Thirty years of UVPERSU: Built on legacy, driven by hope

Dear UVPERSU Members and Colleagues,

Thirty years ago, a group of determined academic and support staff at the University of the Free State decided that no worker should stand alone. They launched UVPERSU with the belief that dignity, fair pay and a collective voice were not privileges to be granted but rights to be secured. As newly elected Chairperson, I am humbled and proud to celebrate three decades of unity, courage and progress.

I joined this union yearning for a movement that advocates fiercely for workers while recognising that a university thrives only on sustainable economic and social foundations. At UVPERSU, I found exactly that, thanks to the people who built it.

Today, the UVPERSU leadership stand on the shoulders of remarkable leaders. Francois van der Watt steered the union with meticulous skill through major management transitions and strategic salary negotiations, well into the early 2020s. Dr Henk Potgiete led with calm and courage through the COVID and post-COVID period, proving that UVPERSU can adapt and still thrive. And Anita Lombaard, our CEO until January 2026, became the face and voice of this union, carrying our members’ hopes with warmth and unwavering dedication. Their legacy is our launchpad. What defines these leaders is their character as much as their competence. They were warm, principled and approachable, and negotiated with both firmness and respect. That is the foundation on which the next decades will be built.

Their legacy is our launchpad.

Prof Sethulego Matebesi, Chairperson

As we welcome Christelle Coetzee, who joined us as CEO earlier this year, we step into the next chapter stronger, braver and united.

To our members, thank you. Every meeting attended, every subscription paid, and every voice raised in solidarity have carried us to this milestone. This union is yours.

The road ahead demands courage. Across the higher education sector, the growing casualisation of work is replacing secure careers with insecure contracts. Tightening budgets and austerity measures put pressure on the people who keep our universities running, and rapid digitalisation is reshaping the way we teach, research, and work. These challenges are real, but so is our resolve. UVPERSU will take the next solid step forward: defending job security for academic and support staff, ensuring technology serves workers rather than displaces them, and negotiating fair, sustainable outcomes for our members and the university we love.

Rooted in a proud legacy and fuelled by hope, UVPERSU strides into its next thirty years with purpose and strength. The foundation is strong, the spirit is alive, and the best chapters are still to be written. We will write them together.

Happy 30^th anniversary, UVPERSU!