UFS

A national award has put the spotlight on how podcasting is transforming teaching and learning at the University of the Free State. Through an innovative partnership between the UFS Library and the Odeon School of Music, students are becoming active knowledge creators while developing essential research, communication, and digital skills. Read more: ufsweb.co/4BGxkC8 #BeyondTheClassroom #KnowledgeForChange #EdTechUFS

𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗮 𝗗𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲-𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 University of the Free State (UFS) alumna Dr Martie Mocke-Richter has won the National Pioneer Pharmacy Professional Award at the 2026 National Pioneer Pharmacy Awards. This prestigious accolade has been presented only four times in the award’s history, making Dr Mocke-Richter its fourth recipient. Her achievement recognises a career dedicated to advancing healthcare, strengthening patient safety, and developing pharmacy practice in South Africa and beyond. Congratulations, Dr Mocke-Richter, on this remarkable and well-deserved recognition! #ProudlyKovsies #UniversityoftheFreeState

Witchcraft is a subject that continues to provoke strong reactions, shaped by deeply held cultural, religious, and personal beliefs. Yet, beyond the debates about whether witchcraft exists lies a serious human rights concern: around the world, accusations of witchcraft have been used to justify the persecution of people perceived to be different or vulnerable. Women, children, older people, persons with disabilities, and persons with albinism have faced stigma, rejection, displacement and, in some cases, brutal violence and death. The University of the Free State (UFS), in collaboration with Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, is bringing this often-overlooked reality into focus by hosting the international photographic exhibition ‘Witch Hunts in the 21st Century: A Human Rights Catastrophe’. Making its first appearance in South Africa, the exhibition uses powerful images to confront the consequences of witchcraft accusations and harmful practices, while opening up an important conversation about human dignity, belief, and the protection of fundamental rights. Students, staff, and members of the public are invited to view the exhibition until 2027 at the Equitas Auditorium, Bloemfontein Campus. Read more: ufsweb.co/4sDdZhf #HumanRights #KnowledgeForChange #UniversityOfTheFreeState

The University of the Free State recently hosted the annual Executive Director of Student Affairs (EDSA) Prestige Awards to recognise students who contribute their time, skills, and energy to making a difference across our three campuses. From students who support their peers through tutoring and mentorship to those who lead student structures, excel in sport and the arts, and serve communities beyond the University, their work deserves to be seen and celebrated. This year’s Student of the Year is Mbalenhle Patience Thungo, a 20-year-old final-year Public Administration student at the Qwaqwa Campus, who returned after being named second runner-up in 2025 to claim the top honour. Congratulations to Mbalenhle and all our award recipients. We see you, and we celebrate what you bring to the University of the Free State! Read more: ufsweb.co/4ifyyg5 #ProudlyKovsies #OnlyAKovsieKnowsTheFeeling #StudentExcellence

Electoral victories confer political authority, but they do not provide an unrestricted mandate to undermine accountability, weaken oversight or subordinate public institutions to partisan interests. The legitimacy of democratic government depends not only on who wins elections, but also on how political power is exercised once office has been secured. From a Public Governance perspective, we would introduce an additional consideration: An election can change who governs without necessarily changing how a society is governed, since Public Governance concerns the systems, processes, institutions, relationships and actors through which collective decisions are made, public resources are managed, and public value is created. Institutional reform must be sufficiently robust to survive subsequent political transitions. But it must also avoid simply replacing one politically aligned institutional network with another. The central lesson is that democracy cannot be reduced to the ballot box. It must be continually reinforced through independent institutions, constitutional accountability, political tolerance and respect for the rights of citizens. Read more: ufsweb.co/4A0ylTU #Opinion #LocalGovernmentElections #TheHungarianExperience

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿. 𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁. During Beyond the Ivory Tower, hosted by the University of the Free State Business School in partnership with Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM), participants explored how university leadership can advance the fifth-generation African university and help shape responsible societal futures. Read more here: ufsweb.co/4eAUcJo #FutureFocused #ResponsibleSocietalFutures #KnowledgeForChange

𝗔𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲, 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. Take a moment to reflect on Prof Bonang Mohale's words as you navigate this important final stretch of your academic journey. Stay focused, stay encouraged, and do your best. Wishing all our students strength, perseverance and success as examinations continue! #UFS #ClassOf2026 #KovsieSpirit #Examinations2026

𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 The University of the Free State’s Centre for Teaching and Learning has recognised outstanding tutors and teaching assistants at its awards ceremony on the Qwaqwa Campus. The event celebrated their contributions to academic achievement, student belonging and peer support. Through tutoring, students also develop valuable leadership, communication and mentoring skills, gaining experience that prepares them for future careers while strengthening the university’s collaborative learning environment. Read more: ufsweb.co/3Wco7Bt #KovsieExperience #StudentSuccessUFS #QwaqwaCampus #ExcellenceInEducation #StudentCentred

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. While policymakers, economists and business leaders remain fixated on unemployment statistics, a quiet revolution is reshaping the country’s workforce. It is happening in boardrooms, townships, suburbs, campuses, shopping centres and increasingly online. The fastest-growing segment of South Africa’s workforce is not defined by an industry, occupation, or qualification. It is defined by a mindset. According to Old Mutual Savings and Investment Monitor (OMSIM) 2025, 57% of employed South Africans now earn income from more than one source. Among young adults aged 18 to 29, that figure rises to 75%. Nearly half of employed South Africans own or co-own a business, and more than one-third generate income through digital and social media platforms, writes UFS’ Prof Oliver JJ Seale. Read more: ufsweb.co/4jNbNkW # MultiIncomeGigtrepreneurs #Opinion #SouthAfrica’sHiddenEntrepreneurialEconomy

One in four adults worldwide will experience a stroke in their lifetime, making it a major global health concern and a leading cause of death and disability. In 2021 alone, nearly 12 million new stroke cases were reported globally, while more than 100 million people worldwide were living with the effects of a stroke. This is according to the World Stroke Organization and the World Health Organization. The incidence of stroke increases significantly with age, however over 60% of strokes happen to people under the age of 70 and 16% happen to those under the age of 50, this is according to the World Stroke Organization. It is for these reasons that World Stroke Day, commemorated on 29 October plays such an important role to raise awareness about stroke incidence, prevention, treatment and recovery. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide and in South Africa and can affect anyone, at any age, and its consequences extend far beyond the individual to their families and communities, often severely affecting quality of life. A stroke happens when there is a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain. The World Stroke Organization’s theme for World Stroke Day 2026 is #ActFAST, says Dr Naudé. Every minute after a stroke counts, and raising public awareness can help people seek emergency medical care timeously, improving the chances of better recovery outcomes. By acting fast and making every minute count, lives can be saved and recovery outcomes improved. Read more: ufsweb.co/4Bu20GR #WorldStrokeDay #ActFAST #KnowledgeForChange

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 Pulane Malefane, Director: Housing and Residence Affairs at the University of the Free State, has been recognised for her leadership and contribution to the student housing profession in Southern Africa. Through her work with the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International Southern African Chapter and the Roelf Visser Student Housing Training Institute, she continues to contribute to professional development, knowledge-sharing, and the advancement of student accommodation standards. Read more: ufsweb.co/4zrPqWU #UniversityOfTheFreeState #StudentHousing #Excellence

𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲-𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 The University of the Free State hosted South Africa’s national Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition at its Qwaqwa Campus, bringing together PhD researchers from 12 universities to present research addressing challenges in education, health, sustainability and science. The competition celebrated the quality and potential impact of postgraduate research while creating opportunities for collaboration, with the UFS exploring expansion into the Southern African Development Community from 2027. Discover the winning research and hear how the competition is helping emerging researchers share ideas and make a difference. Read more: ufsweb.co/48krxoj

On 4 November South Africans will face the most crowded local elections ballots in the country’s democratic history. Roughly 546 political parties are contesting. That is about 60% higher than the 325 parties that took part in 2021. Nearly 137 000 candidates are competing for just over 10 500 council seats. These numbers express a constitutional right to form and join political parties. They also reflect a citizenry that has grown restless with the established order. The ballot will affirm that South Africans are free to organise, to dissent and to seek power. That freedom is precious. It becomes more valuable still when those who exercise it do so for reasons larger than the length of the queue they left behind or the noise they chose to amplify. Citizens should celebrate the expansion of choice. They should also interrogate the motives behind many of the new parties. Democracy requires both the right to form parties and the responsibility to offer coherent alternatives that voters can meaningfully judge, writes Dr Gcina Mtengwane. Read more: ufsweb.co/48k6kLh #Opinion #2026LocalGovernmentElections #DemocracyMultipliesPartiesNotPurpose

At just 25, University of the Free State researcher Jani-Mari Ferreira is already pursuing a PhD in medical sociology. Now, she is among the participants selected for the 2026 Abe Bailey Leadership Development Programme, which will take her to the United Kingdom for a three-week educational and leadership tour from 25 November to 17 December 2026. As a research assistant in the Centre for Health Systems Research and Development, Ferreira is committed to understanding the relationship between health and society. Through this opportunity, she hopes to broaden her perspectives, learn from fellow emerging leaders, and strengthen her contribution to student engagement, inclusivity, and community development. Her advice to fellow students? “Dream big, work hard, stay humble.” #ProudlyKovsies #StudentSuccessUFS #ResearchLed

Recent media reports have drawn renewed attention to the increasingly violent nature of zama zamas across different parts of the country. Zama zamas are unregulated artisanal miners in South Africa. The term is an isiZulu expression that can be translated as “hustling, or we are trying to make a living”. Such an expression attempts to appeal to broader society, suggesting that zama zamas’ illegal mining is justified by ongoing social injustices such as unemployment, poverty, and disparities. However, zama zamas operate outside the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002, which articulates that South Africa’s mineral and petroleum resources belong to the nation and that the state is the custodian thereof. Thus, any mining activity ought to be authorised by the state, writes UFS’ Philangenkosi Shabangu Read more: ufsweb.co/4surX4L #Opinion #ZamaZamaViolenc#ProtectChildrensFutures

The 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) raises an important question from South Africans: what does improved management of government finances mean for a household struggling to buy groceries, a young graduate searching for work, or a small business battling rising operating costs? Will life finally get a little easier? For South Africans, economic policy is not an abstract debate about deficits and debt. It is about whether a monthly salary can cover food, electricity, transport, school expenses and housing. The real test of South Africa’s 2026 MTBPS is not simply whether government can manage its debt. It is whether that management helps create jobs, reduce economic pressures and improve the everyday lives of ordinary people, writes UFS’ Dr Eugene Buthelezi. Read more: ufsweb.co/4dY6Kub

The University of the Free State is highlighting the growing reach and societal impact of its research through its newly published Research Review 2022-2024, which showcases how researchers are addressing some of the most pressing health, environmental, agricultural and social challenges facing South Africa and the African continent. Spanning disciplines from health sciences and food security to environmental sustainability, disaster risk management and social justice, the review reflects a research culture increasingly shaped by collaboration, innovation and responsiveness to society’s needs. More than a record of academic achievements, the publication offers an opportunity to assess the University’s research progress, recognise its contributions, and consider how its expertise can help shape the future. Read more: ufsweb.co/4iqUpA7 #LeadingWithImpact #FutureFocuse #ResearchLed

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴? At the University of the Free State (UFS)’s Dean’s Distinguished Guest Lecture, SARB Deputy Governor Dr Rashad Cassim explained how inflation expectations shape monetary policy – and why interest rate decisions involve difficult trade-offs. UFS students put pressing questions about the cost of living and university fees directly to the Deputy Governor. Read more: ufsweb.co/48jT1KO #UniversityOfTheFreeState #KnowledgeForChange #UFSImpact

The University of the Free State is strengthening its research capacity, with 27 researchers receiving new National Research Foundation (NRF) ratings and a further 13 improving their existing ratings. The achievements span multiple disciplines, reflecting the breadth of research expertise at the University and the work being undertaken to advance scientific knowledge, develop innovative solutions and address complex societal challenges. The NRF rating system recognises researchers whose work has demonstrated quality and impact in their fields. Through a rigorous peer-review process, independent experts assess researchers’ contributions to knowledge and their standing among national and international peers. The NRF rating system is one of South Africa’s most important measures of research excellence, recognising researchers whose work has made a significant impact nationally and internationally. The outcomes of 17 rating applications are still pending. Read more: ufsweb.co/47B3uRX #FutureOfResearch #ExcellenceInEducation #UFSRatedResearchers

Artificial intelligence is transforming how we work and learn, but what remains uniquely human? At SAIMS 2026, hosted by the University of the Free State, scholars and industry experts explored why judgement, curiosity, accountability and ethical decision-making matter more than ever in the age of AI. Read more: ufsweb.co/4zRFS7s #UniversityOfTheFreeState #ResponsibleSocietalFutures