The Faculty of the Humanities hosted a round-table dialogue on ‘Humanistic Perspectives on Student Protests in South Africa’, an important discussion on a matter that is currently in the spotlight at the UFS and other institutions nationally.

The dialogue aims to discuss ‘humanistic perspectives' on student protests and includes, among others, the following topics:

• Dynamics of student protests.

• The relationship between politics and protests.

• Why protests are a challenge for the higher education sector.

• Possible responses to protests by universities.

About the webinar topic

With daily vaccine rates dropping, it is likely that we will have to wait until 2022 to see a significant proportion of South Africans vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity. This means that significant health risks and pressures will continue lurking for the next two years, which does not bode well for the overall economy, compounded by social pressures. As we approach the end of 2021, we reflect on the year that is almost over, and look ahead to what 2022 may bring politically, economically, and socially – where do we see ourselves in the coming year? These are some of the issues that will be discussed in the webinar.

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Louzanne Coetzee (born 18 April 1993) is a South African para-athlete. Coetzee was born blind as a result of a hereditary condition called Leber congenital amaurosis and competes in the T11 disability class, for athletes with the highest level of visual impairment. In 2018, Coetzee broke the 5000 m (women) world record in her disability class whilst in the same year she became the first visually impaired athlete to compete at the World University Cross Country Championships in Switzerland.

Coetzee competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics representing South Africa in the Women's 1500 metres. She was, however, disqualified when her guide, Khotatso Mokone, was deemed to have provided illegal assistance.

In 2021, Coetzee competed at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, winning the silver medal in the 1500 m final in a new Africa record of 4:40.96 alongside her guide Erasmus Badenhorst, and the bronze medal in the T12 women's marathon, with guide Claus Kempen, in a new T11 world record time of 3:11:13.

Besides running she enjoys baking, watching movies, walking and hiking, cycling and has recently taken up some artistic hobbies as well. She is fun-loving and laughs and talks easily.

Prof. Jeandrew Brink completed her Bachelor of Sciences degree at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 1998 and subsequently a Honours (1999) and Master’s degree (2000) in Applied Mathematics also at UFS.

A Fulbright Travel Grant and a two-year research fellowship from Cornell University permitted her to perform work toward a PhD in theoretical physics in the United States. Her thesis explored the pulsation modes of neutron stars.

A number of surveys have found some degree of vaccine hesitancy among the public. This webinar will clarify why we need to vaccinate against COVID-19 and why vaccines are safe. A major development in the COVID-19 pandemic has been the arrival and distribution of safe and effective vaccines. As the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 spreads around the world, the vaccine has proven to be safe and effective enough to prevent severe life-threatening COVID-19 complications. Although vaccines do not fully protect everyone who is vaccinated, nor guarantee zero transmission, a great deal of adherence to other measures is still required. Returning to a new normal routine of life can only happen as more people are vaccinated.

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Panel Discussion: Impact of Political Influences on University Governance Structures

Topic: Webinar: Opportunities and challenges in South African agriculture.

David Uwah is the founder and director of Zenncon Facility Management. A prominent businessman in South Africa and the greater part of Africa, Uwah is a consummate professional with strong business development skills, particularly in management, strategic planning, and marketing strategy. Uwah has successfully established Zenncon Facility Management to become an industry leader in South Africa.

A former chairman of Black Management Forum in the Free State, Uwah began his career at Firenze Consulting in London, UK. Uwah proceeded to Liberty Life as a financial adviser, followed by Cafenet Computers as director, and later became director of Brand New Afrika. He is also director of Zennfika Sahara Pty Ltd and is currently Chairman of the group of companies ZNND Group Pty Ltd.

Uwah is a strong business development professional with a master’s degree focused on Disaster Management from the University of the Free State.

For further information regarding the podcast series, or to propose other alumni guests, please email us at [email protected]

For all Voices from the Free State podcasts, go to https://www.ufs.ac.za/alumni/alumni-home/alumni-news/alumni-podcasts

What South Africa will look like after the recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, is yet unknown. As the country is attempting to normalise while tallying the human, political, and economic cost of the riots – what we know for sure is that the events of the past few weeks have dispelled the impression of South Africa as exceptional, with a triumphant future.

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The Department of Social Work at the UFS together with the Zola Skweyiya African Social Policy Innovation (ZSASPI) at the University of Cape Town hosted a colloquium with other social sciences academics on the culture of waton violence during protests in South Africa. The keynote speaker was Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Social Development.

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