Bult - University of the Free State

Bult Nuus 

Redakteur / Editor: 

Leatitia Pienaar 

Corporate Relations 

Posbus / PO Box 339 

Bloemfontein 9300 

Pienaarajl.stg@ufs.ac.za 

Tel: +27 (0) 51 401 9188 / 

0836776042 

Fax: 086 640 3571 

Adresveranderinge aan / 

Address changes to: 

Dawid Kriel 

Corporate Relations 

Posbus / PO Box 339 

Bloemfontein 9300 

Tel: +27 (0) 51 401 3409 

Fax: +27 (0) 51 444 6391 

Dawid.stg@ufs.ac.za 

Produksie / Production: 

Ontwerp / Design: Urbancrew 

Drukwerk / Printing: Paarlweb 

Gauteng 

Created under the direction of 

thinkingfusion. 

Menings wat in die publikasie gelug 

word, weerspieël nie noodwendig die 

van die Redakteur, die afdeling of die 

Universiteit nie. Bult word onder 

oudstudente, donateurs, sake- en 

regeringsleiers, meningsvormers en Kovsievriende 

versprei. Artikels kan met die 

News 

nodige erkenning elders gebruik word. Rig 30 Tick resistance can hamper 

64 Veritas word dertig 

navrae hieroor aan die Redakteur. 

food security in SA 

66 Now Everest is calling ... 

Opinions expressed in the publication 

32 Ons eie ‘CSI’-man 

70 Thabo’s voice opens hearts of people 

are not necessarily those of the Editor, 

the division or the University. Bult is 

send to alumni, donors, business and 

34 Taking your own medicine may be a 

bitter pill to swallow 

72 

74 

Therese wil nog magic maak 

Brand is doing us proud 

Bult 

government leaders, opinion formers and 

Kovsie friends. Articles can be published 

elsewhere, with the necessary 

acknowledgement. Contact the Editor in 

this regard. 

36 

38 

There is chemistry between 

Sasol and the UFS 

The leading edge 

Issue 1 • 2009 Nuustydskrif / News magazine 

2 

UNIVERSITEIT VAN DIE VRYSTAAT • UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE • YUNIVESITHI YA FREISTATA 

Bult 3 

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Cover: Thabo’s voice opens hearts of people, page 70 

Jonathan Jansen wants to bring 

people together 

Afrika-leraars preek met 

UV-kwalifikasie 

2008 was also a year of many 

blessings 

Frederick Fourie – net mens 

The art of giving back to the 

community 

A year-long celebration of life 

and survival 

Kovsies se dramadepartement 

laat waai 

‘n Graad vir engele 

Let the violins play 

Regsopleiding vier 100 jaar 

Regter Hefer roep tere 

herinneringe op 

A bridge to the future for 

school leavers 

Sporting feast awaits us this year 

Boyden central to astronomy-year 

celebrations 

Landbou is 50, maar nog 

‘n jong kalfie 

Take note of these Nguni breeders 

Navorsing Research 

40 

42 

44 

46 

48 

50 

53 

54 

55 

56 

58 

60 

Personeel Staff 

Maryke excels in the genetic 

improvement of crops 

Gretha wen veld met meditasie en 

visualisasie in die kerk 

Letticia at home in the theatre and 

the veld 

Francois Tolmie: die man agter die titel 

Johan Meyer praises the beauty 

of maths 

Beds of Hope gets a major injection 

Studente Students 

Graduates should do youth service 

in schools 

Way to Botshabelo takes Ryan to Italy 

Min kan trotser wees as 

‘juffrou’ Emma 

Kompetisie lok steeds room 

van die oes 

Service-learning helps to prepare 

students for life 

Die ‘groot appel’ wink vir twee oud- 

Kovsies 

Alumni

‘n Nuwe blad 

Bult het ‘n nuwe vars blaai omgeslaan. Letterlik. 

Ons bring vandag aan jou ‘n nuwe Bult met ‘n nuwe 

voorkoms, ‘n nuwe aanslag en met nuus wat sal 

weerspieël dat ons trots is op ons plek hier in die 

Vrystaat. 

Ons is groter en dikker en jy gaan meer lees van 

ons prestasies as ‘n akademiese instelling en die 

van ons mense op streekvlak en ook nasionaal en 

internasionaal. Jy gaan meer lees oor personeel, 

studente en ook van alumni en vriende van die 

universiteit. Almal is belangrike speke in die wiele wat 

hierdie trotse instelling, wat vanjaar 105 jaar oud is, se 

momentum aan die gang hou. 

As an institution we have also put a very difficult year in 

our history behind us and are ready for the challenges 

awaiting us. And there are many. We are positive that 

this university will be an institution of hope, where 

everyone will find a niche, where everyone will be in a 

position to make a difference. Not only to the institution, 

but also to our region and our country. 

We are welcoming our new rector and vice-chancellor, 

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, at the helm of our institution 

and are sure that he will take the UFS to new heights. 

He will take the reins of our university on 1 July this 

year. 

Enjoy the reading. 

Leatitia Pienaar 

Editor 

Bultbriewe 

Geskiedenis herhaal homself 

Hennie Pienaar, Bellville, skryf 

Die spreekwoord sê die geskiedenis herhaal homself, 

en dit besef ek weer toe ek bloot per ongeluk ‘n Bult van 

September 2002 oopslaan. ‘n Brief van ‘n oud-inwoner 

van Olienhout, Nelis Zeelie, wat hartroerend sy mening 

gee oor die destydse sluiting van Olienhout! Nelis, as jy 

dalk hier lees wil ek net sê dat ons oud-Reitzmanne nou 

meer verstaan waaroor jy destyds in jou brief geskryf 

het. Om jou aan te haal: “Vir my was dit heel eenvoudig 

– indien dit (die sluiting van Olienhout) as gevolg van 

rassevoorvalle was, waarom ‘n hele tradisie ten gronde 

bring? Hoekom is individue nooit eerder geblameer as 

om ‘n hele koshuis toe te maak nie?” 

As oud-Reitzman wil ek met dié brief hulde bring aan die 

inwoners van die twee bogenoemde koshuise. Maar nog 

meer – baie dankie aan al die ander oud-Reitzmanne vir 

julle bydrae oor jare heen om Reitz dié koshuis te maak. 

Reitz, die plek waar ek geleer het wat kameraderie en 

vir-ewig-vriendskappe is! Soos Blouwillem ook al geskryf 

het, waar jou mede-inwoners soos broers is, al kom hulle 

vanoor die hele land. 

Let wel Reitz mag gesluit wees, maar luister maar, ons 

gees sal in die jare wat kom steeds daar rondswerf en 

ween oor ons ontydige sterfte. (Brief verkort – Redakteur) 

Nie meer so opgewonde 

Johann Jordaan, Status Makelaars, skryf 

Ek ontvang sedert ek in 1979 klaar gestudeer het die Bult 

en was altyd opgewonde om nuus van my Alma Mater 

te ontvang, maar wat ‘n teleurstelling is die tydskrif die 

laaste aantal jare. Die voorkoms en bladuitleg se kwaliteit 

is nog steeds puik, maar die inhoud laat veel te wense 

oor. 

Ek kry die idee dat die bestuur van die universiteit 

die blad gebruik vir hul eie propagandaveldtog. Ja, 

bestuur het definitief te doen met die suksesse van 

Nuus 

die universiteit, maar waarom kry die studente en hul 

organisasies nie ook blootstelling in die blad nie. Ons kry 

nie die Irawa nie en daarom kry ons geen inligting oor 

die studente (waarvan sommiges ook ons kinders is). ‘n 

Voorbeeld: wie is vanjaar se studenteraad? (Brief verkort.) 

Redakteur: Johann, ek hoop jy kan van die 

veranderinge al sien! 

4 Bult 5

Nuus News 

Jonathan Jansen wants 

to bring people together 

Integration among staff and students, and 

the promotion of indigenous languages 

such as Afrikaans and Sesotho, are some 

of the challenges singled out by the newly 

appointed Rector and Vice-Chancellor 

of the University of the Free State, Prof. 

Jonathan Jansen. 

“The UFS has to find a way of integrating classroom 

life while at the same time ensuring the promotion of 

Afrikaans, an important cultural trust of the institution, as 

well as Sesotho and other indigenous languages. It has 

to bring academic staff, administrative staff, workers, 

students, as well as the parent community behind a 

compelling vision of transformation that works in the 

interest of all members of the university community. And it 

has to rebuild trust and confidence among students and 

staff in the mission of the university,” Prof. Jansen said. 

He is optimistic that he will be able to achieve this. “It is 

a great privilege to lead the UFS and I will really do my 

utmost best to be of service to the UFS.” Prof. Jansen 

is the thirteenth Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the 

institution in its 105-year history. 

The UFS Council decided with an overwhelming 

majority on his appointment, signalling the institution’s 

commitment to be a world-class university that is also 

pursuing transformation in the interests of the entire 

university community. 

In his announcement of the appointment Judge Faan 

Hancke, Chairman of the UFS Council, appealed to the 

entire UFS community – staff, students and alumni – to 

support Prof. Jansen in his endeavour to lead the UFS 

to greater heights. “This is an important moment in the 

life our institution. We should celebrate this achievement 

as a united university community. As a council we are 

unanimously behind Prof. Jansen and want to assure him 

of our full support,” Judge Hancke said. 

“The University of the Free State has gained a national 

reputation for three things: [1] its turnaround strategy 

in terms of financial stability in a context where external 

funding has been uncertain; [2] its research strategy 

which has seen a steady and impressive growth in 

research outputs; and [3] its managerial decisiveness in 

the wake of the Reitz incident,” Prof. Jansen said earlier. 

Prof. Jansen is a recent Fulbright Scholar to Stanford 

University (2007-2008), former Dean of Education at the 

University of Pretoria (2001-2007), and Honorary Doctor 

of Education from the University of Edinburgh. He is a 

former high school Biology teacher and obtained his 

undergraduate education at the University of the Western 

Cape (B.Sc.), his teaching credentials at UNISA (HED, 

B.Ed.) and his postgraduate education in the USA (MS, 

Cornell; Ph.D., Stanford). He is also Honorary Professor 

of Education at the University of the Witwatersrand and 

Visiting Fellow at the National Research Foundation. 

His most recent books are Knowledge in the Blood (2009, 

Stanford University Press) and his co-authored Diversity 

High: Class, Color, Character and Culture in a South 

African High School (2008, University Press of America). 

Vroeg reeds, 

sedert die 

vorige eeu, 

speel die 

Vrystaatse 

sinode ‘n 

belangrike rol in die Zambiese kerk. Dit is juis die 

Vrystaatse sinode wat in die tyd van die Anglo- 

Boereoorlog besluit het om met sendingwerk in Zambië 

te begin. Hieruit het die stigting van talle kerke en 

uiteindelik die vestiging van die Justo Mwale Teologiese 

Universiteitskollege in Lusaka gevolg. 

Daar is toe ook later ‘n band tussen die UV en dié 

kollege gevorm. ‘n Aantal van ons dosente en studente 

het verbintenisse met dié kollege. Prof. Rian Venter van 

ons Departement Dogmatiek was voorheen aan Justo 

Mwale verbonde en ‘n paar van Justo Mwale Kollege 

se studente het onderskeidelik hul meesters- en 

doktorsgrade in Teologie aan ons universiteit behaal. 

Die verhouding tussen die Justo Mwale Kollege en 

ons universiteit het gegroei tot so ‘n mate dat hulle 

ons Fakulteit Teologie genader het oor die aanbied 

van ‘n meestersgraad in teologie. Tans kan studente 

slegs B.Th.-graad- of diplomakursusse aan die Justo 

Mwale Kollege voltooi. Studente van die verskillende 

Christelike kerke in Zambië, Malawi en ander lande 

wat aan die Justo Mwale Kollege teologiese opleiding 

ontvang, om as predikante in hulle kerke te gaan 

optree, het ‘n toenemende behoefte ontwikkel vir 

nagraadse kursusse in teologie aan hierdie kollege. 

Die Accreditation Council of Theological Education 

(ACTEA), ‘n akkrediteringsliggaam in Zambië, bepaal 

dat slegs residensiële grade deur hulle geakkrediteer 

Afrika-leraars preek 

met UV-kwalifikasie 

Deur Lyzette Hoffman 

Toe ons Fakulteit Teologie ‘n besondere 

samewerkingsooreenkoms met ‘n Zambiese 

Universiteitskollege aangegaan het, het hy net weer 

bewys hy is ernstig oor gehalte, ook in die internasionale 

hoëronderwysgemeenskap. 

word. Dit is egter ‘n probleem by Justo Mwale, 

aangesien talle studente nie residensiële studente 

is nie. Dit was toe dat die Justo Mwale Kollege ons 

Fakulteit Teologie genader het. 

Aan die hand van ons regulasies, is ‘n kurrikulum vir die 

MA in Bybelse Studies en Hermeneutiek saamgestel. 

“Ons universiteit en die Justo Mwale Kollege sal elk ‘n 

dosent vir elke module aanstel en kontaksessies met 

die studente sal in Lusaka aangebied word,” sê prof. 

Rian. 

Studente wat die program suksesvol voltooi, sal ‘n 

UV-graad ontvang by die gradeplegtigheid wat by 

Justo Mwale sal plaasvind. In hierdie teologiegraad sal 

aandag geskenk word aan ‘n eie Afrika-hermeneutiek. 

Verder sal kerklike leierskap ook hierdeur ontwikkel 

word. “Dit gebeur dikwels dat persone met nagraadse 

teologiese kwalifikasies in bestuursposte in die sinodes 

van die Zambiese kerk dien en so ‘n invloed kan 

uitoefen op die kerk in die breë verband. Dikwels vervul 

kerkleiers ook ‘n belangrike rol in die gemeenskap. 

“Die besonderse band tussen ons universiteit en die 

Zambiese kerk word tot nuwe hoogtes gevoer met 

hierdie nuwe samewerkingsinisiatief,” sê. prof. Rian. 

Prof Hermie van Zyl, 

Departement Nuwe 

Testament, dr. D.T. 

Banda, Prinsipaal 

van Justo Mwale 

in Lusaka, en prof. 

Fanie Snyman, 

Departement Ou 

Testament. 


Prof. Teuns Verschoor. 

Nuus News 

In a year where the UFS made headlines around the world for the wrong reasons, there were 

also many blessings and achievements to celebrate. In his opening address earlier this year, 

Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Acting Rector, listed some of the achievements that we can be proud of. 

2008 was also a year of many blessings 

“The year 2008 was for this University, as Her Majesty 

Queen Elizabeth II would have phrased it, an ‘annus 

horribilis,’ Prof. Verschoor said. “On this occasion, last 

year, we optimistically spelt out the strategic priorities 

that we would have liked to drive, only to be confronted 

one month later with a triad of tragedies, to wit: the 

vandalism committed by protesting students, the 

disclosure and world-wide broadcasting of the Reitz 

video, and class disruptions in close pursuit.” 

About 80% of management time was spent on these 

crises and minimazation of its impact on the core 

role of the UFS. And there were many dark clouds 

building up on the horizon. “But as a university, we 

put our shoulders to the wheel and we succeeded to 

a large extent in limiting the damages. We honestly 

and straightforwardly acknowledged our mistakes and 

failures, in the belief that we thereby indicate that today 

we are wiser than yesterday.” 

Many blessings came our way: 

• Major support was received from the Fulbright 

Commission in South Africa for the placement at 

the UFS of internationally-renowned scholars from 

the US to assist in the establishment of this institute. 

• Where we expected a decline in the number of 

first-year students for 2009 due to all the negative 

publicity; our student number increased. 

• The Career Preparation Programme experienced 

a large growth in student numbers and now has 

more than 800 students. We provide this bridging 

opportunity for students who would otherwise not 

be able to prepare themselves for the University 

entry requirements. 

• The Master’s Degree in Sustainable Agriculture 

presented by the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture 

and Rural Development has the most students (70) 

in the sixteen years of the programme. 

• Staff excelled in many spheres. Prof. Maryke 

Labuschagne received the National Science and 

Technology Forum Award for research capacity 

building that resulted from the training of a large 

number of mainly black post-graduate students 

from South Africa and Africa over the last ten years. 

• Prof. Hendrik Swart of Physics and Prof. Jannie 

Swarts of Chemistry received R10 million from 

the National Equipment Program of the National 

Research Foundation, and R3 million from Sasol 

to purchase state-of-the-art equipment. The UFS is 

one of the leaders in nanotechnology research. 

• The School of Nursing received a financial injection 

of R16 million over four years from The Atlantic 

Philanthropies, an international philanthropic 

foundation with a strong focus on community wellbeing 

and health care. 

• The UFS, in collaboration with US-based agencies, 

was appointed as the lead grantee to spearhead 

a 10-year research and development programme 

of the Bill and Melinda Gates and WK Kellogg 

Foundations. The WK Kellogg Foundation has 

already granted R8 million to the UFS to lead 

the initial 18-month exploratory phase. This 

programme will revise agricultural education 

curricula in Africa to become more responsive to 

the needs of smallholder family farms to achieve 

improved productivity, food security and economic 

development in Africa. 

• The Centre for Accounting will receive close to 

R12 million over the next four years from the 

Thuthuka Bursary Fund to train black students as 

chartered accountants. 

• DiMTeC concluded two international cooperation 

agreements in risk management with the United 

Nations University and the University of Novi Sad, 

Serbia. 

• The University of Minnesota and the Duke State 

University of North Carolina, visited the UFS, and 

memoranda of cooperation will follow. 

• The strategic role that we play in Africa was also 

highlighted by the fact that almost 200 international 

students from fourteen countries obtained their 

qualifications at the UFS in 2008. International 

student numbers increased from 1 800 to 2 200 

over the past two years. 

• The assessor of the Association of Commonwealth 

Universities 2008 Internationalisation Benchmarking 

Review has commended the UFS on its excellent 

progress towards supporting internationalisation. 

• The Student Development and Success Division 

has received R1 million from the Council on Higher 

Education for a national pilot study to identify the 

drivers of student success. 

• Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction 

Management received unconditional accreditation 

for Construction Management from the Chartered 

Institute of Building (CIOB). The honours 

programme in Construction Management is also 

unconditionally accredited. 

• The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors 

confirmed the UFS’s accreditation. 

• The Centre for Education Development received a 

grant of $100 000 from Hewlett Packard. 

• We received R73,3 million in special funds from 

the Minister of Education, of which R30 million 

is for education training, R6 million for research 

equipment and R17,1 million for Health Sciences. 

• There were also achievements on the sports field. 

The hockey team won the University Sport South 

Africa (USSA) B section, three soccer players were 

in the USSA team, rugby won the USSA competition 

for the second time, netball made gold at the USSA 

tournament for the fourth consecutive year, and the 

ladies’ tennis won the USSA tournament. 

• Four Kovsies are in the SA u.21 team who will 

participate in the world cup on the Cook Islands in 

August this year. 

• The UFS was the host for the three-nation men’s 

hockey tournament in March, where teams from 

South Africa, Germany and Russia battled it out. 

8 Bult 9 

Photos: Hannes Pieterse

Nuus News 

Na maande van oortuiging (lees soebat) kom die e-pos toe: dit is reg vir Dinsdag, so 3 uur. Intussen het ek al 

sy afskeid op 13 Februarie met ‘n uitvoering van die Odeion Strykkwartet bygewoon om my te bewapen, as 

die onderhoud nie ‘n werklikheid sou word nie. Daardie Dinsdag maak Frederick Fourie, uitgetrede Rektor en 

Visekanselier, by sy huis in Dan Pienaar, Bloemfontein, gewilliglik ‘n venster oop op ‘n sy van die mens wat ‘n 

verbintenis van 38 jaar met die UV het, deur moeilike tye, maar ook vreugdevolle tye. 

Waar begin jou verbintenis met die UV? 

Behalwe dat hy in ‘n ‘akademiese huis’ groot geword 

het met sy pa die eerste hoof van die Departement 

Handel, was hy as musiekmens reeds as skoolkind by 

die UV betrokke. Hy en sy broer, Pienaar, het reeds op 

skool die universiteitskoor met tjello en viool begelei. 

Hoe het jou pad geloop? “Ek het nie geweet wat 

ek wou swot nie. Ek wou nie musiek swot nie – ek wou 

nie my liefde vir musiek bederf deur dit ‘n werk te maak 

nie. Ek het nie geweet of ek argitektuur, B.Com of B.Sc 

wou swot nie. Toe swot ek maar B.A. met Wiskunde, 

Ekonomie en Filosofi e as hoofvakke. En dit het goed 

uitgewerk!” 

Daarna het sy loopbaan ‘n pad gevolg via Harvard tot 

professor in 1982. Sy bestuursloopbaan begin in 1994, 

Frederick Fourie – net mens 

Deur Leatitia Pienaar 

as departementshoof van Ekonomie. Vanaf 1997 is hy 

dekaan, in 1999 viserektor, en vanaf 2003-2008 rektor – 

‘n fase in sy loopbaan wat hy in 2008 afgesluit het. 

Daar was soveel hoogtepunte in sy 

topbestuursloopbaan van tien jaar, dat dit moeilik is 

om net sekeres vas te pen. Daarom wil ek weet van die 

hoogtepunte wat oor, sê, twintig jaar nog vir hom sal 

uitstaan. 

“Die Eeufeesvieringe in 2004 sal altyd vir my uitstaan. 

Ek was bevoorreg om toe rektor te wees. Dit was ‘n 

wonderlike belewenis… die besef van ‘n waarlik ou 

universiteit, die eregraadtoekennings, die opening 

van die Eeufeeskompleks, die vieringe voor die 

Hoofgebou, die afsluiting met die vuurwerkvertoning, 

die bekendstelling van die geskiedenisboek. Dit 

Photo: Leatitia Pienaar 

was wow-oomblikke vir ‘n trotse instelling. Pragtige 

momente wat my altyd sal bybly. Dan was daar ook die 

herinrigting van die Hoofgebou, die fi siese omgewing 

wat so skouspelagtig verander het en ‘n ‘nuwe’ kampus 

gelewer het…” Te veel om op te noem. 

Maar die laagtepunte, wat jy wil vergeet? “Die 

Reitz-goed. Die vandalisme een week en die Reitz-video 

‘n week later. Die slegte (en onnodigheid) daarvan, 

en die onverdiende skade aan die UV se beeld as ‘n 

progressiewe, denkende plek, sal ek nooit uit my gestel 

kry nie. En die stiksienigheid van politici en sekere 

alumni wat alles probeer behou, maar in die proses 

alles kan verloor. Hulle besef nie hulle gaan dalk alles 

verloor as hulle ‘tradisies’ net so wil behou nie. Die UV 

kan veeltaligheid verloor. Die protesaksies het grense 

oorgesteek van wat die UV moet en kan wees. Ons was 

so naby daaraan om iets wonderliks reg te kry. 

As jy oor 20 jaar terugkyk, waarvoor sal jy 

onthou wil word, as jy alles afstroop? “Ek sal 

eerstens graag onthou wil word vir die versterking van 

die akademie, vir die sterk uitbou van die navorsing, 

en die akademie as loopbaan. Sommige sal altyd die 

fi nansiële draaistrategie onthou. Maar dit was bloot 

‘n middel – weliswaar ‘n essensiële en dramatiese 

een – tot ‘n doel: ‘n akademiese draai na ‘n baie 

goeie universiteit met baie goeie onderrig, navorsing, 

steundienste en fasiliteite. Die plan het daaroor gegaan 

om die UV ‘n hoë-gehalte plek, met hoë-gehalte mense 

en ‘n uitstekende kampus, te maak. Navorsing moes 

die ruggraat wees, met genoeg robuustheid ingebou. 

Ons sien reeds iets daarvan in die sterk groei in 

navorsingsuitsette, asook die strategiese akademiese 

klusters. Ek sal graag wil sien of die kluster-inisiatief 

werk. As dit suksesvol deurgevoer word, kan die UV in 

5-10 jaar ‘n wêreldleier in die klusterareas wees.” 

Die ander groot projek was oor diversiteit en 

transformasie. “Ons het ‘n wonderlike pad geloop met 

die uitgebreide veeltaligheidsbeleid, kreatiewe denke 

oor billike indiensneming, die intitisionele handves en 

die beleid oor diversiteit in koshuise. Daar is ontsettend 

baie intellektuele werk ingesit rondom hierdie aspekte 

– om nuwe moontlikhede te ontdek, om nie vas te val 

in òf-òf denke nie. “Ons het ‘n model vir ware nierassigheid 

probeer skep. Die konsep van ‘n sense of 

belonging staan sentraal hierin. Ons wou iets anders 

doen en nie net reseppies vir transformasie toepas nie. 

Die pad is nog onvoltooid. 

”So, ek is hartseer dat die werk nog nie afgehandel is 

nie. Maar ek besef ook dat groot kulturele veranderinge 

tyd neem, selfs dekades. As ek eendag terugkyk, sal 

ek nuuskierig wees om te sien of die benadering van 

inklusiewe diversiteit en veeltaligheid die toets van die 

tyd deurstaan het, en of ‘n institusionele handves dit 

soos ‘n grondwet kan onderskraag. Ek hoop nie die 

droom van ‘n tuiste vir almal sal verbrokkel nie.” 

Nou kom ons by die mens, Frederick Fourie. 

Almal weet van sy liefde vir musiek en sy passie vir 

motorfi etse – ja, hy ry nog sy motorfi ets. Hy het nadat 

hy sy pos ontruim het lang tye in sy tuin deurgebring en 

dit as’t ware herskep. “Dit was terapie. Dit is wonderlik 

om tuin te maak, veral die kreatiewe deel daarvan. 

Sonder vergaderings.” 

Frederick sien homself ook as “sendeling” vir ernstige 

musiek. Hy wil veral sien hoe die musiek-boodskap 

na elke dorp en township in die streek uitgedra word. 

Sy belangstellings is eintlik te veel, en moontlik kry hy 

nou tyd daarvoor tussen navorsing en konsultasiewerk 

deur. Ontwerp is ‘n passie. “Ek vrek oor ‘n mooi gebou 

of ‘n mooi motor. Dit was wonderlik en kreatief om by 

die herinrigting en ontwerp van geboue op die kampus 

betrokke te wees.” 

Wat van die pad vorentoe? “Die plan is om 

terug te gaan akademie toe. Ek gaan navorsing, 

studieleiding en konsultasiewerk doen in byvoorbeeld 

mededingingsbeleid – een van my spesialisvelde. Ek is 

‘n gewone mens, ‘n akademikus en wil dit doen. Dit sal 

lekker wees om weer op ‘n ander vlak ‘n bydrae te lewer 

tot die UV – nie as rektor met al die bagasie van die 

amp nie, maar bloot as akademikus. Ek wil nie ophou 

bou aan die plek nie.” 


Nuus News 

The art of giving back to community 

By Mangaliso Radebe 

The UFS, in partnership with the national Department of 

Arts and Culture (DAC) and the Free State departments 

of education and arts and culture, has embarked on an 

ambitious community project to promote and develop 

interest in the arts among school learners. 

The Artists in Schools Project: Free State (AIS FS) was 

launched in 2004 as a pilot project focused on Grade 

4-9 learners, following the bi-lateral agreement between 

the DAC and the Flemish government in 2003. This 

agreement was necessitated by constitutional 

imperatives that made arts and culture a 

compulsory learning area in the general 

education and training phase in public schools. 

“The whole idea of the Artists in Schools 

project is to develop the arts and culture 

learning area and also to create jobs for the 

visual artists who are jobless since it is not 

that easy for them to get jobs especially in 

our province,” explained project manager 

and fine artist Ms Nontombi Ntakakaze. 

According to its previous manager, 

Ms Janine Allen, the AIS FS project 

brings artists, 

educators and learners together in a “creative 

collaboration” that involves a variety of stakeholders 

ranging from government departments to educational 

institutions and smaller local initiatives. “The part 

educators play is of extreme importance since they 

are in a reciprocal teaching relationship with the artist 

facilitators,” she said. 

“The whole experience was really gratifying and beyond 

that I found it very calling in a sense that most of the 

schools we go to are school of kids that come from 

backgrounds that are not necessarily so stable,” said 

artist educator and filmmaker and scriptwriter of note, 

Mr Bareng Lichaba Lichaba. 

“So somehow you begin to see them express 

themselves through art and begin to actually 

understand where they are coming from, and it is not 

a matter of what you are giving them, but it is how you 

link that with the way they express themselves.” 

The art lessons presented by artists are based on the 

use of materials found in the local environments such 

as clay sculptures that are cow-dung fired and puppet 

theatres made up of waste materials. Product-based 

art projects with potential market value 

are combined with non-objectbased 

art valued as aesthetic 

and therapeutic, like the 

sandscapes project 

where learners use various 

types of soil to create nonpermanent 

environmental art. 

The project’s emphasis is on 

the importance of cultural heritage 

which is evident in activities like 

dancing, clay sculpture, puppet theatre and 

workshops. 

“The AIS FS project harbours indigenous knowledge 

systems as an essential part of arts and culture 

education, while simultaneously introducing new 

technologically orientated and creative projects that 

aim to shift the frontiers of art and culture education,” 

explained Janine. 

One core element of arts and culture lessons is 

integrated learning where most projects include a 

range of outcomes based education learning areas. 

The AIS FS project compliments textbook knowledge 

with real arts and culture experience and thus creating 

a conducive climate of arts and culture in schools 

and empowering educators who previously had no or 

limited experience. 

The project was not only beneficial to learners and 

educators but to artist educators and students involved 

in it as well, as student Dirk-Hannes van den Berg 

discovered: “I have learned a lot from being involved 

in this project, specifically from working with kids from 

the townships which was something I had not done 

before. You learn a little bit more of that side of culture 

in general and the way that some of the schools work 

harder to survive. It is very gratifying to be part of 

something like that.” 

“I have learned to understand my responsibility to 

others more,” added Lichaba. “I began to understand 

that I am in a much more advantaged position to make 

a difference to other people’s lives. It has really made 

me want to work more with kids that are coming from 

disadvantaged backgrounds as much as those that are 

coming from advantaged backgrounds – kids that are 

in need in general. The more I deal with them, the more 

I realise the passion that I have for doing that.” 

In 2007 the project entered The Embracement Phase – 

whose purpose was to get communities more involved 

in terms of owning and managing project themselves. 

As part of this initiative communities had to arrange 

exhibitions within their regions and this resulted in 

exhibitions being held in Phuthaditjhaba, Thabong, 

Mangaung and Thaba Nchu. These exhibitions were 

a showcase of artworks produced by learners who 

participated in the project. 

“I think there’s a lot of talent among young people and 

I think what this project is doing is great. But a lot more 

can be done to sustain such a project because it is one 

of the few projects that are going on in black schools 

to resuscitate art to be part of learners’ daily lives,” said 

Lichaba. 

“We are making proposals to get more financial support 

to sustain the project,” said Nontombi. 


Nuus News 

It is a cursed evil to any man to become as absorbed in any subject as I am in mine. 

– Charles Darwin 

A year-long celebration of life and survival 

By Lacea Loader 

This year the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles 

Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of 

his book On the Origin of Species are celebrated at our 

university with a year-long programme with the theme 

The story of life and survival. We are the only university 

in the country that is presenting such an extensive 

lecture programme on life and survival and it is an 

excellent example of how we promote critical scientific 

reflection. 

Darwin was an English naturalist who realised and 

presented compelling evidence that all species of 

life have evolved over time from common ancestors 

through a process he called natural selection. In 

modified form, Darwin’s scientific discovery is the 

unifying theory of the life sciences, providing logical 

explanation for the diversity of life. 

On the Origin of Species, published in 1859, is 

recognised as perhaps the greatest intellectual 

At the launch of the programme to celebrate 

the story of life and survival were, from the 

left: Prof. Schalk Louw, Department of Zoology 

and Entomology, Prof. Jo van As, Department 

of Zoology and Entomology, Prof. Maitland 

Seaman, Centre for Environmental Management, 

and Prof. Matie Hoffman, Department of Physics. 

Proff. Louw and Seaman acted in a play about 

the life of Darwin, while Prof. Hoffman made 

a presentation on what nature tells us about 

cosmic history. 

The story of the life of Darwin was 

told in a stage play at the launch 

of the programme. Prof. Schalk 

Louw, played the part of Darwin. 

revolution in the entire history of science. “The brilliance 

of this book lies in its clarity, one can almost say 

simplicity and the meticulous and comprehensive 

documentation of vast volume of evidence for 

each statement,” said Prof. Jo Van As, head of the 

Department of Zoology and Entomology at the UFS. 

“The accepted view about the origin of biodiversity 

before 1859 was that all species were created exactly 

as they are now. Darwin’s work showed that all life 

forms are interlinked and evolved like the branches 

of a tree – a tree of life. Species gradually change 

and evolve into other species under the driving force 

of natural selection. This is the same process that 

breeders use to change animals and plants to desired 

forms. The only difference is that in the latter case it is 

artificial and not natural selection,” said Prof. Van As. 

“The same process of evolution also applies to 

humans, we are not the pinnacle of biodiversity, but part 

Photo: Hannes Pieterse Photo: Hannes Pieterse Photo: Hannes Pieterse 

Prof. Schalk Louw and Prof. 

Maitland Seaman, as a journalist 

interviewing Darwin. The play was 

presented in cooperation with our 

Department of Drama and Theatre 

Arts. 

of the large spectrum of the incredible creatures living 

on the only place in the universe that we know of where 

life exists,” he said. 

The lecture programme focuses on the progress of 

man and does not only focus on Darwin. It started on 

12 February 2009, Darwin’s birth date, with a stage 

play about his life and presentation on what nature tells 

us about cosmic history and will be concluded on 12 

February 2010. 

“With the programme we aim to portray the influence 

of Darwin’s theory of evolution on a wide range of 

disciplines. We are celebrating 200 years of scientific 

progress and the epic 4,6 billion year journey of life. I 

see this as a good opportunity to promote science in its 

broadest context,” said Prof. Van As. 

Some of the topics that were discussed earlier in the 

year include the geological evolution of our planet; the 

origin of life, prokaryotes (simple organisms without 

Darwin sailed on the HMS Beagle across the Atlantic 

Ocean for more or less five years. Darwin and the crew 

went on land often during this time. He collected and 

made detailed observations of plants and animals, with 

results that shook his belief that species were fixed and 

provided the basis for ideas which came to him when 

back in the United Kingdom, and led to his theory of 

evolution by natural selection. 

nucleus) and eukaryotes (organisms with visible nuclei) 

and extinction. 

“Today evolution is no longer considered to be a theory 

and is widely accepted by most serious scientists as 

the process responsible for the diversity of life on our 

planet,” says Prof. Van As. 

The programme is in conjunction with the National 

Museum and the Central University of Technology 

in Bloemfontein. Topics that will be discussed in the 

rest of the programme are: evolution and biodiversity 

of animals, the mechanisms of evolution: heredity 

and natural selection; origin of humankind, plant 

evolution: species, systems and agriculture; road to 

civilization and human demography; proliferation of 

technology and communication; human impact on the 

environment; human impact: resistance ectoparasites 

HIV/Aids, antibiotics; how to care for the world and the 

last one on the future of evolution. 

Darwin’s study at Down House, Kent in the United 

Kingdom, where he lived for most of his life. 

14 

Bult 15

Nuus News 

Kovsies se dramadepartement 

laat waai 

Deur Margaret Linström 

“Ja, jong, dit woel hier!” Aan die woord is die trotse hoof van die Departement Drama en 

Teaterkuns, prof. Nico Luwes, oor sy departement se onlangse gesonde oes prestasies. 

Nie net het die departement ‘n klein plasie se prys in 

beurse losgeslaan nie, maar daar was ook meer as ‘n 

handvol toekennings. Dan het die departement ook 

met ‘n paar van sy produksies na die platteland getoer, 

en lê daar nog die deelname aan ‘n paar kunstefeeste 

vanjaar voor, om nie te praat van al die produksies wat 

in 2009 op die Kovsiekampus op die planke gebring 

gaan word nie. 

Dit maak ‘n mens uitasem net om dit alles op te noem, 

maar as jy kyk na die energieke teaterman voor jou (wat 

elke nou en dan opspring om ‘n nommer op die selfoon 

te soek of ‘n program te gaan uitdruk of iemand te bel 

vir inligting) dan sien jy (spring)lewende bewys van die 

gesegde: “Real success is finding your life’s work in the 

work that you love.” 

Dít beaam die professor onmiddellik as jy hom vra 

hoe die departement dit regkry om Kovsies se naam 

keer op keer hoog te hou in ‘n bedryf wat bekend is 

daarvoor dat dit “cut throat” is. “Almal hier is lief vir hulle 

werk en daarmee saam gaan goeie spanwerk.” Byna 

al die dosente het ‘n professionele teateragtergrond. 

Watter soort bestuurstyl bring hierdie resultate voort? 

“Ek loer nie oor hul skouers nie en ek hou hulle nie 

artisties terug nie – ek sê, laat waai!” 

Vir prof. Nico gaan dit allermins oor homself. Dit gaan 

oor die studente en die dosente en die bevordering 

van die kunste. Oor sy studente kan hy nie uitgepraat 

raak nie. Hy vertel graag van die R150 000 se beurse 

wat die departement van die Nasionale Kunsteraad vir 

sy eerstejaars ontvang het. “Die afgelope paar jaar het 

ons maar tussen R50 000 en R60 000 gekry, en vanjaar 

het dit verdubbel.” 

Eers as jy hom daarna uitvra, vertel hy dat hy ook by 

die Nasionale Kunsteraad ‘n toekenning ontvang het vir 

die skryf van die toneelstuk Don’t shoot the messenger, 

wat as deel van die Darwin-herdenkingsprogram 

ingestudeer word. Die toneelstuk, wat prof. Nico as 

“opspraakwekkend” beskryf, se première was in 

Maart vanjaar in die Wynand Mouton-teater op die 

Bloemfontein-kampus. 

Ook is daar die R100 000 wat die departement van die 

Nasionale Kunsteraad ontvang het vir die ontwikkeling 

van ‘n musiekblyspel vir tieners wat ook op die 

Volksblad-kunstefees gaan speel. Dit is juis op dié fees 

waar die departement sy skoene meer as vol staan. 

Die lede van die departement is deel van die artistieke 

komitee, hulle is betrokke by die beplanning, by die 

voorsiening van infrastruktuur en die studente help met 

die tegniese aspekte van die fees. 

Die departement glo ook daaraan om terug te 

gee aan die gemeenskap en as deel hiervan word 

voorgeskrewe werke by skole opgevoer. Hiervoor is 

daar ook fondse van die Nasionale Kunsteraad ontvang 

wat regisseur Michelle Luwes vir die opvoer van Reza 

de Wet se Mis kon aanwend. Mis is ‘n voorgeskrewe 

werk vir graad 12-leerders en die stuk het ‘n week lank 

vol sale in die Wynand Mouton-teater op kampus 

getrek. Mis was ook in Klerksdorp en Potchefstroom 

‘n groot sukses. Vanweë die sukses hiervan het die 

departement nog ‘n werk aangepak: Die potlooddief 

en die engel van A.S. van Staden, wat voorgeskryf is 

vir graad 11-leerders, word vanaf 18 tot 20 Maart in die 

Scaena-teater opgevoer. 

Prof. Nico sê dié geleenthede word ook gebruik om 

reklamemateriaal van die departement aan leerders uit 

te deel. “’n Mens weet nooit wanneer jy mense vir die 

kunste kan werf nie,” sê hy. 

‘n Ander inisiatief van die departement om mense na 

die teater te lok is die nuwe Klub Theatron. Nog iets 

waarop prof. Nico ooglopend trots is, is die nagraadse 

studente. Hy vertel breëbors van een van sy studente, 

Kea, wat werk doen by ‘n hospice vir weeskinders op 

Hertzogville. Kea gee drama-opleiding aan kinders. 

Die opleiding kulmineer in ‘n drama-opvoering deur 

die kinders wat handel oor lewensvaardighede en die 

voorkoming van MIV/Vigs. 

Ook met navorsing wikkel die departement. Prof. Nico 

sê daar is tans vyf magisters by die departement 

geregistreer, en hulle spog ook met twee doktorale 

studente. “Albei die proefskrifte handel oor baie 

interresante onderwerpe. Karrabelo Leka Lake kyk na 

die tekort aan swart vroulike regisseurs in Suid-Afrika, 

terwyl Kingdom Moshounyane devising theatre as 

onderwerp het.” 

Die departement was gereeld in die nuus met 

die sukses wat behaal is met die Sanlam-prys vir 

Afrikaanse teater, oftewel SPAT. Die wenprys is die 

grootste in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrikaanse 

teater vir die ontwikkeling van nuwe Afrikaanse 

teaterproduksies. Kovsies se dramastudente het in 

2005, 2007 en 2008 met die louere weggestap. Vanjaar 

gaan die span van Kovsies met die bekroonde skrywer 

Jeanne Goosen se Spokie Snygans probeer om vir 

‘n vierde keer die ander departemente se stertvere te 

pluk. 

Prof. Nico se laaste woorde beaam dít wat die meeste 

mense reeds lankal vermoed: “Ons kan regtig nie kla 

nie. Dit gaan goed met die kunste by Kovsies!” 


Foto: Prof. Jan-Albert van den Berg 

Nuus News 

’n Graad vir engele 

Deur Leonie Bolleurs 

Ons bied gehalte programme aan. Een van hierdie 

programme is die MA/MTh in Pastorale Terapie in die 

Fakulteit Teologie. Dit bied studente die geleentheid om 

hulself nie net op ’n gespesialiseerde wyse op teologie 

toe te spits nie, maar ook om ’n verskil te maak in die 

lewe van mense in nood. 

Al skryf studente van verskillende denominasies 

hulle vir die kursus in, ontmoet hulle mekaar op gelyke 

grond. Almal word toegerus om ander mense te help 

om die lewe soos wat hulle dit ervaar te hanteer en om 

perspektief te vind in moeilike omstandighede. 

Die program is in die 1980’s begin om die nood van 

individue, gesinne en gemeenskappe op ’n pastoraalterapeutiese 

vlak aan te spreek. Prof. Jan-Albert van 

den Berg, ’n spesialis in narratiewe terapie, is die 

koördineerder van die program. 

“Die program was oorspronklik slegs vir predikante 

geoormerk, maar is vandag ook vir mense vanuit ander 

beroepsrigtings, soos opvoedkunde, maatskaplike 

werk en sielkunde, toeganklik. Met al die belangstelling 

is die kursus sedert 2004 so aangepas sodat mense 

met ’n toepaslike B-graad deur middel van ’n 

oorbruggingshonneurskursus toelating kan kry,” sê 

prof. Jan-Albert. 

Saam met prof. Jan-Albert maak prof. Johan Janse van 

Rensburg, drs. Jeannette Steyn, Johan Nel en Dawid 

Kuyler deel uit van die formidabele span praktiese 

teoloë wat betrokke is by die aanbieding van die 

program. 

Studente maak kennis met nuwer ontwikkelinge in 

die terapeutiese veld. Annette Smit, ’n onderwyser 

aan Bloemfontein Sentraal, is ’n suksesproduk van 

die program. Sy pas haar kennis in haar werk toe. 

As voltydse terapeut by die skool werk Annette met 

kinders wie se ouers in die gevangenis is asook 

kinders wat self by misdaad betrokke is. “Buiten dat 

studente se leerervaringe in skole toegepas kan word, 

word studente ook toegerus om ’n verskil te maak in 

instansies soos tronke, hospitale en vigs-hospices. Die 

diensleermodules is in Januarie 2005 geïmplementeer,” 

sê prof. Jan-Albert. 

Meer as 150 studente het al in die program 

gegradueer. Jaarliks word net tien studente gekeur. 

Twee studente wat tans met hul doktorsgraad in 

Pastorale Terapie besig is, is Itumeleng Julius Pudule 

en Madeleine Fourie. Itumeleng is kapelaan in 

die Welstandsprogram in die Suid-Afrikaanse 

Polisiediens. “Vanweë die multidissiplinêre 

benadering tot terapie het die program my 

gehelp om maklik by my kollegas in ‘n 

professionele werkskonteks, in te pas,” 

sê hy. 

“Hierdie was ’n baie verrykende 

kursus en het my tot totale 

nuwe insigte gebring,” sê 

Madeleine. 

Let the violins play 

By Ailsa Uys 

The Mangaung Strings Orchestra is ten years young and celebrated its success towards 

the end of 2008. The violin-playing children and their tutors are being hailed nationally and 

internationally for their dedication. This is their story. 

The words “township” and “classical” are not often 

used in the same sentence. The Mangaung String 

Programme (MSP) is however challenging these 

stereotypes by teaching violin to more than three 

hundred ordinary township children, introduced to the 

instrument through proactive teachers and volunteers 

from the UFS and Free State Musicon. These children, 

however, do not stay ordinary, developing talent and 

focus like no other. 

Peter Guy, a trained musician from Montana, USA, 

initiated the programme with eighteen children 

from one school in 1998. Ten years on, hundreds of 

performances later and with more than 350 budding 

musicians registered, nothing stops the music. 

The programmes’ public face is the Bochabela String 

Orchestra, one of three orchestras, with musicians 

ranging from 12 to 21 years old. This orchestra has 

surpassed all expectations as it is heard nation wide at 

music festivals, on television, radio and in theatres, and 

even with their role models, the Soweto String Quartet. 

Politicians, celebrities and parents wonder at the 

developing talent. It is this reputation that is creating a 

stir nationally and internationally and the MSP has been 

invited to tour Belgium and Europe in 2009 and have a 

full calendar of local performances. 

Learners attend their own schools in the morning and 

continue classes at the UFS and at the Musicon in the 

afternoon. Saturday is orchestra day. They catch MSP 

buses across the city and take their instruments home 

to notch up extra practice hours. 

The learners are driven by their talent, discipline and 

desire to have a future. Advanced training is given at 

the UFS, by dedicated teachers, only too happy to pass 

on the art. In a further development, all UFS final-year 

music students must complete community-service 

education and the MSP is being used as the module for 

experience. The programme is therefore not just about 

music but is developing life skills in young people. 

Peter Guy truly believes the violin is a tool of expression 

and has a place in any culture. It teaches discipline, 

focus and dedication – essential skills for life and a 

career in music. 

The learners are upbeat about the possibilities open to 

them. One said: “I used to sit around on the street and 

do silly things. Now I have the violin. It has changed my 

life, and it has changed it a lot.” Another girl, aged 12, 

says: “The violin is my future. You cannot play music if 

you do not practice. If you want to be a musician you 

need to be patient; that is what I have learnt.” 

The teachers agree. Elene Coetzer says: “Some of 

them are sparks – bright sparks! It is unbelievable the 

talent we come across. For some it is the only thing 

they have. They live for it. They are anxious to learn. It 

makes a huge difference in their lives.” 


Nuus News 

Regsopleiding vier 100 jaar 

Deur Leonie Bolleurs 

Die Fakulteit Regsgeleerdheid vier vanjaar 100 jaar van die beoefening van regswetenskap 

onder die tema Iurisprudentia 100. Die mylpaal in die geskiedenis van regswetenskap aan 

ons universiteit is nie net die gevolg van gehalte-onderrig oor die jare heen nie, maar getuig 

ook van die fakulteit se verbintenis om goed toegeruste en gebalanseerde regslui aan die 

professie te lewer. 

Die Minister van Justisie en Konstitusionele 

Ontwikkeling, mnr. Enver Surty, het die fakulteit vir 

hierdie prestasie geprys. Tydens die bekendstelling van 

die fakulteit se eeufeesvieringe het mnr. Surty gesê: 

“Die fakulteit het regdeur sy bestaan bewys dat hy die 

vermoë en kapasiteit het om welbekende regskundiges, 

regspraktisyns, akademici, regters en politici op te 

lewer. Die universiteit kan trots wees op die feit dat hy 

as ‘n instelling so goed gedoen het.” 

Die fakulteit is een van die oudste en uitnemendste 

fakulteite van regsgeleerdheid in Suid-Afrika. Sy ryk 

geskiedenis kan so ver teruggevoer word as 1908 met 

die totstandkoming van die Grey Universiteitskollege. 

Met ‘n beskeie begin is die saad geplant vir die 

Fakulteit Regsgeleerdheid, wat veral stoomkrag gekry 

het toe Bloemfontein in 1910 die geregtelike hoofstad 

van Suid-Afrika geword het. 

Daar is aanvanklik slegs voorsiening gemaak 

vir aspirant prokureurs wat onder die leiding 

van ‘n plaaslike advokaat voorberei is vir die 

prokureurseksamen. Die doel van die eerste regsvakke 

wat gedoseer is, was om sulke studente vir hul 

prokureurstoelatingseksamen af te rig en later is 

enkele LL.B.-vakke daarby gevoeg. Hierdie lesings is 

deur die bekende adv. Colin Steyn vanuit sy kamers 

waargeneem. 

Adv. P.U. Fischer is die eerste dosent in Regte (1909) 

wat in die fakulteit se anale genoem word. Hy het ‘n 

B.A. LL.B. aan die Universiteit van Cambridge ontvang 

en was die eerste regsdosent wat permanent aangestel 

is. 

In 1918 is die eerste LL.B.-grade aan mnr. C.R. Swart, 

later die eerste Staatspresident van Suid-Afrika, mnr. 

S.P. le Roux, Minister van Landbou in die Malankabinet 

van 1948, en mnr. Walther Leinberger ’n 

latere baie bekende prokureur in die stad, toegeken. 

President Swart was lewenslank trots op die feit dat 

hy en sy kabinetkollega en vriend, mnr. Le Roux, van 

die eerste studente was wat die LL.B.-graad aan 

hierdie universiteit verwerf het. Mnr. Leinberger se 

graadsertifikaat is nog steeds ‘n uiters waardevolle 

museumstuk in die besit van die fakulteit. 

In 1945 het dit ‘n volwaardige fakulteit geword, en in 

1948 is ‘n nuwe akademiese era binnegegaan toe 

dr. J.P. Verloren van Themaat as die eerste voltydse 

professor aangestel is. Hy was ook die eerste dekaan 

van die Fakulteit Regsgeleerdheid. Na hom het ses 

dekane die fakulteit gelei tot die aanstelling van prof. 

Johan Henning, huidige dekaan. 

Prof. Henning, ‘n voormalige student en een van die 

eerste Uitstaande Professors van die UV, het ‘n groot 

bydrae gelewer om die beeld van die fakulteit uit te bou, 

nie alleen in Suid-Afrika nie, maar ook in die buiteland. 

Onder sy leierskap bied die fakulteit unieke geleentheid 

vir beide nasionale en internasionale studie. 

Noue samewerking met baie oorsese universiteite 

verseker dat grade internasionaal erken word. 

Samewerkingsooreenkomste is gesluit met Britse, 

Amerikaanse, Australiese, Europese en Suid-Afrikaanse 

universiteite en getuig van die fakulteit se verbintenis tot 

die handhawing van internasionale standaarde. 

‘n Ander hoogtepunt in die fakulteit se meer onlangse 

geskiedenis is toe die Attorneys’ Fidelity Fund in 

1999 die fakulteit as die beste regsfakulteit in die 

land aangewys het. In dieselde jaar is dit ook as die 

Bloemfontein Instansie van die Jaar aangewys. 

Mnr. Enver Surty, Minister van Justisie en 

Konstitusionele Ontwikkeling, en prof. Johan 

Henning. 

Deur die jare het studentegetalle aansienlik toegeneem 

en vandag het die fakulteit meer as 2 700 voor- en 

nagraadse studente. 

‘n Interessante program word vir die eeufeesjaar 

beplan met lesings en funksies regdeur die jaar. 

Aktiwiteite sluit in ontbyt-geleenthede vir verskeie 

alumni-groepe van die fakulteit en ‘n reeks intreeredes. 

Cum Laude-toekennings is ook aan regter Lex Mpati, 

President van die Hoogste Hof van Appèl, en regter 

Louis Harms, Adjunkpresident van die Hoogste Hof 

van Appèl, gemaak word. Die feesvieringe word in 

November met ‘n prestige-ete afgesluit. 

Een van die bekendste alumni van die fakulteit, oudpresident C.R. Swart (tweede 

van links) en ander hooggeplaastes met die sooispit van die gebou destyds. 


Nuus News 

Regter Hefer roep tere 

herinneringe op 

Deur Igno van Niekerk 

Afgetrede appèlregter Joos Hefer stap nog kiertsregop. 

Hy is een van die klas van 1955 wat nog lewe. 

Hy gaan sit en wys na die foto. Sy brein is nog flink en 

hy onthou elkeen van die klasgroep, sowel as wat hulle 

gedoen het. Elkeen het ‘n plekkie gevind. En hulle het 

kontak behou. 

“Dit was ander tye,” onthou regter Hefer. “Ons het 

nie voltyds klas gehad nie. Ons was almal deeltyds. 

Bedags het ons ge-‘article’ en in die aand het ons 

klas gedraf.” Tog was hulle ten volle deel van die 

universiteitslewe. 

As mens na regter Hefer luister, besef ‘n mens deur 

hoeveel veranderinge die kampus, die land en die 

regsprofessie gegaan het. En daar is baie goeie dinge 

om te koester. Soos klasmaats. “Deesdae is die klasse 

so groot dat mens nie meer ‘klasmaats’ kan wees nie. 

Tog, dit kan seker nie anders nie. Dit is jammer, want 

die dosente ken nie meer die studente nie.” 

Regter Hefer onthou hoe hy kort na die voltooiing van 

sy studies as dosent aangestel is. Een van die studente 

moes ‘n mondeling doen. “Hy het vreeslik gesukkel en 

ek het geweet hy ken die werk beter as wat hy besig 

was om aan te bied. Toe vra ek of hy die vorige nag 

geslaap het. Nee, hy het nie. Ek het gesê hy moet 

eers gaan slaap en dan sy mondeling kom doen.” Dís 

die menslike regverdigheid wat regter Hefer uitstraal. 

Dís die kaliber regverdigheid wat hy glo Kovsies se 

regsfakulteit nastreef. 

“Deesdae praat almal van ‘n regstaat; tog het ons selfs 

in die ou dae, voor 1994, die wette van die regering 

uitgevoer. Onthou, as regter is ‘n mens se rol om wette 

te interpreteer en toe te pas. Dis vandag nog die geval. 

Die belangrikste is dat ‘n mens billik en regverdig moet 

wees. Mens moet met jou besluite kan saamleef.” 

Regter Hefer verduidelik hoe die reg moet aanpas by 

die samelewing. Die reg is nie staties nie. Samelewings 

verander voortdurend en ‘n mens moet aanpas. In 

Suid-Afrika het baie dinge verander. Tog is dit jammer 

dat daar al meer regters is wie se skandes in die media 

verskyn. As regter moet jy konstant aan jou eie sin vir 

regverdigheid werk en jy moet ‘n voorbeeld kan stel. 

Anders is daar moeilikheid.” 

En as die regter uiteindelik gevra word oor watter 

advies hy vandag vir studente kan gee? Die regter dink 

‘n rukkie na, en gee dan sy uitspraak. “Leer verder. 

Spesialiseer. Word beter. Daar is kompetisie daarbuite. 

Hou aan om voluit te werk. Skep jou eie geleenthede.” 

Hy kyk weer na die foto. Die meeste van die klasmaats 

en dosente se herinneringe is inspirerend. Hulle was 

passievol oor regverdigheid en geregtigheid. Dís wat 

saak maak – die passie. 

Daarom stap oud-appèlregter Joos Hefer nog 

kiertsregop. 

A bridge to the future for school leavers 


Thousands of learners in schools fail to qualify for postschool 

education and training. Now a unique project 

funded by the Ford Foundation and being piloted at 

our university seeks to provide such learners with a 

lifeline. 

The 2008 Grade 12 results showed once again that 

the schooling system is – and has been for a long 

time – in the throes of a severe crisis. The most 

disturbing feature of this crisis is that the system 

does not produce learners with the required level of 

literacy, numeracy and other cognitive skills to further 

their education or to become part of the country’s 

workforce. 

Clearly this situation is untenable in a developing 

country such as ours, facing the immense 

challenges of a severe skills shortage, poverty and 

unemployment. We cannot afford to have hundreds 

of thousands of young people walking the streets 

without any prospect of a decent living and a future 

of opportunity. Our university and partners in the Free 

State Higher Education Consortium have devised a 

unique programme to help under prepared and even 

unprepared school-leavers who have fallen through the 

cracks of the school system. 

“We are hoping to make a meaningful contribution 

to the challenging field of creating educational 

opportunities for post-school study and the world 

of work through the generous support of the Ford 

Foundation,” said Ms Merridy Wilson-Strydom, 

Research Consultant at the Centre for Higher 

Education Studies and Development at the UFS. 

“The Skills for a Changing World Programme is aimed 

at removing barriers to educational opportunities for 

school-leavers who are not able to access higher 

education. At the moment there are few, if any, 

meaningful opportunities for those learners who come 

through the school system un/under prepared,” she 

said. 

The primary target group is young people between 

18 and 25 who are currently excluded from postschooling 

educational opportunities. The duration of 

the programme is one year. 

The core modules of the activity-driven curriculum 

are English Literacy and Language Development, 

Mathematical Literacy, Information and Communication 

Technology and Your Global Positioning System 

(YGPS), which focus on study skills and critical life 

skills, e.g. dealing with diversity. Students will also be 

supported to make informed choices about their future 

study or career directions. 

“From the second semester we plan to test the 

programme by means of a pilot project, which will 

be conducted on our university’s South Campus in 

Bloemfontein,” said Ms Wilson-Strydom. The pilot 

study will involve a group of 20 to 50 learners” 

The project team aims to have the programme 

accredited as a higher certificate and is also exploring 

the possibility of registering the programme as a 

short learning programme. “Our focus on developing 

the Programme as a qualification in its own right is a 

key innovation in the current education and training 

landscape,” said Ms Wilson-Strydom. 



Nuus News 

Sporting feast awaits us this year 

By Jamie-Ryan Turkington 

Our sporting community 

can look forward to an 

action-packed sports 

menu this year. 

In addition to local tournaments like the hostel sport 

leagues, the FNB Varsity Cup (presented by Steinhoff 

International) and the annual intervarsity with the North- 

West University, our university is set to host a number 

of international and national sports events in 2009. 

Recent upgrades have been made to the hockey, 

rugby, athletics and netball facilities. Upgrades on 

the swimming and soccer facilities are yet to follow 

and should be completed before the end of the year. 

Mickey Gordon, Head of Strategic Business and 

Sport Development, says: “The long term benefi ts of 

improving our facilities will provide us with the capacity 

to host more high quality international and national 

events.” He also added that his department is 

in the process of restructuring and that more 

improvements on and off the sports fi eld are still 

to come. 

We are geared to host players of championship 

format. We recently hosted the world hockey 

champions and the current Olympic gold medal 

holders, Germany, who took on their South African 

counterparts. Russia also featured and opened the 

tournament against SA U.21. The matches were played 

on the Kovsie astro fi elds early in March this year. Apart 

from the USSA cricket week held at the UFS cricket 

oval, the USSA hockey tournament, with more than 28 

tertiary teams participating, is scheduled for 4-27 July 

2009. 

Our university frequently hosts school 

sporting events and this year is no 

different. Mickey says it is important 

to start developing players before 

reaching university level. He 

said this with reference to a 

hockey course for schools 

that will be presented at 

the Kovsie astros from 

26 April until 2 May. 

More than a thousand players will participate in the 

initiative. 

Mickey is of the opinion that although most of our 

university’s sport facilities are currently compliant with 

the university standard, “we still have a lot of improving 

to do in order to have the best”. He says: “The main 

focus now is the commercialisation and improvement 

of our sports facilities and the establishment of a 

high performing centre within the next two years.” 

The forthcoming high performance centre will not 

only provide accommodation for sportsmen and 

sportswomen near the sports facilities, but will also 

feature a high class gymnasium. 

Mickey supports the notion that sport at a university is 

an integral part of being a student and, through student 

participation, can be used as a 

powerful marketing tool. 


Nuus News 

Boyden central to astronomy-year celebrations 

By Willem van der Berg 

No matter what your belief of how it got there, the starlit skies 

at night fascinate us all. The fact that there is no end to it, 

boggle our minds. The specs and measurements are just too 

supernatural for the mere human to understand. 

This year we have the chance to give a big up to all 

the shiny dots in the night skies and to all the people 

investigating them. It’s offi cially the Year of Astronomy. 

Our university plays a big part in the celebrations.Not 

everyone knows it, but the Boyden Observatory outside 

Bloemfontein was handed over to us in 1976. This 

observatory’s history stretches back to 1889 and to the 

mountains of Peru. 

In 1879 a mechanical engineer named Uriah A. Boyden 

left in his will a sum of $238 000 for the expressed 

purpose of carrying out astronomical research at high 

altitude. Harvard College Observatory (HCO) eventually 

(1889) found a suitable site, 8 km from the small town 

of Chosica, near Lima, Peru. It was on a hill, which was 

later named as Mount Harvard, with good weather and 

a clean dry atmosphere. The new observatory, the fi rst 

Boyden Station, was established there. It was later on 

moved to Arequipa, also in Peru, because of unstable 

weather patterns. 

South Africa’s excellent climatic conditions were fairly 

well known and in 1908 a team was sent by the HCO 

to South Africa to investigate a possible third site for 

the Boyden Station. They travelled from Cape Town via 

Worcester to Hanover in the Karoo, and expeditions 

were also sent to Kimberley, Bloemfontein and even to 

Salisbury (now Harare). Taking all considerations into 

account, Bloemfontein was the more preferable site. In 

1923 the order was given for the station at Arequipa to 

be moved to the new site on a koppie, 24 km north-east 

of Bloemfontein, and overlooking Maselspoort. 

And then in 1976, Harvard University handed the 

Boyden Station over to our university and it became the 

Boyden Observatory. Facilities of our university were 

now at the disposal of the observatory. 

The older Department of Physics and later Department 

of Physics and Astronomy of our university played a big 

role in making the Boyden Observatory a world-known 

facility and exposing the public and school groups to 

the world of astronomy. 

In celebrating astronomy this year and also the 120th 

anniversary of Boyden Observatory, our Department of 

Physics and astronomy has a full programme to carry 

out their responsibility to share the universe with the 

public. 

The Boyden Observatory anniversary is planned for 

8 May 2009. Boyden Observatory will also have a 

special astronomy exhibit at the Grahamstown Science 

Festival that will be visited by thousands of people. Two 

workshops per day aimed at Grade 10-12 learners will 

be presented. 

In April the Boyden Observatory contributed to 

the International Year of Astronomy 100 Hours of 

The Boyden Observatory outside Bloemfontein. 

Astronomy project. Celebrations will also form part of 

the annual Volksblad Arts Festival in July. For the third 

term of 2009 school groups will visit to Boyden. 

Let’s celebrate the twinkle of the stars! 


Photos: Maurits van Wyk

Nuus News 

Landbou is 50, maar nog ‘n jong kalfi e 

Deur Lacea Loader en Stefanie Naborn 

Die Fakulteit Natuur- en Landbouwetenskappe het in 2008 die 

50ste bestaansjaar van die landbouprogram gevier. Dié program 

het so gegroei dat ons vandag as een van die leiers in landbouopleiding 

in die land beskou word. 

Die landboufakulteit is die jongste van sy soort in die 

land. Voor die samesmelting van die landboufakulteit, 

natuurwetenskappe en bouwetenskappe in 2002 om 

een fakulteit te vorm, was landbou ‘n fakulteit op sy eie. 

Op ‘n vergadering van die universiteitsraad op 11 April 

1949 is besluit dat ‘n fakulteit van landbou ingestel 

moet word. Die destydse Minister van Landbou, mnr. 

S.P. le Roux, het op 15 November 1955 opdrag aan ‘n 

komitee gegee om ondersoek in te stel en aanbevelings 

te doen oor die instelling van ‘n landboufakulteit aan 

die UV. 

“Die vernaamste motivering was dat ‘n landboufakulteit 

die sentrale deel van Suid-Afrika moes bedien. Mnr. 

Le Roux, wat ook ‘n alumnus was, het hom besonder 

beywer vir die totstandkoming van die fakulteit,” sê 

prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, dekaan van die Fakulteit 

Natuur- en Landbouwetenskappe. 

Voor sy uittrede uit die politiek, kon mnr. Le Roux nog 

sy ideaal verwesenlik sien toe hy op 21 Maart 1958 

die hoeksteenlegging van die nuwe fakulteitsgebou 

waargeneem het. By hierdie geleentheid het hy wyse 

woorde gespreek wat vandag nog as inspirasie en 

rigting aan beide personeel en studente dien: ‘n 

Volk wat vir sy Landbou sorg, sorg vir sy toekoms. Dié 

woorde pryk op die fontein aan die voorkant van die 

gebou. 

“Die fakulteit het sy vroeë bestaansjare in die ou 

offi siersmenasie by Sunlawns deurgemaak terwyl die 

landbougebou in aanbou was. Van die personeel is 

begin 1958 aangestel en toe kon die eerste studente 

met studies in landbou begin. Met die aanvang van 

die eerste klasse was daar slegs sewe ingeskrewe 

studente. Die studentetal het na vier jaar honderd 

bereik en hierna aanhou groei in voorgraadse en 

nagraadse studentetalle,” sê prof. Van Schalkwyk. 

Prof. Rabie Saunders was die eerste dekaan en as blyk 

van waardering vir sy bydrae tot die daarstelling van die 

fakulteit is die fakulteitsbiblioteek na hom vernoem. 

Op 19 April 1963 is die indrukwekkende nuwe 

fakulteitsgebou amptelik deur die Minister van 

Landboutegniese Dienste en Waterwese, mnr. P.M.K. 

le Roux, geopen. Dié gebeurtenis was nie alleen ‘n 

mylpaal in die geskiedenis van die UV nie, maar ook 

in Suid-Afrikaanse landbou. Die gebou, wat bestaan 

uit agt blokke van drie tot vier verdiepings, is deur die 

Bloemfonteinse argitek Scrysos S. Daneel ontwerp. 

Dit is vandag nog ingerig met die mees tegnologies 

gevorderde toerusting en die mees moderne geriewe in 

die land vir landbouopleiding, sowel as -navorsing. 

Met die samesmelting van die landboufakulteit met 

natuurwetenskappe en bouwetenskappe, het die nuwe 

fakulteit een van die grootste fakulteite aan die UV 

geword met 19 departemente, vyf sentrums, ‘n instituut 

en ‘n proefplaas. In 2008 het 1 016 voorgraadse 

studente in landbouverwante kursusse ingeskryf, 

teenoor 969 in 2007 en 897 in 2006. 

”Die fakulteit streef vandag steeds daarna om 

uitnemende, markgerigte opleiding aan studente te 

verskaf, wat hulle gereed maak om hul plek in die besigheidswêreld 

vol te staan,” sê prof. Van Schalkwyk. 

Heel bo: Hoeksteenlegging van die 

Landbougebou op 21 Maart 1958. 

Bo: By die loodsing van “50 jaar in landbou” 

einde van verlede jaar was, van links: dr. Daan 

Opperman, seremoniemeester en direkteur van 

Vleissentraal, mnr. Corwyn Botha, Voorsitter: 

Landboubesigheidskamer en Besturende 

Direkteur van die Kaap Agri Groep, mnr. Hans 

van der Merwe, Uitvoerende Hoof: Agri SA, prof. 

Herman van Schalkwyk: Dekaan: Fakulteit Natuur- 

en Landbouwetenskappe, en mnr. Motsepe 

Matlala, President van NAFU. 

Heel bo: Die eerste UOVSlandbouverenigingbestuur 

en 

Universiteit Boerevereniging in 

1968. 

Bo: Dié beeld aan die westekant 

van die Landbougebou toon 

‘n man wat sy een hand na ‘n 

wolk uitsteek en met die ander 

‘n weerligstraal vashou – dit 

simboliseer die Departement 

Landbouweerkunde. 


Nuus 

Dr Luis Schwalbach, 

vetenarian, explains 

the vet kit at Vaalharts 

research station in 

September 2008. 

Take note of these 

Nguni breeders 

By Ailsa Uys 

The UFS is proud to be partner in a project in the 

Northern Cape that will eventually establish the biggest 

Nguni cattle breeder in South Africa. In the project 

upcoming farmers are “lent” top breeding stock. After 

fi ve years in the project, they return as “payment in 

kind” the same number of registered Nguni cattle to the 

project. 

The Northern Cape IDC Nguni Cattle Development 

Project is being received with enthusiasm and is 

achieving great successes. An amount of R12 million 

over fi ve years will be invested in this fl agship project. 

The partnership is ideal, says Prof. HO de Waal, 

UFS Project Manager. The Industrial Development 

Corporation (IDC) is the funding partner, the Northern 

Cape Department of Agriculture and Land Reform 

(NCDALR) is the hosting institution in the Northern 

Cape, we provide the project management and 

communities in the Northern Cape are the benefi ciaries. 

The approved farmers are provided with a 

small registered Nguni herd and then get 

intensive training. After the fi ve-year period 

the offspring of the Nguni cattle becomes 

the property of the farmer. 

HO De Waal says: “An important objective 

of the project, besides using the Nguni 

cattle as a vehicle for a wide range of 

training, is the development of people, the 

lifting of living standards and expectations.” 

Intense training is the backbone of the 

project. Workshops are practical; solutions 

to common problems are demonstrated 

and discussed. A learning culture is being 

demonstrated and it is paying off. 

Farms in the project are spread out in 

the Northern Cape. “Moving cattle is 

expensive, so animals are being bought 

from studs close to the farms. This benefi ts 

farmers. Within a couple of years, the 

project will be one of the biggest Nguni 

stud breeders in the country, as although 

each farmer is farming for himself, they 

collectively fall under the protection of 

the project for the fi rst fi ve years. Thereafter they are 

on their own to become commercial farmers. It is our 

aim to make people self-suffi cient, responsible and 

independent Nguni breeders, says HO de Waal. 

Participants speak of the success of the project: 

Hendrick Faniso (56), a farmer from Warrenton, is 

hoping that his children will take over. “We learn from 

each other.” He appreciates the support he is getting. 

Sharon Block, a 43-year old teacher, wants knowledge 

to be passed onto their labourers, creating a ripple 

effect in skills transfers. 

Leaving the group of farmers, I understand that the 

project is about people development; the respected 

Nguni cattle breed is just the medium for development 

and prosperity creation. 

Research 


NEWS


Tick resistance can hamper food security in SA 


Christa du Rand and Octavia Motlogeloa conducting 

a larva-packet test to determine if ticks have a 

resistence to an active ingredient. Both are M.Sc. 

students in Ectoparasitology. The larva-packet test is 

used especially when the facility must conduct tests 

for international companies as it is accepted by the 

International Food and Agricultural Organisation. 

Photos: Hannes Pieterse 

Tick control seems to be a ticking bomb in South 

Africa, with chemical tick control proving increasingly 

ineffective as ticks become resistant to control 

remedies. The Pesticide Resistance Testing Facility at 

the UFS is one of only three laboratories in South Africa 

that research the countrywide problem of tick control. 

The testing facility is involved in detecting the extent 

of tick resistance by using effi cacy testing of tick 

collections from farms where problems arise due to 

inadequate chemical control, to enable agents of 

pharmaceutical companies to plan the most suitable 

management strategy for tick control on a specifi c farm. 

The facility is the only one of its kind in the county that 

does both the testing and uses the results to identify 

and initiate further research to address the countywide 

problem of tick control. “At the testing facility we not 

only deliver the service to confi rm resistance, but 

also look at the complete problem regarding the 

development and spreading of resistance and the 

dangers it holds for food security in South Africa,” said 

Ms Ellie van Dalen from the laboratory, which is part of 

the Department of Zoology and Entomology. 

Cattle ticks, through their direct feeding activity and 

transmission of diseases such as gall sickness and 

red water, can cause considerable commercial losses 

to cattle farmers. Tick infestations can, however, be 

restricted by the use of acaricides (active ingredient 

of chemical control remedies) but the intensive use of 

acaricides has led to the development of tick resistance 

against it, causing chemical tick control to become 

increasingly ineffective. 

This has a further fi nancial impact on cattle farming due 

to costs of remedies used but not able to control ticks, 

cattle losses as result of tick transmitted diseases, 

the costs of treating sick animals as well as costs to 

implement the next remedy, which also might not be 

working. The more than eighty remedies available 

in South Africa for tick control all consist of one or a 

combination of more than one out of three main groups 

of acaricides, namely organophosphates, synthetic 

pyrethroids and amidines, and the protection of these 

acaricides against the development of tick resistance is 

of utmost importance to prevent the catastrophic effect 

tick resistance can have on the South African cattlefarming 

and food-production industry. “Previously, tick 

resistance was mostly addressed by changing over to a 

new remedy,” said Ms van Dalen. 

“We are also educating producers in making use of a 

‘prevention rather than cure’ strategy by sending tick 

collections to the facility for resistance profi ling before 

tick resistance becomes a problem. This provides a 

tool to select the appropriate insecticide management 

strategy and to counteract the development of 

resistance against an acaricide as soon as it is 

detected,” she said. 

Ms Ellie van 

Dalen from our 

university’s 

Pesticide 

Resistance Testing 

Facility busy with 

an adult emersion 

egg-laying test. 



Die kokkerot in William 

se hand is die sg. 

“Hissing Cockroach”, 

ook bekend as die 

Madagaskar-kokkerot. 

Sommige mense hou 

hulle as troeteldiere 

aan. Die wyfie is 

lewendbarend of 

vivipaar. Die genus- 

en spesienaam is 

Gromphadorhina 

protentosa. 

Ons eie ‘CSI’-man 

Deur Lacea Loader 

Forensiese Entomologie is ‘n skaars en interessante 

vakrigting en ons is die enigste universiteit in Suid- 

Afrika wat dit op grootskaal aanbied. Ons is ook in die 

gelukkige posisie om prof. Theuns van der Linde – een 

van die min forensiese entomoloë in die land – aan die 

stuur van sake te hê. Met sy toegewydheid en passie vir 

sy vakgebied dra hy by tot die skep van ‘n akademiese 

kultuur. 

Die enigste ander universiteit wat die kursus aanbied, 

is Rhodes-universiteit, maar hier word meer op die 

teoretiese aspekte van die rigting gekonsentreer. 

By ons word die rigting slegs op nagraadse vlak 

aangebied en is die kursusinhoud baie prakties. 

Studente word blootgestel aan misdaadgevalle, 

veediefstalle, sake waar voedselhigiëne ter sprake is en 

hulle kry selfs geleentheid om misdaadtonele saam met 

die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens te besoek. 

Prof. Van der Linde is reeds 36 jaar verbonde aan die 

UV. “Ek het 17 jaar gelede, nadat ek ‘n kongres oor 

Forensiese Entomologie in Amerika bygewoon het, 

besluit om in dié rigting te spesialiseer. Sedertdien was 

ek by meer as 300 lykskouings betrokke waar ontbinde 

lyke met insekte op ondersoek is om die tyd van dood 

(of post-mortem interval) te probeer vasstel. Ek verkies 

om die toneel te besoek saam met die polisie, voordat 

ek die lykskouing bywoon. So het ek al ‘n aantal 

moordsake help oplos,” het prof. Van der Linde gesê. 

Sy regterhand is William Lesaoana, wat al vyf jaar saam 

met hom werk. “William help studente met hul projekte 

en eksperimente en hy teel ook vlieë, muskiete en 

kakkerlakke in die insektarium. Hy identifi seer die vlieë 

wat ons in eksperimente gebruik – hierdie proses het hy 

self aangeleer. Hy is nou al so gekonfyt hiermee dat hy 

genoegsame kennis het van sekere kenmerke op vlieë 

en dit self kan identifi seer,” het ‘n trotse prof. Van der 

Linde gesê. 

William het ‘n Graad 12 en prof. Van der Linde het hom 

na sy skoolloopbaan gehelp om as sekuriteitswag 

opgelei te word. Kort daarna het prof. Van der Linde 

se studente-assistent bedank en het hy ‘n aanbod aan 

Nadat jy hierdie artikel gelees het, gaan jy heeltemal anders oor goggas 

en insekte dink. In plaas daarvan dat hulle wonderlike skeppings is wat hul 

spesifi eke rolle in die natuur vervul, gaan jy dink soos ‘n lid van die CSI-span 

op televisie wat die oorsake van onnatuurlike sterftes ondersoek en bepaal. 

William gemaak om sy assistent te word. Vir William het 

daar ‘n nuwe wêreld oopgegaan toe hy saam met prof. 

Van der Linde begin werk het. “Ek het niks op skool 

van Entomologie geleer nie en sal graag meer daarvan 

wil weet. Ek sal ook graag eendag vir skoolkinders van 

Entomologie wil leer,” het William gesê. 

Omdat Entomologie so ‘n spesialisveld is, is daar net 

‘n handjievol nagraadse studente wat saam met prof. 

Van der Linde navorsing doen. “Ons fokus veral op 

die ontbindingstempo van lyke in veldtoestande en in 

ander omstandighede en op die suksessie waarmee 

insekte ‘n lyk koloniseer. Dis gewoonlik brommers 

wat ‘n lyk eerste beset, soms binne minute nadat die 

persoon gesterf het,” het hy gesê. 

Studente in dié vakrigting kan in verskeie rigtings 

spesialiseer. Van die navorsing wat reeds gedoen is 

of in die proses is om afgehandel te word, is onder 

meer inseksuksessie en die ontbinding van die 

liggaam, die verbranding van ‘n liggaam en die effek 

daarvan op inseksuksessie, die effek van bedekking 

op inseksuksessie en die ontbinding van ‘n liggaam, 

entomo-toksikologie (waar insekte gebruik word om te 

bepaal of daar gifstowwe soos ‘n oordosis medikasie 

in lyke is). 

Ander navorsing wat ook gedoen is, is byvoorbeeld 

om te bepaal waar ‘n koeël ‘n lyk binnegedring het. 

Wanneer ‘n lyk die aktiewe ontbindingsfase bereik het, 

sal dit moeilik wees vir ‘n patoloog om ‘n koeëlwond op 

die lyk te identifi seer. Die brommerlarwes vreet aan die 

ontbinde weefsel rondom en in die wond en neem dan 

van die buskruitresidu in. In hierdie geval kan bepaal 

word of buskruitresidu in die larwes wat op/in die lyk 

gevind, voorkom, en dus ‘n aanduiding gee of die 

slagoffer geskiet is. 

Fotos: Hannes Pieterse Prof. Theuns van 

der Linde met ‘n 

paar opgespelte 

skoenlappers. 



Taking your own medicine may be a bitter pill to swallow 

By Cindé Mostert 

When faced with surgery, many people 

seek a second and sometimes even third 

opinion. Medication, however, is often taking 

blindly, putting at risk not only the patient, 

but also the doctor prescribing and the 

pharmacist dispensing. At the core of this 

complex problem, health and legal issues 

tiptoe around each other. However, one 

legal expert was bold enough to let them 

meet among the pages of her LL.D. 

Prof. Rita-Marié Jansen awaits me at her office door. 

She is feminine, graceful and sincerely polite. Her 

smile is permanent and her eyes radiate a soft glow. 

Out of the window fly my Law & Order ideas of power 

dressing, staccato sentences and a quick step. 

Rita-Marié’s CV surpasses all superficial superiority 

gestures. When she speaks, everyone listens, because 

they want to; not because they should. 

“If I can give one person a painless death, I have 

done enough,” Rita-Marié explains as she starts the 

conversation. 

Prof. Rita-Marié Jansen started her journey at the UFS 

some 40 years ago as a first-year B.Soc.Sc. (Nursing) 

student. She completed her honours degree and 

started working at the Department of Nursing at Kovsie 

Campus. During those years she married Willem, gave 

birth to two girls, and completed a B.Iuris degree cum 

laude. Intensifying my wordless wonder, Rita-Marié 

explains: “My husband wanted to study L.Law, and 

I decided to join him. It would make it a lot easier for 

both of us, I thought. So I discontinued my master’s 

studies in nursing and prepared for law … and my firstborn! 

I was such a sight, comfortably ensconced in a 

first-year class with my budding belly and my husband 

beside me.” 

Rita-Marié’s daughter turned out to be a wonderful 

baby and she managed to juggle work, studies and 

motherhood. At the end of their third year, they were 

expecting their second child. “I was eight months 

pregnant when I sat through six three-hour papers,” 

Rita-Marié only laughs when recalling that time. 

“I stayed at home for two years after our second 

daughter’s birth. She cried non-stop and I couldn’t 

cope with everything on top of her demands.” 

After two years of being a stay-at-home-mom, Rita- 

Marié returned to Kovsies to complete an LL.B. This 

time, however, she was alone. Her husband pursued 

another career, but law was already in her blood. In 

1989 she was appointed as a lecturer at the Faculty of 

Law, and has been there ever since, lecturing in Private 

Law. 

Rita-Marié is an expert in Medical Law, Law of 

Delict and Customary Law. She has delivered a 

number of papers at both national and international 

conferences, has authored a number of accredited 

research publications and chapters in textbooks. She 

successfully completed her LL.D dissertation: Legal 

liability resulting from medication errors, in 2007. 

Rita-Marié explored a field of study that, according 

to her, still needs much investigation. Worldwide 

the prescription, dispensing and administering of 

medication comprise the most common form of 

medical treatment. The number of medication errors 

made in a medical care institution is regarded as a 

good barometer of the general standard of care in that 

institution. The number of medication errors that come 

to light, however, is only the tip of the iceberg because, 

compared to botched surgery, it can easily be swept 

under the carpet. Research also indicates that the 

prescription of medication as form of treatment is not 

regarded as the high-risk activity that it really is. 

“The research offers a comprehensive source regarding 

medication errors seen from a legal perspective. 

The extent and occurrence of medication errors 

(prescription, dispensing and administration errors) are 

discussed with the aim to also bring it to the attention 

of both lawyers and health-care workers. Doctors, 

pharmacists and nurses often experience uncertainty 

about their legal position and how to deal with 

problematic situations.” 

In her study, Rita-Marié discusses specific problematic 

areas, including the more important legislation with 

regard to medication treatment, as well as the offlabel 

use of medication, i.e. the use of medication for 

conditions (or in dosages) other than that for which it 

is registered at the Medicine Control Council (MCC). 

Although the off-label use of medication is regarded 

as sound medical practice, an adverse outcome may 

involve legal complications. 

“Doctors find different uses for medication almost on 

a daily basis and the registration process at the MCC 

simply cannot keep up. It is estimated that as much as 

60% of prescriptions in the USA are for off-label uses.” 

Rita-Marié also investigates the problems surrounding 

the administration of pain medication and especially 

the failure to give sufficient pain medication – one of 

the most prevalent forms of medication errors. “Owing 

to a fear of prosecution and in an attempt to avoid an 

arduous inquisition, doctors generally give too low 

a dosage of painkillers. Unfortunately there are no 

on-line answers to these matters. The only solution is 

information. Informed medical and legal practitioners 

and – importantly – informed patients. Patients need to 

start asking questions.” 

Rita-Marié concludes, “I am committed to making 

a difference in the lives of both the patients and the 

medical practitioners.” 



Nicolene Cloete 

(left), Ph.D. student 

in Inorganic 

Chemistry and 

Nicola Barnard, 

Ph.D. student in 

Physical Chemistry. 

Both are Sasol 

bursary holders. 

There is chemistry between Sasol and the UFS 


The Department of Chemistry has shown a fi ve-fold 

growth in its research output in the past three years. 

This again generated income for the department in 

terms of the government’s subsidy on publications. A 

large contributing factor to the department’s success 

is Sasol’s support, which contributes to our university’s 

pursuit of excellence. 

Although Sasol’s involvement stretches over the past 57 

years, the company’s involvement with the Department 

of Chemistry started in a more pro-active way in 2006 

when the company indicated that it is concerned 

about the deterioration of the practicing of science 

at South African universities, and Sasol announced a 

countrywide university support programme to the value 

of R25 million per year for a period of ten years. 

The programme was aimed at enhancing expertise in 

areas of chemistry that are of interest to Sasol at 

universities where some expertise in those 

fi elds already existed. “The program 

was an effort to strengthen pockets 

of already existing excellence,” 

said Prof. Ben Bezuidenhoudt, 

Sasol seconded chair in 

Organic Chemistry 

in the department for a period of fi ve years. At the 

UFS Sasol selected Inorganic and Organic Chemistry 

because of the expertise of Prof. André Roodt, head of 

the department and B evaluated researcher in Inorganic 

Chemistry. 

An appropriation of R3 million per year for process 

technology and to further develop research capacity 

in Chemistry was awarded to the department. 

Many people were involved with the negotiations 

surrounding this grant, but one person at Sasol 

particularly stands out in this regard: Dr Des Young, 

former lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the UFS, and 

now senior manager at Sasol’s Technology Research 

and Development. This generous donation laid the 

foundation for a unique relationship with Sasol. Not only 

was fi nancial support received, but a staff member of 

Sasol was seconded to our university for fi ve years. 

Sasol also provides postgraduate bursaries, of which 

we have six at the moment. Ten other postgraduate 

students are also 

conducting their 

research 

on Sasol related problems 

and processes. This research 

contributed towards the 

publication of more than 50 

research papers in international 

journals by the department 

on average the past three 

years. The department is also 

conducting contract research 

for the company on specifi c 

problems in the industry. In 

the Chemistry building that 

is in the process of being 

upgraded, laboratories are 

furnished specifi cally to comply 

with Sasol’s and international 

research and safety standards. 

Sasol also decided to invest in 

the improvement of Physical 

Chemistry country-wide. 

Sasol, the National Research 

Foundation, the Department 

of Science and Technology, 

Prof. Jannie Swarts and 

Head of Physical Chemistry, 

Prof. Hendrik Swart of the 

Department of Physics of 

our university joined forces 

to negotiate more than R25 

million to create a surface 

characterisation laboratory with 

the best measuring capabilities 

in Africa. 

“The total investment in equipment (about R40 

million) and upgrading of the Chemistry building 

(more than R50 million) illustrates the intent of UFS 

top management and the Chemistry department, 

augmented by Sasol, to provide an equipped research 

facility that can compete internationally,” said Prof. 

André Roodt, head of the department. 

From the left 

are: Prof. Jannie 

Swarts, Head of the 

Physical Chemistry 

Section, Prof. André 

Roodt, head of 

the Department of 

Chemistry, and Prof. 

Ben Bezuidenhoudt, 

Sasol seconded chair 

in Organic Chemistry 

in the department. 

Cyril Young, M.Sc. 

student in Inorganic 

Chemistry, and 

Duduetsang Saku, 

Ph.D. student in 

Process Chemistry. 

Both are Sasol bursary 

holders. 

38 

Bult 39 


Many a formidable woman has graced, and 

continues to grace, our planet. Women like 

Charlotte Maxeke, the first black woman 

in South Africa to obtain a degree. Mary 

Fitzgerald, the first woman on the City 

Council of Johannesburg. Miriam Makeba. 

Helen Suzman. Your granny. My mom. 

Ladies we call our best friends. Everyone 

leaves a legacy. Sisterhood is alive and 

well, and at Kovsies they are empowering 

women. Appreciating them. Developing 

their potential. By Cindé Mostert. fusion 

The leading edge 

The University of the Free State the School of 

Management, now ten years old, is proud to present 

a programme called Creating leadership and personal 

capacity in women*, which was developed by thinking 

fusion on request of Danie Jacobs of the Centre for 

Business Dynamics. They also developed Leadership 

in the connection economy, as well as Leading: A 

programme for executives. All three programmes are 

registered on NQF Level 6 with a value of 42 credits 

that are recognised for the B. Degree in Business 

Leadership offered at Kovsies, or any other relevant 

qualification at other tertiary institutions. 

Danie requested Dr René Uys and Harry van der Merwe 

of thinking fusion, to write a programme that not only 

aids women (managers) to develop fully as leaders, 

but a programme that also adapts the leadership 

culture of the organisation to meet the demands 

of the connection economy. “René and Harry wrote 

phenomenal programmes,” Danie explains, barely able 

to contain his enthusiasm. 

“One must realise,” they say, “that these are 

programmes for people in management positions. 

And more specifically, it is leadership programmes. 

Leadership involves behaviour, which needs to be 

acquired. Accordingly, the programme is presented for 

16 days spread over a period of seven months. People 

*Programme image 

actually have the opportunity to practise and apply what 

they have learnt.” 

René is of the opinion that organisations take a major 

decision when they choose to present one of the 

programmes. Not only in financial terms, but also 

because the newly learnt skills of the leaders, will most 

certainly have an impact on the existing leadership 

culture of the organisation. “A positive impact, certainly! 

But change is inevitable.” Large organisations like 

Sasol, FNB, Momentum, FET Colleges, Vodacom, 

Kumba Iron Ore, SA Post Office, Free State Department 

of Education and Sita have to date realised the value of 

these programmes. 

René explains, “The philosophy behind the programmes 

is to develop the individual as well as the organisation. 

That’s why we work with groups of 20-30 from one 

organisation. We also apply the specific organisation’s 

values, culture and strategy instead of case studies to 

optimise learning and applicability.” “We want to make 

a change in our own country. We want to empower 

people to cope with and master their circumstances.” 

According to Danie, these programmes were the first 

of its kind in South Africa and have given Kovsies a 

national footprint. Suddenly the business sector realises 

that we have a great deal to offer.” 

Personeel 



Photos: Hannes Pieterse 

Maryke excels in the genetic improvement of crops 


Last year was probably one of the best years in the 

career of Prof. Maryke Labuschagne, head of the 

division Plant Breeding at our university. Not only did 

she win three national awards for her research, but she 

also obtained over R1 million in research funding from 

local and overseas funders. She is one of the leading 

researchers in her field in the country. 

The focus of her research team is the improvement of 

crop quality in South Africa and Africa, specifically in 

wheat, cassava, sweet potato, cocoyam and maize. 

“Half of my students are conducting research on 

cassava because it is the second most important staple 

food in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Prof. Labuschagne said. 

In 2008 she received the National Science and 

Technology Forum Award for research capacity building 

in the last five to ten years that resulted from the 

training, under her supervision, of a large number of 

especially black post-graduate students from South 

Africa and Africa. 

She was winner of the Cereal Science and Technology, 

South Africa, prize for research and development and 

received prize money and an award. And, at the end 

of 2008 the Agricultural Writers’ Association of South 

Africa also elected her as National Agriculturist of the 

Year 2008. She received this award for her research 

on gluten protein in wheat that was conducted with 

scientists from Sweden and Hungary. 

Prof. Labuschagne’s achievements are proof that 

teaching and research are of an exceptional high 

standard at our university. “To be recognised for 

this research is a great honour and privilege – it 

also provided exposure to my field of study,” she 

said. Although she has done research with several 

universities overseas, her focus is now on Africa 

because there is such an opportunity for research on 

the continent. 

“My research team focuses on the genetic 

improvement of crops that can provide better nutrition 

to people. This can also help small-scale farmers of 

Africa,” she said. 

Her passion is her students. “I am supervisor to twelve 

Ph.D. and seven master’s students. Most of them 

are part-time and are from countries such as Kenia, 

Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Ghana, Malawi, Ethiopia and 

Namibia,” said Prof. Labuschagne. 

Her division has excellent networks with large 

institutions such as CIMMYT, the international maize 

and wheat centre based in Kenya and Zimbabwe, the 

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) based 

in Nigeria, Malawi and Kenya and the International 

Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics 

(ICRISAT), based in Kenya. Most of the students are 

also funded by these companies. Being their mentor, 

Prof. Labuschagne visits them regularly to look at their 

field experiments. 

Klas van 1980 wys landbou hoe 

Agttien jaar nadat hulle saam in die eerstejaarchemieklas 

gesit het, het Maryke Labuschagne en 

Alfonso Visser verlede jaar met die toppryse van 

die Landbouskrywersvereniging weggestap. Die 

Landbouskrywers SA, Ou Mutual, Mutual & Federal 

en Nedbank maak jaarliks toekennings aan top- Suid- 

Afrikaanse boere en landboukundiges. 

Prof. Maryke Labuschagne, is as Suid-Afrika se 

Landboukundige van die jaar bekroon, terwyl mnr. 

Alfonso Visser, ’n boer van Hartswater, die SA Boer 

van die Jaar is. Hy het die grade B.Sc.Agric. (1986) en 

B.Sc.Agric. Hons. (1987) aan die universiteit behaal en 

She works with the South African Agricultural Research 

Council (ARC) and collaborates with them to train 

plant breeders. Other cooperative agreements include 

research on cassava with the International Centre for 

Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Colombia and funded by 

the Rockefeller Foundation. Some of her students from 

Africa do their practical training at CIAT. 

She is has a C grading from the National Research 

Foundation and has published almost a hundred 

scientific publications, delivered about fifty papers 

at national conferences and more than forty at 

international conferences. 

in 2004 ook hier ’n kursus in finansiële beplanning en 

bestuur (landbou) bygewoon. Prof. Labuschagne en 

mnr. Visser het gedurende die 1980’s saam eerstejaarchemieklasse 

bygewoon. 

Albei is deur mnr. Charl van Rooyen, ook ’n oud- 

Kovsie wat verlede jaar sy magister in Volhoubare 

Landbou aan die UV behaal het, benoem. Hy is 

assistent-redakteur van Landbouweekblad in Pretoria, 

sekretaris van Landbouskrywers SA en uitvoerende 

bestuurslid van die Internasionale Federasie van 

Landboujoernaliste. – Bydrae deur Charl van 

Rooyen. 

Prof. Maryke 

Labuschagne en mnr. 

Alfonso Visser (links) 

met hul toekennings. 

Saam met hulle is 

mnr. Marlon de Jager 

van Aberdeen wat as 

Opkomende Boer van 

die Jaar aangewys is. 

Heel regs is Mnr. 

Charl van Rooyen van 

Landbouweekblad. 



Gretha wen veld met meditasie en visualisasie in die kerk 

Deur Cindé Mostert 

Om eendag ‘n goeie werk te hê, is meestal die dryfveer agter elkeen wat by 

‘n universiteit inskryf, maar vir Gretha Heymans was dit ‘n hartsbesluit. Die 

dag toe sy by ons ingeskryf het as teologiestudent het sy baie goed geweet: 

vroueleraars in die NG Kerk is taboe. Sy het nie alleen predikant geword nie, 

maar wen ook veld met Christelike meditasie en visualisasie. 

Met ‘n sagte stem en ‘n rustige kyk in haar oë, begin ds. 

Gretha Heymans, deesdae leraar by Kovsiekerk, haar 

storie vertel. 

Gretha het in 1980 vir B.A. Admissie ingeskryf. Uit die 

tagtig eerstejaars was sy die enigste vrou en ‘n paar 

jaar later die eerste vrou wat aan die Fakulteit Teologie 

gegradueer het. Wat ‘n blye dag moes wees, het vir 

Gretha ‘n bitter smaak gekry. “Daardie aand het ek seker 

die meeste gehuil oor hierdie hele teologie-ding.” As 

vrou was daar nêrens in die kerk vir haar ‘n plek nie – nie 

as diaken, ouderling of predikant nie. 

Gretha het geweier dat dit haar onderkry. Sy het by die 

verpleegsterskoshuis Idahlia as kerklike werkster begin 

werk. “Ek het alles gedoen wat ‘n predikant sou, en 

soms in die hospitaal se kapel gepreek.” In 1990 het 

die sinode besluit om wel vroue tot ampte in die kerk 

toe te laat en Gretha is gelegitimeer. Maar eers vier jaar 

later, sou die kerkdeure vir ds. Heymans oopswaai. Sy 

is beroep in die NG gemeente van die Kovsiekerk. En 

skielik het haar drome waar geword. 

“Ek het altyd geroepe gevoel om ‘n dominee te word. 

Aanvanklik was my ouers skepties daaroor. Maar toe 

hulle besef dat ek ernstig is, het hulle my ten volle 

ondersteun. Ek het altyd geweet dat as ek kan preek 

en met jongmense kan werk, ek volkome gelukkig sal 

wees.” 

Met dieselfde sekerheid en entoesiasme het Gretha 

haar verhandeling oor meditasie en visualisasie as 

terapie aangepak. “Ek wou graag meditasie gebruik 

om mense te laat ontspan. En dan ‘n Christelike brug 

na visualisasie te bou om uiteindelik met visualisasie 

die terapie te doen. So die terapie gebeur binne 

die visualisasiekonteks... Ek is baie verras deur die 

resultate. Dis ongelooflik kragtig.” 

Gretha het geweet dat sy teenkanting sou kry. Daarom 

het sy baie navorsing gaan doen om die Christelike kant 

van meditasie te ontbloot en dit so van die Oosterse 

idee te onderskei. Gretha se standpunt is dat jy alleen 

deur Jesus Christus verlos kan word. 

Sy is oortuig dat daar veral in die Ou Testament 

gedeeltes is wat verwys na meditasie. Veral waar 

gepraat word van oordink en nadink. “Wanneer mens na 

die kerkvaders gaan kyk is meditasie eintlik ‘n oeroue 

begrip. Dit is glad nie so ‘n vreemde ding nie.” 

Gretha sê: “Wat meeste mense die bangste maak, is dat 

hulle dink dit ‘n tipe hipnose is en jy nie beheer gaan hê 

oor wat jy doen nie. Dit is glad nie die geval nie. 

“Daar is al bepaal dat emosionele trauma in die 

primitiewe brein gestoor word. Hierdie brein beskerm jou 

ook. As jy byvoorbeeld ‘n leeu sien, word jy voorberei vir 

‘n veg-of-vlug reaksie. In die proses onttrek die liggaam 

bloed om aan die spiere te voorsien vir ekstra krag. Na 

so twinig minute keer die liggaam terug na normaal 

omdat die gevaar dan verby behoort te wees. Vandag 

loop ons ons nie meer in leeus vas nie, maar daar is 

ander dinge wat vir ons soos ‘leeus’ is. Verkeersknope. 

Werksdruk. Die sleg van vandag se ‘leeus’ is dat die 

veg-en-vlug reaksie nooit regtig verby is nie. Ons is nie 

meer na 20 minute weer veilig nie. Die leeus is té veel. 

Dis dan wanneer depressie, hoë bloeddruk, spastiese 

kolon en so meer ontstaan. Die liggaam keer net nooit 

weer terug na normaal nie. 

“Uit ‘n visualisasie-oogpunt moet negatiewe beelde 

met positiewe beelde vervang word. Dit is waar geloof 

inkom. Baie vroeg in ‘n kind se lewe moet daar uiters 

positiewe beelde vasgevang word. Ouers wat voor 

kinders baklei, hou dus beslis ‘n risiko in. Ons kinders 

moet mooi en opbouende goed sien.” 

“Ons word so 

gekondisioneer om 

op ons logiese denke 

staat te maak dat dit 

ons kreatiewe denke 

heeltemal onderdruk.” 

Gretha Heymans. 



Letticia at home in the theatre and the veld 

Letticia Moja folds her fine hands around a steaming cup of coffee before she starts her 

story. There where she grew up as one of five children in a four-room house. There are 

memories and a deep gratefulness for her forming years in Pretoria. There she learned 

about discipline and respect. And staying-power. She is appointed as Dean of the Faculty of 

Health Science for a further five years. Cindé Mostert talked with her. 

“I was no child in particular. My one sister was the 

eldest child and the other the youngest daughter. 

My one brother was the eldest son and the other the 

youngest child. I was in the middle… without title! My 

father and I were very close, something unfamiliar in 

our culture. I was a tomboy. Not a lady. Till today I don’t 

where make-up.” 

Letticia went to primary school in Ga-Rankuwa. Always 

a star. Always a late riser. “I overslept many times. You 

should think that the activities of six other people in a 

small house would wake me… but I only woke up when 

everything was quiet! Then I had to run to get to school 

before the teacher.” 

When Letticia talks of her childhood her enthusiasm 

invites you on the journey with her. The family’s 

favourite excursion was to the airport. “Strange? But the 

excitement was unbelievable. We would have looked 

at the aeroplanes, not knowing what was really going 

on. We would see people getting into the ‘thing’, going 

away, and getting back!” 

Letticia explains that they were a fairly middle-class 

family, by the standards then. “My mother was a 

teacher and my father a senior clerk in a big factory. We 

didn’t have luxuries, but also never went hungry. Every 

child had an opportunity to get new shoes. I remember 

clearly that it was my turn shortly before one winter. At 

school we played, it got warm and I took my shoes off. 

And I forgot it at school… and that was it. I couldn’t get 

shoes again. So, I had to go to school barefoot in the 

frost that winter!” 

“It taught me discipline. Things were easy those days. 

You knew what was important: you had to get to school 

before the teacher. With or without shoes. Whether you 

overslept or not. Today’s children are different…” 

In 1976 Letticia was sent to Thaba Nchu to complete 

her high school. The High School Moroka was then the 

best Tswana school and Letticia a brilliant scholar. It 

was the logical choice. There was a bell for every thing. 

“Up to matric other people mainly decided what I had 

to do and when to do it… and then I went to university.” 

Letticia enrolled for medical studies at the “black 

section” of the University of Natal. It was the only 

medical school that allowed black students. “Now you 

land at university. As first-year and as prey for senior 

students. With no-one to watch over you shoulder. 

Whether you attend classes or not. Whether you pass 

or not, it doesn’t worry anyone. You can go to a movie 

every night and stay out late if you like… and there I 

failed my first year.” 

That was a heavy blow for Letticia. To make things 

worse her dear father died in her first year. “I don’t 

want to blame other things for my mistakes, but it was 

terrible. Only a year later, my mother died. Oh, those 

two were so in love. Her health just deteriorated. But, 

yes. I went back for my second first year at university. 

I decided that failing will never be an option again. In 

1981 Letticia got her degree: “I came out triumphant!” 

After her mother’s death her aunt cared for her brother 

and sister, but she couldn’t do it for ever. It was time for 

Letticia to go home, and so she landed at Medunsa. In 

1990 she specialised and qualified in Obstetrics and 

Gynaecology and from 1997 to 2002 she was the head 

of the gynaecological oncology unit at the Ga-Rankula 

Hospital in Pretoria. “It was wonderful. My work was 

exciting. Every procedure a challenge. I was good in 

what I was doing… then the UFS asked me to apply 

for the vice-dean’s position in the Faculty of Health 

Sciences. A managerial position. I considered it for a 

long time and decided to take on the challenge!” 

So Letticia and her two daughters arrived in the Free 

State in 2002. In 2003 she became the dean of the 

faculty. Since then Prof. Moja completed her MBA and 

is as comfortable in a manager’s chair as she is in an 

operating theatre. She recently completed building 

a new house at Hartebeespoort Dam and made the 

curtains herself. She is also an honorary game ranger 

of San Parks and can even escort tourists. “It is 

wonderful to sleep in a tent and to wonder around in 

nature. Somewhere close to a water stream.” 

Letticia’s vitality is just as overwhelming as her 

achievements. She is not only someone to learn from, 

but also someone you enjoy talking to. Without fuzz. 

As she has grown up. She knows what is important, as 

she has learnt. Definitely someone every Kovsie can be 

proud of. 

Prof. Letticia Moja. 


Foto: Stephen Collette

Prof. Francois Tolmie is bekend in teologie-kringe. Dis ook hy wat aan die begin van 2009 

die leisels by Fakulteit Teologie as dekaan oorgeneem het. Aan publikasies en akademiese 

sukses is by hom geen tekort nie. Maar wie is die man agter die nuwe hande aan die stuur? 

Francois Tolmie: die man agter die titel 


Ons ontmoet by ‘n rustige koffiewinkel, weg van die 

akademiese struktuur. Ek is effens vroeg en benoud. 

Prof. Tolmie is ‘n man van statuur. Maar vandag wil ek 

weet van sy drome, vrese en plesier. Hy groet vriendelik 

en glimlag gul. Ek is onmiddellik op my gemak. 

Francois, sou ek later leer, is ‘n man met ‘n hart wat 

warm klop vir dit wat hy doen. Tog, sonder om gewone 

sterflinge te vervreem. 

Na sy studies by Kovsies het hy sy weermagopleiding 

op Walvisbaai gedoen en hier het die plaaslike 

gemeente hom in 1989 beroep. ‘n Jaar later het die 

akademie geroep. Francois is by Kovsies se Fakulteit 

Teologie aangestel en daar het hy diep spore begin 

trap by die Nuwe Testament-departement – van senior 

lektor tot dekaan. Hy het in St.6 al geweet het hy wil ‘n 

dominee word. 

“Ons is vier broers. Ek is die oudste en my tweede 

oudste broer is ‘n mediese dokter in Kanada. Die 

jongste is ‘n tweeling: een is by die UV, ‘n ander ‘n 

bedryfsielkundige in Pretoria. In ‘n stadium was ons al 

vier gelyk op universiteit!” In my gedagtes klop ek die 

ouerpaar van dié vier op die skouer. Maklik, was dit 

verseker nie. 

Francois het sy vrou, Ansa, by Kovsies ontmoet. Hulle 

is getroud terwyl hy nog geswot het. Sy was lank ‘n 

onderwyseres en is pas klaar met ‘n meestersgraad 

oor disleksie. “My oudste dogter, Carmien, swot 

mikrobiologie. My seun, Francois, is in Gr.11 en die 

laatlam, Mialise, is in Gr. 5.” 

Hoe maak jy jou religieuse kennis deel van jou 

lewe? In my geval is dit redelik maklik. Ek werk met 

die Nuwe Testament. Dis baie nader aan ons lewe 

vandag. Ek werk meestal met Paulus se boeke en ek 

dink dat ons deesdae baie dinge soos hy ervaar. Die 

Christendom was ‘n klein groepie en nie regtig in tel 

nie. Baie soos in Suid-Afrika vandag. Ons geloof is al 

hoe minder in tel. Dis byvoorbeeld uit die staatsdiens 

en skole uit. 

Is dit sleg of goed? Die goeie daaraan is dat as jy 

vandag kies om ‘n Christen te wees is dit omdat jy 

regtig wil. Vroeër was dit dalk vir jou voordelig om aan 

‘n kerk te behoort. Wanneer jy byvoorbeeld aansoek 

gedoen het vir ‘n werk, is jy gevra aan watter kerk jy 

behoort. Die Christendom word dalk kleiner, maar ek 

dink meer opreg. 

Is daar ‘n kommunikasiegaping tussen die 

akademie en die man op straat? Ek probeer my 

boodskap skei. Daar is basies drie groepe met wie 

ek kommunikeer. Die akademici, die kerk en die 

populêre mark. Met elkeen praat ek op ‘n ander vlak. 

Die akademici is my kleinste gehoor. Wanneer ek met 

die kerk praat, is dit wanneer ek preek. Die populêre 

mark is enigeen wat een van my boeke optel en lees. 

Cum Boeke het byvoorbeeld onlangs ‘n boek van my 

en Jan van der Watt uitgegee oor die Apokriewe boeke 

(godsdienstige boeke wat nie in die Bybel opgeneem is 

nie) wat ons in eenvoudige Afrikaans vertaal het. 

Hoe beleef jy ander preke, veral uit boeke wat jy al 

bestudeer het? Omdat ek self ‘n dominee was, het 

ek eintlik simpatie met die predikante. Ek bestee jare 

daaraan om iets te bestudeer. En hulle het soms so min 

as een week. Ek moes ook al uit Ou Testament-boeke 

preek wat ek nie so goed ken nie! 

En as jy nie saamstem met wat hulle sê nie? Soms 

sal ek dink iets wat hulle sê is nie so nie... maar dan 

los ek dit maar! Baie keer is dit ook dat ‘n teks net op 

‘n ander manier verstaan word. Dit het al gebeur dat 

ek ’n nuwe interpretasie vir die eerste keer hoor, en dit 

interessant vind. 

Wat is op die ou einde reg? ‘n Teks laat gewoonlik 

ruimte vir verskillende interpretasies. Dit hang af van 

jou behoefte op ‘n gegewe oomblik. Dit is soos om na 

‘n huis te kyk. Die ou wat voor die huis staan sien ‘n 

ander prentjie as die ou aan die agterkant. Maar dit bly 

dieselfde huis. Hulle is net op verskillende plekke. Soos 

wat ons in verskillende plekke van ons lewens is. 

Is daar ‘n finale waarheid? Daar is sekere goed wat 

vas staan. Soos dat daar ‘n God bestaan wat ons lief het 

en vir Jesus gestuur het. Maar om tekste verskillend te 

interpreteer is ‘n goeie ding. Dit lei daartoe dat ons met 

mekaar praat. Sodoende verstaan ons dinge uiteindelik 

beter. 

Is dit goed om te weet dat sekere teorieë nie 

verkeerd bewys kan word nie? Ons beoefen teologie 

as ‘n wetenskap. So dit moet wetenskaplik sin maak. 

Ons gebruik teorieë wat ook geld in enige ander 

geesteswetenskaplike vakgebied. Maar agter dit sit ‘n 

stuk geloofsoortuiging. Daar is dus ‘n fondasie waarna 

ons kan terugkeer. Daar is ‘n God. 

Hoe integreer jy wetenskap en ‘n ‘geestelike oomblik 

van verdieping’? My werk as akademikus en as 

predikant is baie nou verweef. Wanneer ek ‘n akademiese 

artikel skryf, moet ek my spiritualiteit tegnies verwoord 

en formuleer – maar dit is verseker nog daar. Dis net dat 

enige persoon wat dit lees, al glo hulle nie, moet kan 

sê die argumente is goed. Wanneer ek preek, is dit vir 

mense wat reeds glo. Dan is daar ‘n bietjie meer hart. 

Wat is ons samelewing se grootste probleem? 

Waardesisteme. Verkeerde waardesisteme skep die 

illusie dat dinge belangrik is wat geen waarde het nie. 

As jy ‘n goeie verhouding met God het, kom dit reg. Nie 

eensklaps nie. Maar met tyd. Die kerk doen baie moeite in 

dié verband. Werk wat nie altyd in die media verskyn nie. 

Wat is die Christendom se toekoms in ons land? Die 

amptelike gesig sal dalk kleiner en kleiner word. Maar 

die kerke groei. In opregtheid. Die behoefte aan God 

gaan nie minder word nie. Inteendeel, ek dink dit gaan 

meer word. Maar op ‘n ander manier. Daar is al hoe meer 

mense wat laat in hulle lewe teologie begin bestudeer as 

‘n tweede loopbaan, of net vir hulleself. Daar is beslis ‘n 

toekoms. 

En met prof. Francois Tolmie as dekaan, is die toekoms 

van die teologie-fakulteit blink. 


Staff 

Foto: Gerhard Louw

Personeel 

Johan Meyer praises 

the beauty of maths 

By Margaret Linström 

The commitment of Prof. Johan Meyer of our 

Department of Mathematics and Applied 

Mathematics to his subject is plain to see, 

but it’s when he speaks about “the beauty 

of a mathematical problem” that you realise 

that it’s more than mere commitment, this is 

passion speaking. 

This passion he lives out by devoting much of his 

free time to the drawing up of question papers for 

mathematical olympiads and to the training of learners 

in preparation for these events. He says that the work 

he does for the various olympiads is “almost like a 

hobby. I see the olympiads as a type of community 

involvement. I do it for the love of the subject and for 

the promotion of mathematics. Right through your life 

you collect mathematical problems, and you jot them 

down. Then for the olympiads everybody brings their 

stash of problems. We discuss them, and try to solve 

them. That is part of why I do it.” 

Prof. Meyer is involved in mathematical olympiads from 

the highest level right down to provincial level. Right 

at the top of the pile is the International Mathematical 

Olympiad (IMO), for which he is the South African 

representative. The IMO is the world championship for 

high school learners and it is held in a different country 

every year. The first IMO was held in Romania in 1959, 

with only seven countries participating, and since then it 

has grown to over 90 countries on five continents. 

Prof. Meyer explains that “learners, who have been 

chosen to take part in the IMO, have to undergo intense 

training beforehand as the mathematical problems, 

which need to be solved at that level, are extremely 

difficult”. 

Another olympiad which Prof. Meyer devotes time and 

energy to is the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad 

(PAMO). PAMO is held in a different African country 

once a year, and this year Pretoria will host it. Prof. 

Meyer’s involvement in PAMO is on the Problems’ 

Committee, and he is primarily involved with the 

drawing up and moderating of question papers. 

The South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO) 

also utilizes Prof. Meyer’s vast expertise. This premier 

mathematics competition is almost as old as the 

International Mathematical Olympiad. It is a three 

round competition which is presented at both junior 

and senior level. The first round attracts some 50 000 

entries from all over the country. The paper consists of 

multiple-choice questions, and mathematics teachers 

at the different schools mark the papers themselves. 

Learners need to get 50% to progress to the second 

round, and only 100 are selected for the third round. 

It’s for this third round which Prof. Meyer serves on the 

committee which sets up the senior question paper. 

The ten best achievers win medals and according to 

Prof. Meyer the prize-giving ceremony is “a big event” for 

those who make the final grade. 

At provincial level there are other mathematics 

competitions, which the professor says is “like the Currie 

Cup between the provinces”. There are 16 regions 

countrywide, and the Free State has been showing its 

mettle at junior and senior level because of the excellent 

training programmes available to learners. One of these 

programmes with which Prof. Meyer is actively involved 

is the Nautilus Mathematics Project, an initiative which he 

describes as exciting. 

Learners are taught techniques and problem solving at 

the Nautilus workshops which are held four times a year. 

Prof. Meyer’s involvement is with the Grade 11 and 12 

learners. 

But is mathematics a subject where you ever know 

it all? Prof. Meyer smiles when he answers that “a 

mathematician never stops learning. The more you know, 

the more there is you do not know. It’s like a circle with 

an outer edge – the bigger the circle, the bigger the outer 

edge, and the edge is what you don’t know. That makes 

it so exciting – to continually make new discoveries.” 

Prof. Johan Meyer. 


Photo: Hannes Pieterse


At one of the patients, 

are, from the left: 

Prof. Stephen Brown 

(Department of 

Paediatrics and Child 

Health, Faculty of 

Health Sciences), 

Ms Laura Grobler 

(Accounts Executive, 

Rentworks) and 

Mr Thulani Vilakaz 

(Managing Executive, 

Rentworks). 

Beds of Hope gets a major injection 

Rentworks, an equipment-rental company, donated 

R245 000 towards the Beds of Hope Project to supply 

much needed beds to the intensive-care units of the 

Universitas and Pelonomi Hospitals in Bloemfontein. 

Glenn Goodall, CEO of Rentworks, says supporting 

initiatives of this nature is essential to ensure that 

sickly premature babies and children receive the best 

possible care and equipment available. The neonatal 

and paediatric sections of the hospitals will benefit from 

the donation. 

Prof. André Venter, head of paediatrics and child health 

at the Faculty of Health Sciences at our university, 

says his department, which operates from Universitas 

and Pelonomi Hospitals, cares for nearly one million 

children a year from the Free State and Northern Cape 

and some children from North West, Eastern Cape 

and Lesotho. These hospitals function with outdated 

equipment sorely in need of being repaired, replaced 

and/or updated. Beds of Hope was launched to 

address their concern for both patients and tertiary 

training. A further R15 million is needed. One ICU bed 

with monitoring and ventilation apparatus costs about 

R850 000. They hope to buy sixteen beds to address 

and rectify this situation. 

Mr Goodall says: “We are delighted to be able to 

contribute to the success of a cause that is literally 

saving the lives of South Africa’s children.” 

Up to ten babies are turned away from the Universitas 

Hospital each month due to a lack of beds, and they 

can die as a result. 

Reik uit en vat die klein handjie… 


“Ons kan nie net op die staat vir ‘n subsidie staatmaak 

nie. Hulle het ander prioriteite. As ons iets wil doen, 

moet ons dit self doen,” sê prof. André Venter. 

Geen bydrae kan ooit te klein of te groot wees vir die 

projek nie. As jy daardie klein handjie, wat beswaarlik 

groter as ‘n duim is, sien van die mensie wat in een van 

daardie “beddens van hoop” lê, offer jy dalk maklik jou 

volgende sny sjokoladekoek en koffie vir die projek op. 

Bydraes kan soos volg gemaak word: 

Universiteit van die Vrystaat 

Absa Bank (tjekrekening) 

Rekeningnommer: 4071164689 

Brandwagtak, takkode 630734 

Gebruik Bed of Hope as verwysing en faks bewys van 

inbetaling na 051 444 3230. 

Verskeie maatskappye en trusts het reeds bydraes 

gemaak. Onder hulle is die Albert Wessels Trust, Novo 

Nordisk, Rentworks, Janssen-Cilag SA, Loewenstein 

Charitable Trust, Pfizer Laboratories, Nomu, WD Hare 

Charitable Trust, Bowman Gilfillan, PG Bison, Wimpy 

Charitable Trust, PEC Metering, IRS, Log Rig Signs, 

Aldo Marketing, Excaliber, EG Cooper Majiedt Inc, The 

Maintenance Man, NBA Studio, Avnet Kopp, ICWIMP, 

die Loch Logan Waterfront, asook individue soos 

Naude van der Merwe, Linda van Rooyen, en Ivan van 

Rooyen. 

Bekendgestel 

Die Beds of Hope-projek is ook aan 

verskeie gaste in Johannesburg 

bekendgestel. Hier is van links, mev. 

Cathy Castagno (Ontwikkelingsdirekteur: 

Bemarking, Johannesburg), prof. André 

Venter (Hoof: Departement Pediatrie en 

Kindergesondheid, UV) en mnr. George 

Mazarakis (Uitvoerende vervaardiger: 

Carte Blanche). – Verskaf deur Nina 

Landman. 


Students 

Graduates should do 

youth service in schools 

By Anton Fisher 

The government should introduce a national 

youth service programme that will allow 

university graduates to teach in school for two 

years as a way of addressing the inequalities 

learners and teachers face in our schools. This 

call was made at the UFS by the founder of 

the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) Zackie 

Achmat during a lecture he delivered in March 

as part of Human Rights Month. He said 

that under a democratic government, South 

Africans have a lot to be thankful for and even 

more to be worried about. A particular concern 

was the fact that structural inequalities are 

widening in our schooling system. 

“The biggest danger we face is that the 

majority of African men and women in our 

society, if our economy grows at the rate that 

it does, will never have a permanent job in 

their lifetime; and that the majority of African 

children born today have a 30 percent chance 

of dying of HIV / AIDS at birth. That is a 

phenomenal fact that we must acknowledge 

as a society. But the much bigger danger in 

terms of inequality is the social death that working class 

coloured and working class African children suffer when 

they are in school,” he said. 

According to Achmat, the greatest thing the 

apartheid state did was not the affirmative action 

or job reservation for whites but the investment in 

the education of white children. And yet the current 

democratic government is failing our children 

enormously. 

Outlining a number of steps that should be taken, he 

said the state and private sector should make more 

resources available to promote the publication of books 

in African languages so that all children can learn in 

their mother tongue in their formative years. 

The country has to find the public resources to support 

poor schools and to support teachers in such schools. 

“I believe that the government should introduce a 

national youth service that requires every graduate to 

teach in school for at least two years and if you can 

do that your fees should be reimbursed. That would 

help to ensure that we begin to establish equality in the 

schools.” 

He called for the scrapping of Outcomes Based 

Education (OBE) because it is based on the faulty 

philosophical assumption that children learn from 

their experience only. He said this limits working class 

children in their conceptual development because 

they experience not only a physical hunger but also a 

hunger of intellectual dispossession. 

Achmat, a political activist, called on students to take 

forward the constitutional right to education and lead 

a campaign for equal education because “that is the 

biggest challenge facing South Africa today, in addition 

to safety and security for all”. 

Students 


Way to Botshabelo 

takes Ryan to Italy 

By Leatitia Pienaar 

On my way to 

Botshabelo – the title of 

a young Bloemfontein 

poet’s entry in an 

international poetry 

competition, can just as 

well read On my way to 

Italy… again. He is for a 

second year on his way 

to Europe to receive his 

prize. More about him… 

Ryan (20) is a 

second-year student 

in BSc Physics and 

Management. And if you are wondering about the 

poetry: “I don’t believe you need to study poetry to 

appreciate it, and the scientific part of my studies 

stimulates my mind from a completely different angle. 

He is born and bred in Bloemfontein, son of Douglas 

and Mary-Anne, a teacher for hearing-impaired 

children. His grandfather was the well-known Eric 

Lamb of Eric Lamb Nurseries, a household name in 

Bloemfontein and the region. Ryan says his grandfather 

also wrote poetry “and although I never met him (he 

passed away before I was born) I have read his poetry 

anthologies. So I guess it runs in my blood! 

“I generally don’t write about specific themes or topics, 

most of the time there is just a good sentence or idea 

that I elaborate on.” 

Ryan was 16 years old when his Remnants of Dust was 

placed first in South Africa as judged by the Poetry 

Institute of Africa. 

The theme for the Italian competition was Voices / 

Silence and he also entered a poem in a competition 

held by the University of Zagreb in Croatia. The topic for 

this one is Activism poetry. 

The international poetry competition Poesia e 

Solidarieta (Castello Di Duino) is organised by The 

Association for Poetry and Solidarity, based in Trieste, 

Italy. In 2008 about 1 210 entries were received from all 

over the world, including Bosnia, China, the Democratic 

Republic of Congo, the USA and Italy itself. Only eight 

people received individual awards, and Ryan was 

specially recommended. He was also invited to attend 

and take part in the Association’s International Youth 

Forum in Trieste during September last year. 

“Winning a prize in the competition and attending 

the Forum were amazing experiences. A year ago, I 

wouldn’t have imagined that one of my poems would 

get me to Italy! The forum itself was an eye-opening 

experience – everyone was ‘poetically inclined’ and 

thus had similar creative open-minds. Something that 

really impressed me was how much the people there 

appreciate culture.” 

This year Three Step Down takes him to Trieste. 

Min kan trotser wees as ‘juffrou’ Emma 


Die berig kon gelui het: Nils Kotzé (21) is hierdie 

jaar met die herfsgradeplegtigheid in Bloemfontein 

aangewys as die beste student in B.Rek. Hy het 

sy graad met lof geslaag en sit vanjaar sy B.Com 

Honneurs-studies aan ons Universiteit voort. 

Maar dan sal niemand weet van “juffrou” Emma wat 

daar in 2004, toe hy nog in Gr 11 was, die talentvolle 

jong man raakgesien het nie. As hoofseun van die 

skool het hy ‘n groot indruk op haar gemaak, sê Emma 

Verschoor. “Juffrou” het intussen “tannie” geword, want 

hulle het van daardie tyd af ‘n lang pad saamgestap. 

In Gr 12 was hy dux-leerling van die skool in 

Bloemfontein vir kinders uit moeilike ekonomiese 

en maatskaplike omstandighede. Geld was skaars 

en geleenthede nog minder, maar op ‘n dag het sy 

Afrikaans-onderwyser by haar klas opgedaag, met Nils 

so skaam, skaam om die draai, en gevra of sy kan 

help. “Mevrou, is daar nie ‘n manier hoe ons hierdie 

perd kan laat studeer nie, want anders gaan hy ‘n 

werktuigkundige word.” 

Emma het geweet van die paadjie vir 

universiteitstoelating via haar man, prof. Teuns 

Verschoor, maar sy wou vir Nils by sy studies uitkry 

sonder haar man se hulp. Op haar eie. Die volgende 

dag het sy by die NSFAS-afdeling aangeklop, maar 

daar moes nog uitgevind word watter rigting hy 

sou gaan swot. Die besluit val toe op B.Rek. Emma 

het ook ‘n afspraak by prof. Dave Lubbe van die 

Sentrum vir Rekeningkunde gemaak. Prof. Dave 

het self ‘n beurs gehad en gereël ook vir ‘n toets by 

PricewaterhouseCoopers, en so het Nils vakansiewerk 

by PwC gekry en sommer toe al geweet waar hy 

eendag gaan werk as die graad agter sy naam staan. 

Met ‘n koshuisbeurs val hy in by Huis Verwoerd, 

nou Armentum in, maar in sy tweede jaar word hy ‘n 

stadstudent. Dit het meegebring dat sy NSFAS-beurs 

gekanselleer is. Emma sê hulle kry in Maart 2007 by 

die see is ‘n boodskap van ‘n hoogs ontstelde Nils oor 

die kansellasie van dié beurs, maar dat hy die H.B. 

Thom Trust-beurs ontvang het. Nils pas honde-kinders 

vakansies by die Verschoor-huis op. 

En watter sameloop van 

omstandighede was dit nie: 

Dit is ‘n beurs wat Emma 

se oom, prof. H.B. Thom, 

voormalige rektor van die 

Universiteit van Stellenbosch 

en met ‘n noue verbintenis 

met die UV, ingestel het vir 

behoeftige studente. Die 

beurs-toekenning was ‘n 

groot verrassing vir Emma. 

Op ‘n ongelooflike wyse is ‘n 

kringloop voltooi. 

Nils het elke jaar uitstekende 

resultate gelewer. “Dit was 

net cum, cum, cum.” In sy 

swakste vak het hy 72% 

gekry, sê sy. Emma is baie 

trots op Nils. Sy het van die 

begin af gedink daar lê ‘n 

blink toekoms vir hom voor. 

Nils het ‘n manier om in 

mense se harte in te kruip. 

Daarvan getuig nie net die 

Verschoors nie, maar ook 

die tannies by die UV se 

Admin. Nils kry deur al die 

jare gereeld sy “besending” 

beskuit en ander ware wat 

hulle vir hom bymekaar maak, anoniem. 

Nils sê hy is verskriklik dankbaar vir die geleenthede 

wat op sy pad gekom het. “Ek wil nie die rykste mens 

op aarde wees nie. Ek wil net ander help.” 

Sy suster Emmylou het ook haar paadjie UV toe gevind. 

En die Admin-tannies maak ‘n tweede “besending” 

bymekaar. 

En tannie Emma. Sy glimlag breed as sy na die jong 

man kyk wat diep in haar hart gekruip het. 

Dalk is daar ook ‘n student vir wie jy die pad kan help 

oopkap… 

Students 


Studente 

Kompetisie lok steeds 

room van die oes 

Die kompetisie wat toppresteerders op skoolvlak 

beloon, het ook ‘n behoorlike kwota presteerders op 

nasionale en internasionale vlak opgelewer. 

Die kompetisie het sedert sy nederige begin in 1981 

ten doel gehad om talentvolle uitblinkers na die 

Kovsie-kampus te lok. Die heel eerste kompetisie is 

as die Matrieknooi-wedstryd net vir meisies aangebied 

omdat beurse vir matriekmeisies toe skaars was. Die 

destydse rektor, prof. Wynand Mouton, en mnr. Hennie 

van Deventer, toe redakteur van Die Volksblad, het die 

vennootskap tussen dié twee instansies beklink om die 

kompetisie aan te bied. 

Veelsydigheid is die wagwoord. Deelnemers se 

prestasies op akademiese, sport-, leierskap- en 

kultuurgebied word beoordeel. ‘n Evalueringstelsel is 

oor die jare ontwikkel en die puntetoekenning word 

daarvolgens gedoen. 

In 1997 het die kompetisie sy deure ook vir seuns 

oopgeswaai en sedert 2003 is die finaliste wat na die 

eindronde deurdring van tien tot veertien uitgebrei. 

Enige voornemende Kovsie kan deelneem en werwing 

word by alle skole in Suid-Afrika gedoen. 

Die Kovsie-Alumni Trust skenk jaarliks R65 000 se 

beursgeld aan die finaliste in die kompetisie. 

Die hoogtepunt is die Matrikulant van die Jaar-naweek 

wat deur die veertien topfinaliste en hul ouers bywoon 

word. Die borge is ook op die paneel van beoordelaars 

en die beoordelingsproses geskied onder toesig van 

Die Matrikulant van 

die Jaar-kompetisie, 

prestigé-projek tussen 

die UV en Volksblad, 

vier in 2010 sy dertigste 

bestaansjaar. 

Deur Sobeth Jordaan en Linda Greyling 

die amptelike ouditeure, KPMG, ook ‘n borg. Die ander 

borge is Absa, Pick ‘n Pay Hypermarket, Protea Hotel, 

XL-Astra Reise en HDL Juweliers. 

Voormalige wenners van die kompetisie onderskei 

hulle op talle terreine. Dr. Rabeen Lutchman, die eerste 

seunswenner in 2000, spesialiseer as pediater aan 

die Universiteit van Kaapstad. Hy het hom gedurende 

sy mediese studies aan die UV ook in gebaretaal 

bekwaam. 

Dr. Anchen Laubscher, wenner in 1998, is die 

senior mediese beampte in beheer van Netcare se 

lugambulans en sy lei ook dokters en ander mediese 

noodpersoneel op. Anchen was ook die eerste meisie 

om as die UV se Studenteraadsvoorsitter verkies te 

word. Sy het ook in ‘n televisiesepie gesig gewys. 

Twee oud-Greys, dr. Org Strauss en C.J. van der 

Linde, die Springbok-rugbyspeler van die Cheetahs, 

was onderskeidelik in 1997 en 1998 onder die tien 

topfinaliste. Strauss is die spandokter van die Blou 

Bulle en C.J. speel groot rugby in Ierland. 

Loraine Kriek, ‘n toptien-finalis in 2003, het haarself 

ook met onderskeiding op die UV-kampus laat geld 

as primaria van Huis Soetdoring en president van die 

Studenteraad. Sy werk tans by Deloitte en Touche. 

Vanjaar se Matrikulant-naweek word van Vrydag 25 

tot Sondag 27 September gehou. Die finaliste en hul 

ouers word bederf en die wenner word op ‘n gala-dinee 

gekroon. 

Die huidige organiseerders van die kompetisie, 

mevv. Linda Greyling (links) van UV Bemarking, en 

Sobeth Jordaan van Volksblad, is reeds sedert 1996 

by die organisasie van die kompetisie betrokke. 

Hier is hulle saam met LG Myburg, die Matrikulant 

van die Jaar-wenner in 2005. LG het verlede jaar 

B.Sc Akrutariële Wetenskap aan die UV voltooi. Hy 

is ‘n oudleerling van die Hoërskool Sand du Plessis 

in Bloemfontein. 

Die Kovsie-Alumni Trust is die 

grootste kontant borg van die 

kompetisie. Adv. Seef Hefer, 

voorsitter van die trust, en mev. 

Esmé Aucamp, beoordelaar, 

verteenwoordig die trust in die 

kompetisie. Die trust skenk 

R65 000 aan beurse van R2 500 

elk aan die 25 topfinaliste. 

– Foto: Volksblad 

Students 

Vier vorige wenners hier saam op 

2008 se gala-aand. Van links is 

Lindsay Scholt (2006), LG Myburgh 

(2005), dr. Anchen Laubscher (1998) 

en Nikita Strydom (2007). Lindsay 

is ‘n mediese student in haar derde 

jaar en LG doen nou sy nagraadse 

aktuariële studies aan die Universiteit 

van Kaapstad. Dr. Laubscher is die 

senior mediese beampte in beheer 

van Netcare se lugambulans. Nikita 

is ‘n mediese student in haar tweede 

jaar en sy is saam met Lindsay in Huis 

Roosmaryn op die kampus. 

– Foto: Charl Devenish, Volksblad 

Verlede jaar se Matrikulant van die Jaar, Elana Malherbe 

(tweede van links) het ‘n oorsese reis vir twee gewen. Mnr. 

Johan le Roux (links) van XL-Astra Reise in Bloemfontein, het 

dié prys in samewerking met Contiki Holidays en Olympic 

Airlines geskenk. Hier deel Elana se suster, dr. Carin Malherbe 

– ook ‘n oud-Kovsie, en haar pa, dr. Daan Malherbe van 

Welkom, haar groot aand. – Foto: Charl Devenish, Volksblad 



Service-learning helps to prepare students for life 


“If the educational system wishes to do justice to 

the unique South African multicultural situation, it 

should focus on developing culturally sensitive and 

civic minded individuals,” says Dr Luzelle Naudé in 

her doctoral study on the value of service learning in 

preparing students for life outside the academic world. 

“Multiracial, interactive refl ection activities during 

service learning experiences may provide an 

opportunity to openly and safely discuss racial 

issues in order to facilitate maximal learning and 

development with regard to the cultural sensitivity and 

civic responsibility of our students.” Service Learning 

(SL) is an internationally recognised mechanism that 

promotes the integration of service with teaching and 

learning. At the UFS Service Learning is fully integrated 

with curricula and we are a leader in this fi eld in South 

Africa. 

Dr Naudé says in response to the challenges facing 

South African higher education institutions in the 21st 

century, the call for developing holistic and civic minded 

individuals who can contribute to a democratic South 

Africa, is heard louder than ever before. Emphasis is 

placed on the shaping of citizens with the ability to 

refl ect and interact with the world in order to transform 

it. In this regard, educational transformation (including 

innovations such as SL) is imperative. 

Dr Naudé says the study found that a combination 

of group and individual refl ective activities resulted 

in a greater amount of change and development in 

students. Stereotypes are challenged during face 

to face human encounters. Service Learning gives 

students the opportunity to interact and communicate 

with culturally diverse people, and therefore provides 

an environment conducive to the development of 

intercultural skills and reduced stereotypes. 

SL results in a greater amount of cultural sensitivity 

and universal orientation. This concurs with the 

African philosophy of education idea that the 

willingness to enter into discourse goes hand 

in hand with the acknowledgement of the 

possibility that, together, a new truth or 

understanding can be reached. It is thus 

clear that the collaborative nature of 

SL facilitates a move towards seeing 

others as partners, towards a broader 

understanding of social issues, and 

towards a consideration of larger 

historical, social and economic 

implications – all aspects of a more 

universal orientation to life. 

Everyone is giving a hand. Service learning is also expanding horizons 

for the participating students. 

We all win 

Here are what some students had 

to say about their service-learning 

experiences. 

The one big thing I learned is to 

listen more and talk less. I am 

very grateful for this process. 

At first we were quite nervous… 

All and all we were quite a 

stressed up bunch… At our first 

meeting the whole mood just 

suddenly changed, we saw in 

each other a will to work hard, 

put in that extra effort, strive to do 

better, go further and a willingness 

and eagerness to work together 

and become friends. Things just 

got better from there… We didn’t 

even think about the fact that we 

spent more than twenty hours 

trapped in the library, no we just 

had fun! 

This module should be 

compulsory – we need to know 

how to work with people as public 

servants. 

It was interesting, I realised things 

about the community that I didn’t 

know before. It opened my eyes 

and I realised how important 

effective communication is. 

It changed me, working with the 

community. It gave me a different 

perspective. It gave me conviction 

and reinforced my personal 

convictions. 


“ 

“ 

“ 

“ 

“ 

“ 

“ 

“ 

“ 

“


Die 

‘groot appel’ 

wink vir twee 

oud-Kovsies 


Twee oud-Kovsies is gekeur om aan twee van New York se vooraanstaande 

kunsskole hulle studies te gaan voortsit: Hillétje Möller in toneelkuns en Willem 

Oosthuysen in musiekkomposisie. Albei het plaaslik al diep spore in die kunste 

getrap. Albei het op ‘n bitter jong ouderdom die geleentheid gekry om hulle 

kunsvoetspoor op internasionale vlak te vergroot. 

Willem Oosthuysen 

Willem (22) het van kleins af musiekles geneem en sy 

familie is ook besonder musikaal. Albei sy ouer sussies 

het klavier- en sanglesse geneem en sy pa speel kitaar. 

Musiek bind hulle saam: “Hulle woon al my konserte by 

en wanneer daar sommer vir die lekker musiek gemaak 

word, is almal gou by!” 

Na skool het Willem B.Mus. by Kovsies geswot en 

2007 die eerste student geword om ‘n honneurs 

in komposisie by die UV aan te pak. Hierna het hy 

aansoek gedoen by New York Universiteit se Tischkunsskool 

om ‘n meestersgraad in musiekteaterkomposisie 

te voltooi. Nou maak hy gereed om ‘n 

meester in musiekteater te word. 

“Dit gaan baie harde werk wees, maar ek sien baie uit 

daarna. Omdat die lewenskoste in New York so hoog is, 

wou ek deeltydse werk doen, maar ek gaan skynbaar 

net ‘n uur of twee per dag vry hê – ek gaan heeldag 

klas hê. Vir twee jaar lank.” 

Willem is ‘n groot aanhanger van Alan Menken, die 

meesterkomponis agter The Little Mermaid, Beauty 

and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of 

Notre Dame, Hercules en Little Shop of Horrors. Menken 

het ook by NYU studeer en het al agt Oscars gewen – 

vandaar die groot trekpleister vir Willem. 

Willem was een van sowat twintig gelukkige aansoekers 

wat wel gekeur is. “Ek was uit die veld geslaan! Willem 

beplan om in September vanjaar met sy studies te 

begin. 

Willem het onder meer vir Bea van der Vyver gehelp 

om musiek te skryf vir die verhoogproduksie Handsak 

van beton, wat sy met die Volksblad-Kunstefees in 2008 

opgevoer het. Kovsies se jaarlikse sêr-kompetisie beset 

ook ‘n paar dae in Willem se jaarlikse kalender. 

Hoewel Willem ‘n voorliefde het vir teatermusiek, glo 

hy dis belangrik om al die ander aspekte ook lewend 

te hou: “Alles is só nou verweef. Klassiek het ‘n invloed 

op Jazz. Jazz het ‘n invloed op teatermusiek. ‘n Mens 

moet versigtig wees om nie iets sommer net af te skiet 

nie. Hoe beter jou combo is, hoe nader is jy aan ‘n ware 

kunstenaar. Ek kan nie net sit en musiek skryf nie. Ek 

wil iets van die instrument ook weet, en dit dalk ook 

kan bespeel. “En natuurlik wil ek musiek geniet. Musiek 

is nie nét eksamens en reëls nie. Dit is iets wat ek as 

mens met ander mense wil deel. Pret hê ... 

En vir die wat gewonder het, Hillétje en Willem ken 

mekaar, en sal mekaar verseker opsoek in die Groot 

Appel. Vir ingeval die verlange té erg raak. 

Hillétje Möller 

Hillétje (23) het na matriek in 2002 Drama en 

Toneelkunde met ook viool as vak by Kovsies kom 

swot. Sy het uitvoerende kuns saam met haar babapap 

ingekry. Haar ma speel kontrabas en klavier, haar 

jonger broer tjello en haar pa restoureer viole. Op ses 

het sy vioolles begin neem by haar oom, Francois 

Henkins – viooldosent by Kovsies. 

Musiek en drama is haar kos, met drama wat so bietjie 

meer gewig dra. Sy speel steeds viool in orkeste, as die 

tyd dit toelaat, en gee ook les. “In ‘n stadium moet jy 

kies. Toe kies ek drama.” Die keerpunt was waarskynlik 

haar deelname aan Kringe in ‘n bos in matriek. “Op 

universiteit was ek nooit die pragtige prinses wat gered 

is nie... ek was meestal die skurk. Seker iets te doen 

met hoe ek lyk!” spot Hillétjie. “Dinge werk so wonderlik 

by die Drama-departement. My studies was vir my so ‘n 

goeie ervaring. As jy hard werk en bereid is om te leer, 

sal jy ‘n rol kry. Die dosente sien daardie ywer raak en 

help jou om tot jou volle potensiaal te ontwikkel.” 

In haar derde jaar het Hillétje in die produksie Nag van 

Legio opgetree en saam met Gerben Kamper gewerk. 

“Hy is absoluut my mentor.” Nog ‘n produksie wat 

vir haar uitstaan, was Bloedbruilof waarvoor sy en ‘n 

medestudent die musiek gekomponeer het. 

Willem Oosthuysen. 

Toe gebeur Skerpsin in 2006 met Kamper as regisseur. 

Hy het ook die vertaling van Wit na die Afrikaanse 

Skerpsin gedoen. Hillétje het die rol vertolk van 

professor Vivian Bearing, ‘n dosent in 17de eeuse 

Engelse digkuns, wat gediagnoseer word met 

gevorderde ovariumkanker. Hillétjie het daarin geslaag 

om ‘n 50-jarige vrou se emosies getrou weer te gee. 

Om Vivian se pad na die dood haar eie te maak, het 

Hillétje haar eie kop kaal geskeer. Sy moes diep grawe 

om by Vivian se aggressiewe en analitiese benadering 

tot haar siekte uit te kom. 

“Dit was baie moeilik. Maar met die regte leiding en die 

regte navorsing is enigiets moontlik. Iets soos Skerpsin 

is presies hoekom ek gaan drama swot het. Dit gaan 

nie oor roem of erkenning nie. Nee. Dis teater, man! Om 

‘n spieël voor mense te hou. Vir hulle ‘n boodskap te 

gee. Ek is niks anders as ‘n bode nie. Ek hou daarvan 

om ‘n bode te wees!” 

Intussen het Hillétje begin voelers uitsteek na verdere 

studies in haar gunsteling toneeltegniek: Method 

Acting. “Ek het afgekom op die Lee Strasberg Film and 

Acting Institute in New York. Slegs twintig studente per 

klas word gekeur om by dié befaamde skool te studeer, 

ek begin in die middel van 2009 daar. 


Hillétje Möller.

Alumni 

Tot vroeë oggendure 

in Londen gekuier 

‘n Baie geslaagde Londen Kovsie-reünie 

is einde Oktober 2008 in Suid-Afrika 

Huis, Trafalgarplein, aangebied. Sowat 

tagtig oud-Kovsies het die besondere 

geleentheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse 

hart van Londen bygewoon en daar 

tot in die vroeë oggendure gekuier en 

studentestaaljies gedeel. 

Die geleentheid is moontlik gemaak 

deur PSG Consult, Expat Explore, Visa 

Elite en die Kovsie Alumni-kantoor in 


Bloemfontein. 

Op die aand is Alet Malan en Nicolaas du 

Plessis tot mede-organiseerders van die 

2009- reünie verkies. 

Twee hou saam 

die leisels van 

die alumni-tak in 

Londen. Hier is Alet 

Malan (middel) en 

Nicolaas du Plessis 

(regs), by (van 

links) Scott Sander 

(PSG Consult), 

Jakes Maritz (Expat 

Explore en Visa 

Elite) en Louis 

Botha (uittredende 

voorsitter). 

Alumni-nuus

Alumni 

Veritas word dertig 

Huis Veritas, die stadskoshuis vir mans, vier vanjaar sy 

bestaan van dertig jaar met ‘n reünie die naweek van 

21-23 Augustus 2009. 

Die koshuis het op 6 April 1979 “oopgemaak” met 49 

eerstejaars. Die amptelike bymekaarkomplek was in 

die Hoofgebou (destyds nog nie ingerig as amptelike 

hoofgebou van die UV nie), maar die ou Kaf was baie 

meer gewild. Hier kon studente kennisgewingborde oor 

aktiwiteite dophou. Huisvergaderings is in die Albert 

Wessels-ouditorium gehou. 

Leon Janse van Rensburg, die heel eerste “jar” om by 

Veritas aan te sluit, vertel van “die Huis in die Vlei” buite 

Bloemfontein waar vyf argitektuurstudente gewoon het. 

“Daar het alles gebeur, van ontheffings tot rampartye. 

Dit was uit die dorp uit en van kampus af, so ons kon 

daar doen net wat ons wou. As ons wou oorslaap, was 

daar altyd plek. Vandag is dit waar Langenhovenpark is 

en daar staan ‘n kerk op die plek.” 

Veritas is trots op sy prestasies. Net in 2008 alleen is dit 

aangewys as Kovsies se bes bestuurde stadshuis, dit 

het gesorg vir die beste mans-eerstejaarsgroep en dit 

het die beste presteer met sy geldsake. Dit presteer in 

sport, kultuur en ander studente-aktiwiteite op kampus 

en van die kampus af. 

Vir meer inligting oor die reünie, kontak Stefan Lotter by 

084 555 8466. 

Kovsies versterk argitek-geledere 

Op die jaarvergadering van die Mpumalanga Instituut van Argitekte in Nelspruit was Rudolf en Marti Bitzer 

van die Departement Argitektuur die gassprekers. Die insiggewende lesings wat hulle aangebied het, het 

baie byval gevind. Agttien van die dertig argitekte in Nelspruit is oud-Kovsies. Net Bloemfontein het groter 

Kovsie-verteenwoordiging by die Instituut van Argitekte. Die oud-Kovsies sorg dat die standaard van 

argitektuur in Mpumalanga van hoogstaande gehalte is. Hier is, van links, Louis Jonker, Marti en Rudolf 

Bitzer, en Sanita en Wouter Mocke. 

Tagtig was geleentheid vir ‘n reünie 

Vyf oud-redaksielede van Volksblad in Bloemfontein wat meer as vyftig jaar gelede 

saam gewerk het toe wyle mnr. Hubert Coetzee die redakteur was, het op 6 Januarie 

2009 in Johannesburg Jan van Zyl se tagtigste verjaardag gevier. Vier van hulle is 

oud-Kovsies. Van Zyl (voor), wat Volksblad se parlementêre verteenwoordiger was, 

het as adjunk-direkteurgeneraal van die SAUK afgetree. Agter is van links: dr. At van 

Wyk, geskiedskrywer van Pretoria, wat een van Volksblad se eerste Goudveldse 

verteenwoordigers was; Berna Maree, oud-vroueredaktrise, wat 17 jaar vir SA 

Panorama in Pretoria gewerk het; Herman le Roux, voormalige sport- en assistent- 

redakteur, wat twaalf jaar gelede as assistent- en sportredakteur van Beeld afgetree het, 

en Kobus Hamman, oud-hoofsub en -nuusredakteur, wat ook by die SAUK tot adjunk- 

direkteurgeneraal gevorder het. Bienkie (Barnardo) Wessels, nog ‘n oud-Volksbladder 

by die geselligheid, was afwesig toe die foto geneem is. Van Zyl was in 1951 voorsitter van die Kovsies se Studenteraad en 

Hamman in 1954. Herman le Roux, ‘n oud-Tukkie, sê hy het darem twee maande lank nágraads aan die UV geswot! En ná sy 

goeie verbintenis met die UV se sportlui oor baie jare het hy ook ‘n sagte plekkie in sy hart vir Kovsieland. – Bydrae deur Herman 

le Roux, foto: André Liebenberg 

Alumni-nuus 


Alumni 

Now Everest is calling… 


No mountain is too daunting for Louis Carstens (46). If fact, mountains are 

calling this Group Executive: Strategy at African Bank Investments Ltd in 

Johannesburg. 

In March 2009 he departed for Mount Everest, the highest of them all after he has conquered the highest mountain 

on all the other continents. The list is impressive: 

“ 

Mont Blanc (4 807m, 6-8-98) 

Kilimanjaro (5 895m, 31-12-98), highest in Africa (Tanzania) 

Carstensz Pyramid (4 884m, 22-4-00), highest in Australasia (New Guinea) 

I… wanted to climb [Everest] for myself. I wanted to do one spectacular 

thing in my life: something that made up for all the times I hadn’t 

Elbrus (5 642m, 15-8-02), highest in Europe (Russia) 

achieved… I wanted something that would prove to me and the world that 

Aconcagua (6 960m, 8-2-03), highest in South America (Argentina) 

I could, and that would last me till the end of my days – something that no 

Vinson (4 897m, 3-12-05), highest in Antarctica 

one could ever take away. 

Denali (6 201m, 14-6-06), highest in North America (Alaska) 

Mt Pissus (6 883m, 4-1-07), 3rd highest in South America (Argentina) 

Cho Oyu (8 201m, 5-10-08), 6th highest in the world (Himalayas) 

Aconcagua (6 960m, 9-1-09), highest in South America (Argentina) The expedition earlier this year to South America was in married to Dia (35) and they have five-year old twin 

preparation for Mount Everest. 

sons, Armand and Roald. 

Louis Carstens 

But why is he taking on these high mountains? 

Louis says: “it gets me out of my comfort zone and 

the predictability of daily life. I like setting big goals. 

For example, deciding to climb Cho Oyu took a huge 

commitment in terms of time, money, and effort. I 

trained five days per week, postponed an overseas 

holiday to Italy, and worked very long hours to ensure 

that my work accountabilities did not get compromised. 

“I like the element of risk and danger inherent in highaltitude 

mountaineering. The only way to mitigate 

the risk is to plan properly and prepare well – and 

sometimes even that is not enough. 

“I have made friends all over the world. And climbing 

makes me a better husband, father and businessman 

– as those close to me will attest. Most importantly, it 

makes me appreciate life more, it enables me to not 

‘sweat the small things in life’, it shows me what I am 

capable of achieving.” 

Louis was a fulltime student from 1980 to 1983, and 

part time from 1986 to 1989. He obtained a Ph.D. from 

the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences 

and was also lecturer at the UFS for a while. He is 

This is how he described those moments on the 

summit of Cho Oyu: Cho Oyu was a special summit. I 

felt a sense of achievement. With DaSona, my Sherpa, 

we were higher than any other human being at that 

moment. When DaSona and I embraced as we reached 

the summit, all the hard work of the previous six 

weeks, the physical hardships and bone-chilling cold 

were worth it. I was overwhelmed with the sight of Mt 

Everest ‘in the flesh’: more beautiful, more mysterious, 

more majestic than I have ever imagined. I felt scared 

thinking that I want to climb Mt Everest. 

Relaxing in the Garden of Dreams in Kathmandu, 

I reflected on the one question we as high-altitude 

mountaineers always get asked: “Why do you climb 

high mountains?” Maybe the answer for me lies in 

what Susan Ershler, Everest climber, said in Together 

on Top of the World: “I… wanted to climb [Everest] 

for myself. I wanted to do one spectacular thing in my 

life: something that made up for all the times I hadn’t 

achieved… I wanted something that would prove to me 

and the world that I could, and that would last me till 

the end of my days – something that no one could ever 

take away.” 


“

Alumni Alumni 

Hulle bly vir ons kosbaar 

Oud-personeel van die UV is in Oktober onthaal. 

Sowat 120 mense het die geleentheid in die Reitz-saal 

van die Eeufeessentrum bygewoon. Die sêr-groep 

van Huis Marjolein het die gaste vermaak met die 

produksie waarmee hul die “Klein Sêr” op kampus 

gewen het. Pensioentrekkers of hul gades word gevra 

om Kathy Verwey by UV-Bemarking, by 051 401 9343, 

te kontak indien hul nie uitnodigings ontvang het nie. 

Van die mense wat die geleentheid bygewoon het, 

is dr. en mev. A.H. Klopper en prof. en mev. Niel van 

Loggerenberg (foto bo), en mnr. Johan en mev. Hester 

Otto, en prof. Johan van Schalkwyk. – Fotos: Kathy 

Verwey. 

Medelye Condolences 

Our condolences go to the family and friends of people 

who past away in recent months. Contributions are from 

family, friends and colleagues. 

Ons medelye gaan aan familie en vriende van mense 

wat die afgelope paar maande oorlede is. Bydraes is 

van familie, vriende en kollegas. 

• Mr Godfrey Motja, who worked at Protection 

Services, passed away in September 2008. 

• Mnr. Piet Botes van die Departement Mikrobiese, 

Biochemiese en Voedselbiotegnologie is ook in 

September 2008 oorlede. 

• Dr. T.J. (Tobie) de Vos, voor sy aftrede ’n senior 

navorser by die destydse Instituut vir Sosiale 

en Ekonomiese Navorsing en daarna Hoof: 

Beskermingsdienste op kampus, is vroeër in 2008 

oorlede. 

• Mev. Annerie van Niekerk (35) is in Oktober 2008 

aan kanker oorlede. Sy het ‘n B.A. Honneurs behaal 

en was ‘n inwoner van Huis Sonnedou. Sy word 

oorleef deur haar man, Werner, en dogter, Liané. 

• Mnr. Johan (Stoney) Steenkamp (75) is in 

November 2008 na ‘n kort siekte oorlede. Hy was 

onder meer afrigter van die Vrystaatse Cheetahs, 

die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolespan, die Vrystaatse 

Skolespan, en hy het self ook vir die Vrystaat 

uitgedraf. Hy word oorleef deur sy vrou Colleen, 

twee seuns en ‘n dogter. 

• Prof. Ryno Kriel (83), oud-burgemeester van 

Bloemfontein en ook vir baie jare verbonde aan die 

Departement Sielkunde aan die UV, is in Oktober 

2008 oorlede. Hy word deur sy vrou, Helene, sewe 

kinders en dertien kleinkinders oorleef. 

• Dr. Etienne Marais (34) van Vanderbijlpark, wat 

medies by UV gestudeer het, is in September aan 

‘n hartaanval oorlede. Hy laat sy vrou, Ingrid, en 

seun, Erhardt (3), agter. 

• Mnr. Natie Ferreira (97) 

is vroeër vanjaar vereer 

as oudste lewende 

pensioenaris van die 

UV, oudste lewende 

Vrystaatse rugbyspeler en 

ook die oudste oud-Grey, 

en is kort daarna oorlede. 

Blouwillem Theron tussen oom Alex van Rensburg 

(links) en Alph Coetzer, die oudste oud-Reitzers wat 

die reünie bygewoon het. 

Herrinneringe na meer as 60 jaar 

opgediep 

“’n Legende sterf!” Dit is die gevoel van Alex van 

Rensburg van Zastron toe hy die Reitz-reunie verlede 

jaar bygewoon het. Die Reitzmanne ken hom as 

oom Alex (hy is 80) en was een van die heel eerste 

inwoners in 1947 van Reitz. Hy was ook die oudste 

oud-Reitzman wat die reünie bygewoon het, slegs ‘n 

kortkop ouer as oom Alph Coetzer (78) van Hoopstad 

Kuier in St. Francisbaai 

wat in 1949 ‘n eerstejaar in die koshuis was. 

Vra jy oom Alex wat sy gewaarwordinge was om 

na soveel jare weer in die koshuis te kom, sê 

hy “dit is heilige grond en ek is bang my voete 

berokken skade daaraan”. Oor bungalow 5 waar 

hy gewoon het, het hy gesê: “‘n Stille getuienis 

van wondersoete goue jare, deur soveel daar 

deurgebring.” Wat ‘n wonderlike opsomming van 

sekerlik meer as een oud-Reitzman se gedagtes 

wat die reünie bygewoon het. 

Die reünie was vir oom Alex ‘n belewenis en hy 

kan nie uitgepraat raak oor die vriendelikheid en 

gasvryheid wat hy by die Reitzmanne gevind het 

nie. “Die wete dat jy deel van Reitz is en altyd sal 

wees, het die bloedstroom van patriotisme sterk in 

my are laat klop.” 

Oor die sluiting van die koshuis glo hy ‘n 

wonderwerk kan nog gebeur en dat Reitz weer 

sal heropen. “Hierdie monument kan nie vernietig 

word nie, want dit is die Heimat van alle oud- 

Reitzers – groot presteerders op velerlei gebiede, 

wat hulle spore in die onvergeetlike stof van Reitz- 

kamerwonings verewig het.” – Hennie Pienaar 

Oud-personeel en alumni is deur UV Bemarking in St. Francisbaai onthaal. Blouwillem Theron was die 


gasspreker. 

Martin en Durma Loubscher, en Linelle en Len Kok. Slang du Plessis; mnr. en mev. Cor du Plessis.

Alumni Alumni 

Thabo’s voice opens hearts of people 

Setlogelo Lucas Radebe talks with… Thabo Hlongwane 

Like many alumni I wondered what the University 

of the Free State has done for me. It is rather a 

hypothetical question. It is more appropriate to question 

contributions to my Alma Mater. After all the UFS has 

provided a platform whereby any student can thrive. 

One individual who has benefited from the endless 

opportunities offered by the UFS is Thabo Hlongwane. 

Here we are not talking about the academic 

opportunities. We are looking at the platform where 

an individual discovered himself. More so, that the 

University provides opportunities to discover one’s 

talents. 

At the age of 25, Thabo Hlongwane is the third of seven 

children raised by the Hlongwane family in Ladysmith. 

His father worked at Dunlop Tyres as an operator whilst 

the mother stayed at home. His choice of an academic 

institution was not a coincidence. It was based on the 

application of a sound mind. Thabo applied throughout 

the country for a programme in Agriculture. But the 

UFS’s quality stood out. 

It was not easy for Thabo to become part of Kovsie 

Land. He suspended his studies due to a lack of 

finances in 2003, but came back very strongly in 2004 

with a bursary from Grain SA. 

However, this fourth-year student discovered more 

than just gold in his studies. He entered a journey of 

understanding himself and following his passions. 

He mentions the importance of quality education and 

passion for what he does. 

The musician was discovered in 2005 at the 

rehearsals of Cantare, a review group of the UFS. One 

choreographer, Jennis Williamson, visited the group on 

campus and a career opened for Thabo… A few days 

after the visit Thabo received an invitation from Steve 

Hofmeyr and he recorded the song My Duifie, my Liefie 

with the musician. 

More opportunities were to follow. The head of 

UFS Culture then, Louis Botha, added to the swift 

development of Thabo’s music talent. Thabo was to 

perform across the country, including at the Miss South 

Africa beauty pageant crowning ceremony. 

His self-titled album, Thabo, is frequently played on 

radiosondergrense and Radio Rosestad. 

His growing stature could not get him to abandon his 

studies. “I just have to have a qualification of quality 

especially in what I love, agriculture.” In the mean time 

the musician will focus on music. His new album, a 

tribute to Gé Korsten as well as a classic gospel album, 

was recorded in January. 

But what it is like to be a Kovsie, I asked. He shifted to 

his motto in life “Believe in your dreams and go after 

them”. Then he related the abundant opportunities 

available in the UFS for personal development. The 

quality of education is augmented by broad and diverse 

activities to align with. 

He makes me aware that the student division of Kovsie 

Culture is huge. And advised that people need to 

identify with their passions and spread their wings. 

The university contributed more than just quality and 

excellent academic programmes. “The people at the 

university have been great,” he added. 

On the personal front he says he is a lone ranger. I 

indicate to him that it is critical to find a wife at the 

university. After relaying a story of a single guy whose 

friends all married girls they dated at university, he just 

laughs… “Maybe after a year I will consider that. Right 

now I want to build a strong foundation my career.” 

“Believe in your 

dreams and go 

after them” 


Alumni 

Therese wil nog magic maak 

Daar is velerlei aspekte waaraan ‘n mens geken kan word. ‘n Kapenaar het 

die aksent. ‘n Boer dra vellies. ‘n Sjef het dalk ‘n meelstreep op die wang, 

maar Therese Benade verras met elke rol wat sy speel. Elke projek wat sy 

aanpak... Cindé Mostert het met haar gepraat. 

Menige Suid-Afrikaner ken haar steeds as Katryn. 

‘n Handvol dink sy is Astrid van Villa Rosa. ‘n Ander 

groep herroep ‘n karakter van Home Affairs. Vir haar 

studentemaats was sy die blommekind en vir die 

kinders van die Abraham Kriel-kinderhuis is sy hulle 

ander ma. By die huis en in haar hart is Therese 

bloot wie sy is. Immer besorg. Eindeloos nuuskierig. 

Innemend en belangstellend. 

Therese het haar skoolloopbaan in Escourt voltooi 

voor sy in 1995 aangesluit het by Kovsies se Dramadepartement. 

Daarna het sy ‘n draai of wat oorsee gaan 

maak. In ‘n restaurant of twee se kombuis gearbei. Die 

rol van ‘n leeftyd losgeslaan. En ‘n bekende gesig in 

Suid-Afrikaners se televisiekamer geraak. In haar eie 

binnekamer, gesels sy so: 

Wat het jou laat besluit om by Kovsies te studeer? 

Ek is die jongste van drie kinders en het maar agter die 

ander twee aangetrek. 

Positiewe dinge wat jy van jou studentedae koester? 

Dat ek oral heen kon stap. Die wonderlike tye in die 

Wynand Mouton-teater en die kaf se tjips! Kuier by 

maats in hulle koshuiskamers. En rondry op my ligblou 

poegie... een met sulke spierwit daisies op! 

Waaroor het jy op skool gedroom? Om my eie perd 

te hê (ek gaan nog eendag!). Om die wêreld te sien. 

Om ‘n wetenskaplike te wees. Of, nee, ‘n sielkundige. 

Dalk ‘n prokureur. Nee, die eerste vrouepresident. Um, 

sukses? 

Toe wen drama? Ek het daaroor gedroom, maar 

gedink ek is heeltemal te skaam daarvoor. Ek het geen 

blootstelling daaraan gehad nie. 

Dink jy akademiese opleiding het ‘n plek in 

die kunste? Mmm. Ek dink dis belangrik om ‘n 

verwysingsraamwerk te hê waarbinne jou eie kreatiwiteit 

kan groei en ontwikkel. Ook: sonder kennis van 

wat was, hoe weet jy wat moet kom? Goeie tegniek 

vervolmaak ook enige kreatiewe proses. Meel sonder ‘n 

resep is tog nie klaar koek nie, of hoe? 

Hoe het jou akademiese opleiding jóú gebaat in jou 

loopbaan? Dit het my die tegniek gegee om op staat 

te maak. My geleer hoe om uit my dop te klim en met 

vertroue te werk. Dit het my respek gegee om iets wat 

al vir so lank beoefen word, met ambisie na te volg. Op 

die regte manier, en vir die regte redes. 

Wat was die Therese van tien jaar gelede se drome? 

Om aktrise te wees. Om op groot filmstelle te kan werk, 

te sien en ervaar hoe ‘n mens magic maak. 

As jy terugkyk oor die afgelope tien jaar, hoe voel 

jy oor wat jy gedoen het? Trots. Met goeie vriende 

en familie se ondersteuning, was ek braaf genoeg om 

te spring sonder om te wonder of ek kan vlieg. Ek het 

baie gesien, gevoel, gehuil, gelag – ek kon eerlikwaar 

nie vir ‘n beter lewensreis gevra het nie. Dit was tegelyk 

swaar, onverwags, lekker, moeilik en ongelooflik. Ek kan 

steeds nie glo hoe wonderlik geseënd ek was en elke 

dag is nie: om te kan bestaan met dit wat ek wil doen 

en wees. 

Wat is jou drome vir die volgende tien jaar? Om met 

respek en liefde omring te wees, en met passie te leef... 

Om nooit te vergeet hoe dit in die wings voel terwyl jy 

wag vir jou beurt om op die verhoog te stap nie! 

As jy enigiets kan bydra tot jou alma mater, wat sou 

jy graag wou doen? Vir hulle wou fluister om braaf 

en verdraagsaam te wees. Om hulle vlerke so wyd as 

moontlik te sprei, en die wêreld om hulle aan te durf en 

te verken. Om jonk en vry te wees is so kosbaar – net 

jammer ‘n mens besef dit gewoonlik te laat! Moenie 

bang wees om te waag nie – jy maak jou eie sukses. 

Moenie bang wees om te vra en te leer nie. 

As jy enigiets behalwe ‘n aktrise kon wees, wat sou 

dit wees? Juis daarom is ek een – ek kan maak of ek 

enigiets en alles is. Maar in my volgende lewe kom ek 

terug as ‘n rock-ster! 

Wat laat jou hart vinniger klop? Mooi goed. Wanneer 

die mooi man in my lewe onverwags vir my kyk. En 

mense wat regtig gelukkig is. 

En warm onder die kraag? Mense wat nie dink aan 

gevolge en ander se gevoelens nie (en daaraan was 

ek self al baie keer skuldig). Mense wat nie moeite 

waardeer nie. 

As jy een les vir die mensdom kon leer...? Jy’t net 

een kans om jy te wees... en om “te wees” teenoor 

ander. Respekteer en geniet dit. 

Het jy daardie les geleer? Ek doen nog steeds elke 

dag. Ek hoop ek hou nooit op nie. 

En dan het ons nog nie uitgekom by haar skeppings 

in die kombuis. Haar stiptelikheid, werksetiek, 

uithouvermoë en die feit dat sy altyd dink sy kan nog 

iets leer. Dat die enigste drama queen die een is wat 

haar karakters van haar vereis om te speel. En omdat 

sy skaam en nederig met elke ou omie en klein kind 

praat wat gou wil hoor of “Katryn nou happy is?” 


Alumni Alumni 

Brand Pretorius, 

an honorary 

professor at our 

university. 

Brand is doing us proud 

Brand Pretorius, who obtained his M.Com degree 

in Business Economics at the UFS in 1972, started 

his career with Toyota SA in 1973. In 1988 he was 

appointed managing director of Toyota SA Marketing. 

In 1995 he joined South Africa’s largest motor 

retailing group, McCarthy Motor Holdings, and was 

promoted to Chief Executive Officer of McCarthy 

Limited, the holding company of McCarthy Motor 

Holdings, four years later. 

He serves on the boards of the ABSA Group, as well as 

Bidvest, of which McCarthy’s is a subsidiary. He is a 

member of various advisory boards and is vice chairman 

of the State President’s International Marketing Council. 

An honorary professorship in Business Management 

was also conferred on him by the University of 

Johannesburg. He is a member of the main board of 

the National Business Initiative, a member of the READ 

Educational Trust Board of Trustees and the immediate 

past president of the South African Retail Motor Industry 

Organisation. 

He was nationally honoured as Junior Businessman 

of the Year (1985), Communicator of the Year (1994), 

Best Boss (1994), Automobil Man of the Year, the 

Manpower award of Excellence (1995) and he received 

the Presidential Award for Excellence in Business 

Communication by the SA Chapter of the International 

Association of Business Communicators (1997). In 1998 

the research company Integrity Profi les International 

identifi ed him as one of the top business leaders in 

South Africa. He received an Honorary Fellowship from 

the South African Institute of Marketing Management in 

1998. In a survey in 1999 by the magazine Professional 

Management Review he was identifi ed as the most 

admired leader in the motor industry. This award was 

bestowed on him again in June 2000. 

In February 2000 the marketing magazine The Future’s 

research identifi ed him as one of South Africa’s three 

most prominent marketers of the past decade. The 

South African Institute of Marketing Management 

honoured him as Marketing Person of the Year. In 2002 

he was honoured by the READ Educational Trust for his 

commitment to the cause of building a literate nation 

through the Rally to Read project, a national social 

investment project he initiated. The publishers of the 

South African Automotive Year Book bestowed a Lifetime 

Achievement Award on him for outstanding service to 

the motor industry in 2003. He became a member of 

the SA Automotive Industry’s “Hall of Fame” in March 

2006, in recognition of his signifi cant contribution to the 

industry. 

In June 2006 he was honoured by the Leadership Forum 

for his contribution towards leadership thinking and 

in particular, leadership ethics. The recognition never 

stops... 

He is married to Tillie and they have three sons. 

Do’s and don’ts in tough times 

“The world is becoming more complicated, more unpredictable. Not everyone has all the 

answers to the problems. Yesterday’s success does not guarantee tomorrow’s success, as 

the future is not an extension of the past. The world is more challenging... I have not seen 

ordinary South Africans under so much fi nancial stress, ever.” – Brand Pretorius, 2008. 

Brand Pretorius, chief executive of McCarthy Ltd, will 

deliver the 18th annual Brand Pretorius Lecture of the 

Department of Business Management at our university 

this year. An honorary professorship in Business 

Management was conferred on him in May 1991. 

Last year in his lecture he upheld a list of do’s and 

don’ts for leaders and managers in tough times. 

He said leaders must: 

• Hold on to their vision and values. Remain hopeful 

and committed to their long-term objectives. The 

principals and values are the glue that keeps 

people together. 

• Stay optimistic and upbeat. Your task is to give 

people hope. There is always something to be 

optimistic about. Provide emotional leadership. Put 

the emphasis on the things you need to do and 

can do. Otherwise you can put the company in a 

downward emotional spiral. 

• Protect your energy levels and control your stress. 

Retain perspective, remain grateful. 

• Hone your self-management skills. Focus only 

on priorities. We suffer from a sickness called 

“busyness”, doing nothing in the end. Cut out the 

nonsense. If it is not of fundamental importance, 

ignore it. 

• Make discipline a way of life and tighten all 

controls. 

• Cut costs and eliminate waste. Create a culture of 

frugality. Run lean and mean. 

• Be agile, make tough calls early. To serve your 

business correctly you have to make tough 

decisions. Take action earlier rather than later. 

• Watch your cash fl ow like a hawk – it is the lifeblood 

of your business. 

• Protect your key relationships, particularly with 

suppliers and your talented staff. 

• Stay close to your customers. Behave as if you 

were on the verge of losing your last customer. 

• Be a visible, inspirational leader. Tough times are 

not the time to hide and send out e-mails. Go 

out and shake hands. Find inspiration by walking 

around, interacting constructively with your people. 

On the not-to-do list he had: 

• Don’t quit taking risks. You can do the deals of a 

lifetime in tough times. 

• Don’t be infl exible, bureaucratic. 

• Don’t isolate yourself by throwing your weight 

around, alienating people. 

• Don’t assume you know all the answers. 

• Don’t compromise your ethics and take short cuts. 

That will be the kiss of death. 

• Don’t stop thinking and start panicking. 

• Don’t send mixed messages or stop 

communicating altogether. Overcommunicate! 

• Don’t be afraid of the future. If we are, we will freeze 

up. Rather get involved and do the right things. 

“It is better to light a candle than to curse the 

darkness,” he said. 


Alumni 

Johan and prof. Helena van Zyl. 

Johan wins prestigious 

competition 

“Entrepreneurship is fun, laughter, tears, joy, 

disappointment, pain and pleasure… all the things 

that show that we are alive,” says entrepreneur 

Johan Eksteen of Bloemfontein who is the winner in 

a category of a competition for business plans. 

“You have to work hard to be an entrepreneur,” he 

said in a lecture at the School of Management where 

he has obtained his MBA cum laude. 

Johan is a winner in the manufacturing category 

of the Enablis FNB Launchpad Business Plan 

competition in which venture capital of R50 million 

is available to entrepreneurs to expand their 

businesses. More than 6 000 entries were received in 

the competition. 

His enterprise exports pelleting machines to Europe, 

Australia, and Africa and is also making inroads into 

the USA market. The machines are mobile enough 

to be used by individual farmers or other end-users 

and can compact material to one-seventh of the 

original volume and makes transport of fodder and 

other organic material more economic. It contributes 

for less waste and a cleaner environment. – Leatitia 

Pienaar 

Kovsies vier week lank fees 

Kovsieweek is in September met ‘n bedrywige program 

in Bloemfontein gevier. As deel van die fees is alumni 

en oud-personeel na verskeie aktiwiteite genooi. Dit het 

onder meer ‘n damestee, ‘n klavier- en viooluitvoering 

deur prof. Nicol Viljoen en dr. Johnn Wille, asook 

twee kort komedies deur die Departement Drama en 

Toneelkuns ingesluit. Die week is afgesluit met die 

viering van Nasionale Kovsie Alumni-dag wat deur 

meer as 160 alumni bygewoon is. Prof. Nico du Plessis 

is vereer vir sy besondere bydrae tot die uitbouing 

van Kovsie-Alumni en die sleutelrol wat hy as stigter 

van die nasionale Kovsie Alumni-dag gespeel het. 

Hier is, van links: dr. Ivan van Rooyen, Direkteur: UV- 

Bemarking, prof. Du Plessis, me. Suzan Mshumpela, 

Adjunkdirekteur: UV-Bemarking, regter Faan Hancke, 

Voorsitter van die UV-Raad, en mnr. Gert Grobler, 

aangewese Suid-Afrikaanse ambassadeur in Japan. 

Van die gaste wat die Kovsieweek-vieringe bygewoon 

Van die gaste wat die Kovsieweek-vieringe 

bygewoon het, van links is mev. Frances 

Cruywagen, mev. Lena Cremer en prof. Gert 

Mouton. 

Desi McCarthy of the Centre for Higher Education Studies and Development at our university produced 

the winning photograph for 2008 of the Bloemfontein Camera Club. We give you a taste of what she is 

capable of on our divider pages throughout the magazine. Desi says: “My love for photography began 

with the desire to capture every moment of my children’s – Tia (6) and Jamie (8) – lives. To make those 

special moments last forever. I strive to capture their souls, in just that one moment – so that years from 

now, I have something to remind me. Time is fleeting. Capture it.”

Bult - University of the Free State

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