit of excellence that defines our campus.”

Insights from a valued alumnus

Dr Peter Moopi, a distinguished UFS alumnus, served as guest speaker. Dr Moopi’s journey with the university began in 2016 when he enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to complete his Master of Arts in 2021 and his Doctor of Philosophy in English in 2025.

In his speech, Dr Moopi spoke about the concepts of ‘improvise, adapt, and overcome’, which he described as central to his experience at the UFS. “As we know that many of us come from difficult backgrounds, we always wish that there was more,” he said, inspiring students to find strength and resilience in their personal stories.

Twin triumphs and a Dux winner’s story

Among the celebrated students were identical twins Nthabeleng and Nthabiseng Mofokeng, both pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Geography. The twins, who received awards for achieving the same aggregate score, credited their success to teamwork, discipline, and a shared faith.

When asked about their unique academic journey, they explained, “We believe our secret is teamwork, discipline, and God’s grace. As twins, we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so we complement one another perfectly.” They described their study sessions as collaborative and engaging, often turning learning into games and quizzes to make it more enjoyable.

The Dux Award winner, Tshepiso Mabitsela – a student in the Faculty of Education – shared a deeply personal and emotional reflection on her achievement. She described the moment her name was announced as a dream she never thought possible.

“I could not believe what was happening at that moment, and tears of joy welled up in my eyes,” she said. Tshepiso spoke movingly about her family, particularly her mother – a domestic worker – and her physically unwell grandmother. “This award is not just a recognition of my work but also goes to them as a way of showing that their sacrifices and support were a driving factor behind my studies,” she stated.

Mabitsela said she is the only hope and the first child to go to university in the family, so she had to make it for them. She is truly humbled to have received this award – her mother was also emotional when she called to tell them the good news. Therefore, this award is not just hers, but it is also theirs.” The fact that I am my family's last hope kept me going, hence I did not give up during my challenging journey. Therefore, when I received my results, it was a culmination of my expectations. I just could not believe that I could be the top learner on the whole campus and not just in my class. I am still in shock and tears roll out of my eyes every time I think about it.”

Words of wisdom from a social progress pioneer

The event also featured a poignant address by Nobomi Duma, a dedicated social progress pioneer and UFS alumna. Living with dystonic cerebral palsy and polymyoclonus, Duma's journey is a testament to resilience. She holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree and serves as an assistant community development practitioner.

In her powerful message, Duma urged students to find peace and closure for themselves, even in the absence of an apology. “As people living with disabilities, we go through so many challenges ... accept the apology you never got.”

News Archive

UFS receives R13,7 Million for Research into Prehistoric Organisms

2007-03-27

Some of the guests attending the launch of the research contract are: Dr Siyabulela Ntutela (Deputy Director: Biotechnology at the Department of Science and Technology), Dr Godfrey Netswera (Manager of Thuthuka and the Support Programme at the National Research Foundation (NRF)), Dr Esta van Heerden (Platform Manager and lecturer at the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the UFS), Mr Butana Mboniswa (Chief Executive Officer of BioPAD), and Mr Vuyisele Phehani (Portfolio Manager for BioPAD).
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

The University of the Free State (UFS) has been awarded a massive R13,7 million contract to conduct research into prehistoric micro-organisms which live under extreme conditions, for example in mineshafts.

This is one of the biggest research contracts awarded to the UFS in recent years.

The biotechnology research contract was awarded to the UFS by BioPAD, a South African biotechnology company that brokers partnerships between researchers, entrepreneurs, business, government and other stakeholders to promote innovation and create sustainable biotechnology businesses.

The project is endorsed by the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation (NRF), which contributes to the bursaries of the 17 postgraduate students on the programme.

The contract involves the establishment of a Platform for Metagenomics - a technique which allows researchers to extract the DNA from microbes in their natural environment and investigate it in a laboratory.

“Through this platform we will be able to understand deepmine microbial populations
and their potential application in the search for life in outer space. It is most likely
that, if life were to be found on other planets in our solar system, it would probably
resemble that which existed millions of years ago on earth. Apart from all this, these
organisms have unique properties one can exploit in biotechnological application for
South Africa and its community,” said Dr Esta van Heerden, platform manager and
lecturer at the UFS Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology.
She is assisted by her collegues, Prof. Derek Litthauer and Dr Lizelle Piater.

“The platform aims to tap into the unique genetic material in South African mines
which will lead to the discovery of new genes and their products. These new and unique products will find application in the medical field (anti-cancer, anti-bacterial en anti-viral cures), the industrial sector (nanotechnology, commercial washing agents and the food industry), environmental sector (pollution management, demolition of harmful metals and other toxic waste),” said Dr Van Heerden.

According to Dr Van Heerden, the Metagenomics Platforms stems from the Life in
Extreme Environments (LExEN) programme which was started in 1994 by Princeton
University in the United States of America (USA) in South African mines with grants
from among others the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and
the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the USA. Other international collaborators
on the project include Geosynec Consultants Inc. (USA), Oak Ridge National
Laboratory (USA), the University of Tennessee (USA) and in South Africa the
Universities of the Witwatersrand, North West and Limpopo and companies like BHP
Billiton, MINTEK and mining companies like Harmony, Gold Fields and AngloGold
Ashanti.

The research field laboratory of the Metagenomics Platform, which was situated in
Glen Harvey, was moved to the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein. “In this
way the university has become the central hub for all research programmes. We are
also the liaison between the LExEN programme and the various mining companies
involved,” said Dr Van Heerden. The new laboratory was introduced during the
launch of the research contract.

“Our decision to commit BioPAD to this project stems from the company’s commitment to advance human capacity development to strengthen South Africa’s research infrastructure. It is also part of our aim to create and protect intellectual property,” said Mr Butana Mboniswa, Chief Executive Officer of BioPAD.

Talking on behalf of the UFS senior management, Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Vice-Rector
of Academic Operations, said that the university shares the excitement to be part of
the exploration of unknown forms of life, the discovery of new genes and
their products and in applying newly gained knowledge to better understand our
universe.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
27 March 2007

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