Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS

 
CONTINUE READING
Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS
37
                                                    th   Chancellor’s
                                                         Distinguished
                                                         Alumni Awards

7 SEPTEMBER 2019                            WE CELEBRATE A
                                            HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE
www.ufs.ac.za

Inspiring excellence. Transforming lives.
Inspireer uitnemendheid. Verander lewens.
Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS
pg                                                                                                     pg

Honorary Alumnus Recipient                                                                          2    Cum Laude Award Recipients                                                                      6-8
The Honorary Alumnus Award is the highest honour given to individuals who are       DR KHOTSO MOKHELE    This award is bestowed upon an alumnus to recognise excellence in any field,   DR JANINE ALLEN-SPIES
not graduates of the University of the Free State but have made significant                              whether vocational or voluntary.
contributions in advancing the human and academic projects of the                                                                                                                         RYAN CRAIG ISHMAIL
institution thus lending to its prestige over a significant period.
Additionally, the individual is recognized for his or her outstanding                                                                                                                            JACO JACOBS
leadership, pursuit of excellence and service to the institution.

Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Recipient                                            4    Executive Management Award Recipient                                                           9-10
The Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year is the highest honour accorded   DR RIANA SCHEEPERS   This service award is presented to an individual who has delivered               MARIUS JV RENSBURG
to an alumnus in recognition of the recipient’s distinguished achievements.                              exceptional service to the University of the Free State.
This award celebrates an excellent alumnus who serves to inspire fellow                                                                                                                  PROF CORINNA WALSH
alumni, current students and the community at large.

Young Alumnus of the Year Recipient                                                                 5    Kovsie Ambassador Award                                                                        11-13
This award acknowledges the achievements of alumni who have graduated within          KARLA PRETORIUS    The Kovsie Ambassador Award is bestowed upon an individual whose                  LOUZANNE COETZEE
the past decade and have contributed immensely to their fields.                                          achievements have brought distinction to him/her, benefited his/her
                                                                                                         community and brought credit to the University of the Free State.                    ANGIE KHUMALO
                                                                                                                                                                                             KESA MOLOTSANE
Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS
Honorary Alumnus                                                                                                Honorary Alumnus

                                            DR KHOTSO MOKHELE

Khotso David Kenneth Mokhele was born                             on condition that he was given the          of his dedication to science in South       Science Council (2008-2010). He             Large Rhodes Scholarship Selection
and bred in Bloemfontein, matriculated                            freedom to transform the FRD into a         Africa. The success of this project laid    also represented South Africa on the        Committee for more than 10 years.
from the Moroka High School and                                   funding agency geared to meeting the        the basis for South Africa being selected   executive board of UNESCO (1997-2001)       Khotso Mokhele’s contribution to
obtained a BSc degree in Agriculture                              needs of higher education in South          to host more than 70% of the Square         and served as Chairperson of the Special    science in South Africa has received
from the University of Fort Hare, where                           Africa. Shortly after he joined the FRD     Kilometre Array (SKA), an international     Committee of this board (1999-2001).        wide recognition locally and abroad. He
he won the Massey-Ferguson award                                  in June 1992, he made his presence          mega-telescope for radio astronomy.         Dr Mokhele was part of the UNESCO           has received six honorary doctorates,
for the best student in his field. He                             felt as an outstanding organiser and        He was appointed as member of the           assignment (2006-2007) to review            the most recent from Rutgers University
continued his postgraduate studies at                             communicator; several new research-         first Council for Higher Education and      the science and technology system of        in the USA. He was made a Chevalier of
the University of California Davis on the                         funding programmes were initiated,          deputy convenor of its task force on the    the member states of the Caribbean          the Legion of Honour by the President
prestigious Fulbright-Hays Scholarship                            with a strong emphasis on developing        Reconfiguration of Higher Education,        Community (CARICOM) and give advice         of France in recognition of his personal
Programme, completing his MSc (Food                               people who had previously been              and he served on the councils of a          on how to leverage science, technology,     efforts in strengthening scientific ties
Science) and PhD (Microbiology). He                               excluded. When Dr Arndt retired in          number of universities. More recently,      and innovation for the development of       between France and South Africa, and
was awarded postdoctoral fellowships                              1996, Mokhele was the obvious choice        he was appointed by the Minister of         the Caribbean region.                       was appointed a director of the Salzburg
at the Johns Hopkins University and                               to succeed him as President of the FRD.     Science and Technology as a member          Dr Mokhele’s corporate positions            Global Seminar – an institution focused
the University of Pennsylvania in the                             As President and CEO of the National        of the National Advisory Council on         included Non-Executive Chairman on          on global change, and subsequently as
USA. Mokhele returned to South Africa                             Research Foundation (NRF) (1999-            Innovation, and by the Minister of          the Board of Directors of Impala Platinum   member of its Council of Senior Fellows.
in 1987, set on becoming a top-class                              2006), Dr Mokhele played a central          Labour as chair of the National Skills      Holdings Ltd (Implats), ArcelorMittal       He was the recipient of the Technology
academic and researcher. He held                                  role in providing visionary and strategic   Board.                                      South Africa, and Adcock Ingram             Top 100 Lifetime Achievers Award in
lecturing posts at the Universities of                            direction to the South African science      His role in science is recognised           Holdings Ltd; Non-Executive Director of     2009, and the National Science and
Fort Hare (1987-1989) and Cape Town                               system and to the development agenda        internationally. In achieving his vision,   African Oxygen Ltd (Afrox), Zimbabwe        Technology Forum Award in 2005. He
(1990-1992).                                                      of the country.                                                                                                                     also received the Science Diplomacy
                                                                                                              he recognised the importance of South       Platinum Holdings Ltd (Zimplats),
                                                 UFS Chancellor                                                                                                                                       Award from the Minister of Science and
In 1992, he was approached by                                     He was part of the team that drafted        Africa’s re-entry into the international    Mapitso Consortium, Kenosi Investment
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Technology in South Africa (2015).
Dr Rein Arndt, the then President of the         2010 – current   the Green Paper for science and             science community and has been              Holdings, and Tiger Brands Ltd. He is
Foundation for Research Development                               technology, was the founder President       an ambassador for South African             the President of the Hans Merensky          After more than 10 years at the helm of
(FRD – the predecessor of the NRF), to                            of the Academy of Science of South          and African science in high-profile         Foundation (South Africa) and a trustee     first the FRD and then the NRF, Khotso
join the foundation as one of its vice-                           Africa (ASSAF), Chairperson of the          international fora. He was elected          of SciDev.Net (a web-based scientific       Mokhele had decided that the time
presidents. The decision was a difficult                          Economic Advisory Council to the            Vice-President: Scientific Planning and     magazine based in London, UK) and           had come for new blood to take over
one for the young Mokhele. Not only                               Premier of the Free State (2001-2004),      Review of the International Council for     Start International Inc (a global-change    and for him to focus his talents on new
had he just embarked on an academic                               and a member of the Advisory Council        Science (ICSU) and as Chairperson of        capacity-building initiative based in the   ventures.
career, he was uncertain whether it                               on Innovation to the Minister of Science    its Committee for Scientific Planning       USA). He was Chairman of the Rhodes         It is appropriate at this point in his
was appropriate for a political activist                          and Technology (2003-2007). His role in     and Review (2005-2008), as well             Scholarship Selection Committee for         career that the university pay tribute
to join a parastatal organisation under                           securing government and international       as a member of the Committee on             Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Lesotho,         to and acknowledge the monumental
the apartheid government. After much                              support for the Southern African Large      Developing and Transition Economy           and Swaziland (2007–2011) and               achievements of a truly great South
soul searching, he accepted the offer                             Telescope (SALT) Project is evidence        Countries of the International Social       has served on the South Africa at           African.

                                                       2                                                                                                                     3
Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS
Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year                                                                                                           Young Alumnus of the Year

                                              DR RIANA SCHEEPERS                                                                                                                       KARLA PRETORIUS
Riana Scheepers was born in Vryheid,                                                       the farm’s boutique brandy received a       Karla Pretorius graduated with a BSc                                                      2016 to 2019, in the test series against
KwaZulu-Natal, where she grew up                                                           gold international Michelangelo award.      Dietetics degree from the University of                                                   Wales in 2016, and in the Diamond
with Zulu children. Riana learnt to speak                                                  In 2015, she moved with her husband to      the Free State (UFS) in 2014. She has                                                     Challenge in 2016 and 2018. She was also
Zulu at an early age and visited the Zulu                                                  Wildernis near George.                      a passion for academic writing and                                                        part of the Free State senior team at the
narrator at night to listen to his stories.                                                                                            recently completed her master’s degree
                                                                                           Riana has been Huisgenoot’s social                                                                                                    Spar National Championship in Durban
In 1975, she matriculated as head girl                                                                                                 in Dietetics/Sports Nutrition at the UFS.
                                                                                           adviser for the column Vra vir dr Adri                                                                                                in 2016. In 2018, Karla represented team
from the Vryheid High School. She won                                                                                                  As a registered dietician, she worked
                                                                                           since 2002. She managed several                                                                                                       South Africa at the Commonwealth
several prizes in poetry, writing, and                                                                                                 as community-service dietician for
                                                                                           columns and wrote sketches for, among                                                                                                 Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
debating competitions. She participated                                                                                                the Mangaung University Community
                                                                                           others, Volksblad, Beeld, Die Burger, the
in various sports and acquired Northern                                                                                                Partnership Programme in 2015.                                                            At the recent Netball World Cup in
                                                                                           Belgian newspaper De Morgen, Finesse,
Natal colours for athletics, swimming,                                                                                                 Pretorius has been a professional net-
                                                                                           De Kat, and Rooi Rose. In 2000, she                                                                                                   Liverpool, England, Pretorius was named
and decorative diving.                                                                                                                 ball player since 2015/2016, with
                                                                                            became a member of the South African                                                                                                 Player of the Tournament on Sunday
She obtained a BA in Communication                                                         Academy for Science and Arts.               experience at national and international                                                  21 July 2019, making her officially the
Studies, BAHons in Afrikaans, and MA                                                                                                   level. She is regularly involved in net-
                                                                                           She undertook several lecture tours on                                                                                                world’s best netballer. She was twice
in Afrikaans (all cum laude) at the Uni-                                                                                               ball coaching and is currently pursuing
                                                                                           her own work and on Afrikaans litera-                                                                                                 named Player of the Match during the
versity of the Free State (UFS). During                                                                                                a Diploma in Sports Management as well
her years at university, she excelled in                                                   ture in the Netherlands, Friesland, and     as Netball South Africa level 2 coaching                                                  World Cup, and her 20 intercepts were
various fields. Among others, she was                                                      Poland. The Flemish Parliament invited      accreditation. She has excellent lead-                                                    the joint third most. According to the
editor of the student magazine, Irawa,                                                     her to participate in its 30th anniversa-   ership skills and a thorough knowledge                                                    organisers, the fact that South Africa
                                                               Author                                                                                                                         Professional Athlete
and in 1979 she was elected to the                                                         ry celebrations on 11 June 2002, during     of netball, with a strong capability of                                                   reached the final four for the first time
                                                                                                                                                                                                       &
Central Student Representative Council.                                                    which 24 poets from the Dutch speech        developing and implementing netball
                                                       QUALIFICATIONS                                                                                                                              Dietician                     since 1995, was in no small way thanks
                                                                                           community recited their poetry in           sessions and programmes.
From January 1985 to March 1988, she             BA Communication Science (1978)                                                                                                                                                 to her impeccable reading of the game,
                                                                                           Parliament. She was the only Afrikaans                                                              QUALIFICATIONS
worked as academic assistant in the                                                        poet invited to this event. She has been    Team Bath in England contracted her to                                                    timing, and composure. She has carried
                                                    BA Honours Afrikaans (1984)
Department of Afrikaans-Dutch at the                                                                                                   play in the Vitality Netball Super League              BSc Dietetics (2014)               herself both on and off court with huge
                                                        MA Afrikaans (1987)                a speaker at schools, reading circles,
UFS. After this, she accepted a post as                                                                                                for the 2015/2016 season. She is now                   MSc Dietetics (2018)               distinction and has rightly claimed this
                                                                                           and study groups on numerous occa-
lecturer at the University of Zululand,           PhD Afrikaans and Dutch (1997)                                                       playing professional netball in Australia,
                                                                                           sions.                                                                                                                                honour.
and later as lecturer in Afrikaans and                                                                                                 where she represents the Sunshine
Dutch at the University of Cape Town.         bosch School of Writing and Creative         Riana’s hobbies include hiking, cycling,    Coast Lightning team in the Suncorp                                                       Other accolades include the Kovsies
From 1992, she was a part-time ra-            Thinking. She resigned in 2001 to devote     gardening, cooking (she published two       Super Netball League.                                                                     Senior Sportswoman of the Year (2016),
dio reporter for Die Burger, and in 1995      more time to her creative writing. After     cookery books), and the protection of                                                                                                 Volksblad Senior Sportswoman of the
                                                                                                                                       Pretorius represented and later cap-
she joined Tafelberg Publishers as liai-      marrying her second husband in Sep-          the highly endangered Knysna dwarf                                                                                                    Year (2016 and 2017), Free State
                                                                                                                                       tained the Kovsie netball team between
son editor. She continued her studies,        tember 2002, she worked as farm man-         chameleon.
                                                                                                                                       2009 and 2015. During that time, she                                                      Sportswoman of the Year (2017 and
obtaining a doctorate in Afrikaans and        ager in the Wellington district and with     Riana Scheepers has had an exceptional      scooped one award after the other.           the Proteas. Karla was the first South
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 2018), and Volksblad Sportsperson of
Dutch at the University of Cape Town in       the women in the vineyards, presented        career, both in South Africa and abroad.    In 2014 and 2015, she was the Varsity        African netball player to field for a side
1997.                                                                                                                                                                               in the new Australian National Netball       the year (2018).
                                              literacy classes for adults in the farming   She has made important contributions        Player of the Year. She also represent-
In 1999, she accepted a teaching post         community, as well as an annual course       as a writer and language pedagogue.         ed the Free State provincial team, the       League in 2017.                              In her free time, Karla loves to travel,
at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellen-            in Writing and Creative Thinking. She ran    She is a dynamic person and an artist       Crinums, and is vice-captain of the          Among others, she represented the Spar       especially taking road trips to small
bosch, where she started the Stellen-         a guesthouse on the farm, and in 2009        that the UFS can be proud of.               South African national netball team,         Proteas in the SANZEA Quad Series from       towns in South Africa.
                                                                  4                                                                                                                                     5
Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS
Cum Laude Award                                                                                                                    Cum Laude Award

                                               DR JANINE ALLEN-SPIES                                                                                                                   RYAN ISHMAIL
Dr Janine Allen-Spies obtained her                                                         that studied under her include Pauline        Ryan Craig Ishmail matriculated from                                        the Directorate for Student Discipline
BA (1992), MA (1995), and PhD (2017)                                                       Gütter, Angela de Jesus, Landi Rauben-        Kimberley Boys’ High School in 2003                                         and Mediation.
degrees in Fine Arts at the University of                                                  heimer, Dot Vermeulen, Elrie Joubert,         as one of the top 20 black learners in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     During the annual UFS Law Faculty Open
the Free State. She works as an artist,                                                    and Louis Krüger. She has supervised          the Northern Cape. He graduated with
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Day, Mr Ishmail assists prospective LLB
image philosopher, and senior lecturer                                                     many postgraduate students who com-           an LLB degree at the UFS in 2008. On
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     first-years and their parents regarding
in Fine Arts at the UFS.                                                                   pleted their degrees with great acco-         completion of his articles in 2009, he
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     the LLB degree. He has been a guest
                                                                                           lade, as well as many other BAFA art          was admitted as attorney at the age of
As a visual artist, Dr Allen-Spies has                                                                                                                                                                               speaker on various platforms, such as
                                                                                           students who immediately entered the          23 and started working at the UFS Law
excelled in the professional arts are-                                                                                                                                                                               the Law Faculty Dean’s Awards and the
                                                                                           arts sector and have become notable in        Clinic.
na and in the academic art sphere. Her                                                                                                                                                                               annual event where LLB students take
pioneering career makes her one of the                                                     their careers. She thus paved the way          In 2010, he joined Legal Aid South Afri-                                   their oath as future legal professionals.
most sought-after artist-academics.                                                        for postgraduate art studies at the UFS.      ca as a Professional Assistant, providing
                                                                                           Allen’s work is held in prestigious col-      services to clients who could not afford                                    Upon opening his practice, he appoint-
She has won several competitions and
                                                                                           lections, such as the Luciana Benneton        legal representation. He obtained his                                       ed a paralegal from the LGBTQI+ com-
is the first artist in the country to be se-
                                                                                           Collection (Venice Biennale), Modern Art      master’s degree in Labour Law (LLM)                                         munity who was unable to complete
lected for the prestigious internation-
al UNESCO-Aschberg Residencies for                                                         Projects, etc. She initiated many pro-        in 2014. After his tenure at Legal Aid                                      his degree due to financial problems.
Artists Programme, of which only two                                                       jects that had a cascading effect on the      South Africa ended in 2015, he started                                      Mr Ishmail took it upon himself to fund
artists from the African continent (in all                                                 Free State art world. In the Artists-in-      his own practice, RC Ishmail Attorneys,                                     this student, who will complete his LLB
categories including drama, dance, and           Artist, Image philosopher and Senior      Schools research project, she brought         where he is currently still the Director.    Lawyer & Acting Magistrate     at the end of 2019.
theatre arts) were elected. Other nota-                Lecturer in Fine Arts (UFS)         different artists from different com-         In the same year, he won an award for        at Department of Justice and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Mr Ishmail was the youngest ever mag-
ble awards include the ABSA Visual Arts                                                    munities together to work in schools in       the best business plan for a start-up law    Constitutional Development
                                                          QUALIFICATIONS                                                                                                                                             istrate in the Free State at the age of 31.
Award at the International Free State                                                      deep-rural and struggling communities.        firm. He was admitted as a notary public
                                                         BA Fine Arts (1992)                                                                                                               QUALIFICATIONS            He also serves as presiding officer at the
Arts Festival and an Audience Award at                                                     Many of the artists in the project, and       in 2015 and as a conveyancer in 2018.
                                                                                                                                                                                             LLB (2008)              annual National Schools Moot Court,
the esteemed Spier Contemporary Bi-                      MA Fine Arts (1995)               also those who have mastered art in au-       Mr Ishmail was appointed supervis-                                          and lectures Ethics and Constitution-
ennale, Cape Town (2010). Her art has                                                      todidactic ways, have received funding,       ing attorney at the UFS Law Clinic in                LLM (2014)
                                                         PhD Fine Arts (2017)                                                                                                                                        al Law to candidate attorneys. He has
been selected for several international                                                    were selected or had won competitions         2016. He served as Legal Officer in the
and national group exhibitions and she                                                     in their own projects after they took                                                                                     served as branch committee member of
                                                                                                                                         Directorate for Student Discipline and                                      the National Association of Democratic
was a finalist in many prestigious South       the exhibition: The Visionary Brusher       part in this project. In the interdiscipli-   Mediation from 2016 until the end of
African art competitions.                      Game (2017), which received the ABSA        nary projects, for example, the Eureka                                                                                    Lawyers (NADEL) in Bloemfontein since
                                                                                                                                         2017, chairing and initiating disciplinary
                                               Visual Arts Award.                          project and the BioArt project, as well as                                                                                2016; during this time, he helped to
Allen’s academic career is a witness                                                                                                     hearings for UFS students. In 2018, he
                                               Dr Allen-Spies has paved the way for        through her thesis and artwork, she has                                                                                   establish a student chapter at the UFS.
to her pioneering spirit and reputable                                                                                                   lectured Criminal Law to second-year
leadership. She was the first scholar to       many young artists in the Free State arts   pioneered ways to critically participate                                                                                  His hobbies include food and wine pair-
                                                                                                                                         LLB students, as well as Labour Law in
complete a practice-based MA (includ-          community. The rather small arts com-       and add to the discourse of interdisci-                                                                                   ing, he is an aspirant wine connoisseur,
                                                                                                                                         the UFS Business School. He currently
ing a full dissertation) and a PhD in Fine     munity has been consolidated through        plinary studies at the UFS.
                                                                                                                                         serves as chairperson in staff hearings                                     does weightlifting, and enjoys adven-
Arts at the UFS. This PhD brought great        a strong academically trained group of      With such an impressive background, it        on the UFS Human Resources panel and                                        tures with his daughter.
honour to the university at both national      artists that contribute to the national     goes without saying that Janine’s hob-
and international level, culminating into      art world. Some of the notable artists      bies include the collection of artworks.

                                                                  6                                                                                                                                7
Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS
Cum Laude Award                                                                                                        Executive Management Award

                                                       JACO JACOBS                                                                                                       MARIUS JANSE VAN RENSBURG
The well-known author Jaco Jacobs was                                                      Kaptein Blitz en die Skool vir Superhe-    Marius Janse van Rensburg obtained his                       for the South African Rugby Union
born in Carnarvon, where he matricu-                                                       roes, with Frank Opperman as Captain       BProc degree at the University of the                        (SARU) from 2012 to 2018, as well as for
lated as head boy in 1998. In his matric                                                   Blitz, made its debut at the Klein Karoo   Free State (UFS) in 1987. He was admit-                      the Guinness Pro 14 competition from
year, he won the Poort Prize for prose                                                     National Arts Festival in 2012.            ted as attorney on 1 October 1992 and                        2017 to 2018. Among others, he was
and poetry. He obtained a BA degree                                                                                                   has been practising under the name                           Citing Commissioner for the World
                                                                                           Jacobs was awarded numerous times
in Communication Studies (cum laude)                                                                                                  of Horn & Van Rensburg Attorneys in                          Rugby Sevens Series in Port Elizabeth in
                                                                                           and is often recognised as the most
at the UFS in 2001 and received the                                                                                                   Bloemfontein for the past 27 years.                          2014, and for the Beachcomber World
                                                                                           successful writer of children’s books
Dean’s Medal as the best undergraduate                                                     in South Africa. He also enjoys wide in-   Mr Van Rensburg joined the management                        Club 10s tournament in Mauritius in
student in the Faculty of the Humani-                                                      ternational recognition. Among others,     team of the UFS Rugby Club in 1996                           2018.
ties. In 2002, he completed his honours                                                    he received the following awards: the      as team manager of one of the junior                         The fact that Mr Van Rensburg has
in Afrikaans and Dutch Literature.                                                         Hennie van Deventer trophy for out-        teams. Since then, he has served in the                      devoted himself to unreservedly serve
He started his career as editor of the                                                     standing journalism; 26 ATKV children’s    management structures of the club in                         the interests of the UFS Rugby Club and
book page at Volksblad, also acting as                                                     book awards; the Alba Bouwer Prize;        various capacities for an uninterrupted                      the University of the Free State for the
editor of the Jip and the weekend edi-                                                     the CP Hoogenhout Medal; the Maskew        period of 23 years, including as vice-                       past 23 years, undoubtedly makes him
tion, Joernaal. In 2004, he became a                                                       Miller Longman Prize; the Kyknet/          chairman from 2000 to 2005. He was                           a worthy nominee for the Executive
publisher of children’s books at Lapa                                                      Rapport Book Prize; the SATI prize for     elected as chairman in 2006, a position                      Management Award. His inspiring,
Publishers.                                                                                translation; the Tienie Holloway Medal;    he still holds, making him the longest-                      unwavering leadership – for which he has
                                                                                           the SALA Prize; the Exclusive books/       serving chairman in the history of the         Lawyer        received no remuneration over the
His writing career began at school                                                                                                    club. He was chairman of the club when
                                                               Author                      IBBY Prize; and the Elsabe Steenberg                                                                    years – has persuaded many rugby
where he participated in competitions                                                                                                 the UFS Shimlas won the Varsity Cup in      QUALIFICATIONS
                                                                                           e-book prize for translated children’s                                                                  players and other individuals alike to
for aspiring writers, and the publication                                                                                             2015.                                        B Proc (1987)
                                                          QUALIFICATIONS                   literature.                                                                                             join the ranks of the UFS Rugby Club,
of his first stories in magazines. His first
                                                     BA Communication Science                                                         He furthermore serves on the following                       which has cemented its position as
children’s book, Pretpark, was written                                                     Known for his passion for children,
                                                             (2002)                                                                   structures, where he ensures that the                        one of the leading amateur rugby clubs
while still at school, but Troetelgedrog                                                   Jacobs regularly visits school to moti-
                                                                                                                                      interests of the UFS Rugby Club are                          in South Africa under his guidance.
was his first published book (2001).                    BA Honours Afrikaans               vate learners; he also conducts writing
                                                                                                                                      well looked after: the Free State Rugby                      His contribution to ensure the smooth
Over the years he has published more                     and Dutch (2005)                  workshops for talented learners. He is
                                                                                                                                      Union Board for the past 14 years, from                      running of the UFS Rugby Club over
than 150 books for toddlers, children,                                                     also one of the Afrikaans authors who
                                                                                                                                      2006 to date; the Varsity Cup Board of                       such an extended period of time is
and young adults. He translated more                                                       donates his work on a regular basis to
                                               ter was one of the winners of the British                                              Directors from 2009 to date; the Board                       indeed something to behold, especially
than 250 children’s books by authors                                                       the literary archive of the Department
                                               Book Trust’s ‘In Other Words’ competi-                                                 of Directors of Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd, from                     in light of the fact that he has done
such as Julia Donaldson and Chris Rid-                                                     of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and
                                               tion and was nominated for the Carn-                                                   2017 to date.                                                this while running a very busy and
del. He also uses the pseudonyms Tania                                                     French. The UFS can truly be proud of
                                               egie medal. A Good Night for Shooting                                                  He also served on the Free State Rugby                       successful law firm.
Brink and Lize Roux.                                                                       this member of the alumni.
                                               Zombies and Suurlemoen were adapted                                                    Union Executive Committee from 2008                          Apart from rugby, Mr Van Rensburg likes
Most of his books are written and pub-         into feature films and released in South    Reading, parenting (he is the father of
                                                                                                                                      to 2011. He acted as Citing Commissioner                     to play golf in his free time.
lished in Afrikaans. A Good Day for            Africa. The CD album by Anna Davel and      two gorgeous little girls) and running
Climbing Trees was his first interna-          the Jakaranda Children’s Choir, In die      (he recently completed the Comrades
tional book, followed by A Good Night          land van Kammalielie, is a collection of    Marathon for the second time) are some
for Shooting Zombies in 2018. The lat-         Jaco’s nursery rhymes. A production of      of Jaco’s favourite things.
                                                                  8                                                                                                                     9
Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS
Executive Management Award                                                                                                              Kovsie Ambassador Award

                                              PROF CORINNA WALSH                                                                                                                 LOUZANNE COETZEE
Professor Corinna Walsh obtained her                                                     tion, she serves on numerous commit-       Louzanne Coetzee was born blind due                                                    mark from 5:27:21 to 5:18:44, placing
BSc (1990), MSc (1992), and PhD (1996)                                                   tees with great wisdom, enthusiasm,        to a hereditary condition called Leber                                                 her ninth in the world.
degrees in Dietetics at the University                                                   and commitment.                            congenital amaurosis. Her academic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Disappointment followed when she
of the Free State (UFS). She is current-                                                 As board member of the AIDSMO Trust,       qualifications include a BA and BAHons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           was disqualified at the 2016 Paralympic
ly a full professor in the School of Allied                                              she is involved in community-engage-       in Integrated and Corporative Market-
Health Professions Department of Nutri-                                                                                             ing Communication, and an MA in Social                                                 Games in Rio de Janeiro because officials
                                                                                         ment projects for Lebone Land, a care                                                                                             deemed her guide, Khotatso Mokone, to
tion and Dietetics at the UFS and serves                                                 centre for children infected or affected   Cohesion and Reconciliation – all from
as Chairperson of the Nutrition Society                                                                                             the University of the Free State (UFS).                                                have provided illegal assistance.
                                                                                         by HIV/AIDS. She serves on the edito-
of South Africa (NSSA).                                                                  rial boards of the South African Journal   In 2014, she became the first visually                                                 In 2018, she competed in three events at
Prof Walsh started her career as a die-                                                  of Clinical Nutrition and the open-ac-     impaired student to be elected to the                                                  the Para Athletics event in Berlin, Ger-
titian in 1992, when she was appointed                                                   cess research journal, Heliyon. Apart      UFS Student Representative Council                                                     many – the 800 m, 1 500 m, and 5 000
as a community dietitian in the House                                                    from her involvement in extensive ser-     (SRC), with the portfolio Student Ac-                                                  m. She was in top form and set a new
of Representatives. Between 1993 and                                                     vice-learning activities, she is also a    cessibility. From 2015 to 2017, she was                                                African record in the T11 800 m race,
2001, she worked as lecturer and senior                                                  member of the ImpENSA project, which       a research assistant in the Institute                                                  taking the silver medal behind Mexi-
lecturer in the School of Tourism, Hospi-                                                was commissioned by the European           for Reconciliation and Social Justice at                                               co’s Monica Rodriquez Saavedra. In the
tality and Sport at the Central University                                               Union to collaborate on nutrition edu-     the UFS, and in 2016 she also acted as                                                 1 500 m she had to settle for a bronze
of Technology. In 2002, she accepted a                                                   cation globally.                           junior lecturer in a computer module                                                   medal, but in the T11 5 000-m event
position as Senior Lecturer in the De-                                                   She has received the Nutrition Socie-      for students with visual impairments.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           she smashed her own world record by
partment of Nutrition and Dietetics at        Professor: Nutrition and Dietetics (UFS)   ty Best Young Scientist Award and the      From 2017 to 2018, she was Residence                        Athlete
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           clocking a time of 18:00.34 – 13.97 sec-
the UFS; she became an Associate Pro-                                                    Association for Dietetics Community        Head of Arista Ladies City Residence,
fessor in 2008 and was promoted to                      QUALIFICATIONS                                                                                                                     QUALIFICATIONS                  onds better that her previous record.
                                                                                         Dietetics Award. She serves on the Eth-    and she is currently the Residence Head
Professor in 2017.                                     BSc Dietetics (1990)              ics Committee of the Faculty of Health     of Akasia Residence at the UFS.                 B.A Integrated and Corporative         Coetzee has been nominated for several
Throughout her academic career, Prof                   MSc Dietetics (1992)              Sciences and is a council member of        Whether it is the 5 000 m or the 1 500         Marketing Communication (2014)          awards. She was named the 2014 Sen-
Walsh has been involved in research re-                                                  the Nutrition Society of South Africa.     m, Coetzee is breaking records in all             B.A Honours Integrated and           ior Sportswoman of the Year by the Free
                                                            PhD (1996)
lating to nutrition and health epidemiol-                                                Between 2005 and 2010, she served          her races. Fans of Coetzee were elated               Corporative Marketing             State Sport Association for the Physical-
ogy, which has contributed to a greater                                                  on the Board of the Medical Research       when she set a new world record in the              Communication (2014)               ly Disabled (FSSAPD). In 2017, she and
understanding of both infectious (HIV/        chapters in books, 30 published confer-    Council, gaining valuable experience in    5 000 m T11 category at the Nedbank                                                    her guide Khothatso Mokone received a
                                                                                                                                                                                        MA Social Cohesion and
AIDS) and chronic lifestyle diseases in       ence proceedings, and 1 report for the     health research and research adminis-      National Championships for the Physi-                                                  Special Award for Disabled Sport at the
                                                                                                                                                                                         Reconciliation (2019)
the Free State.                               office of the presidency.                  tration.                                   cally Disabled in March 2016. The Lithu-                                               KovsieSport Awards. In 2018, she won
Currently an NRF C3-rated researcher,         Prof Walsh has mentored numerous           Prof Walsh is recognised nationally and    anian athlete Sigita Markeviciene’s 16-                                                the Free State Sports Star Award, and
she has initiated and led large-scale         master’s and PhD students from South       internationally as an accomplished re-     year record of 20:05.81, set at the 2000                                               recently she was named Sports Star of
                                                                                                                                    Paralympics in Sydney, was shattered        hand. She became the first totally blind
research projects on nutrition and ep-        Africa and Africa (Ghana, Lesotho,         searcher, scholar, and philanthropic                                                                                              the Year (period June 2018 to April 2019)
                                                                                                                                    by Coetzee’s stellar performance of         female to clock sub-20 minutes in the
idemiology, obtaining grant funding in        Kenya, Ethiopia, Botswana). She is a       community-oriented member of soci-                                                                                                by the Free State Sports Association for
                                                                                                                                    19:17.06. Markeviciene’s record was         5 000 m.
excess of R3 million. She has published       well-respected member of the Faculty       ety. The UFS is privileged to have staff                                                                                          the Physically Disabled.
widely, both nationally and interna-          of Health Sciences, uniting colleagues     members of this calibre and profession-    bettered by 48.75 seconds when Coet-        Two days before breaking the 5 000 m
                                              from various disciplines and professions                                              zee and her guide, Khotatso Mokone,         world record, Coetzee set a new African    Her hobbies include reading, walking,
tionally, authoring or co-authoring                                                      alism who embody the mission and val-
53 peer-reviewed research papers, 4           through her research projects. In addi-    ues of the institution                     sprinted past the finish line hand in       record in the 1 500 m. She lowered the     baking, shopping, and cooking.

                                                                10                                                                                                                                11
Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS
Kovsie Ambassador Award                                                                                                       Kovsie Ambassador Award

                                                ANGIE KHUMALO                                                                                                                 KESA MOLOTSANE
Angie Khumalo is a celebrated Johan-                                             received that it grew from a once-          Kesa Molotsane is a professional athlete                                                  In 2018, Kesa won the GSport4girls
nesburg-based radio broadcaster who                                              a-week segment to a twice-a-week            who has acquired her BA degree in Gen-                                                    Public Choice Award and was recent-
obtained a Bachelor of Science degree                                            segment in 2012, giving the lowdown         eral Management (2015), as well as cer-                                                   ly named the Bloemfontein MyCityRun
at the University of the Free State (UFS)                                        on the latest box-office additions on the   tificates in Basic Labour Law, Advanced                                                   ambassador, advocating a healthy life-
in 1999. She subsequently completed a                                            Rob Forbes Show on Fridays and telling      Labour Law, and Alternative Dispute                                                       style. She represented South Africa at
Bachelor of Science Honours degree in                                            listeners what’s hot and what’s not on      Resolution at the University of the Free                                                  the IAAF World Cross-Country Cham-
Botany and Genetics (2000) and went                                              KrazyBoy Weekends with KB. She also         State. She is the only athlete who has                                                    pionships in Aarhus, Denmark in March
on to register for a master’s qualifica-                                         became the resident movie reviewer for      won the Spar Ladies Grand Prix in her                                                     2019, where she became the first South
tion. While working towards this qual-                                                                                       debut year.                                                                               African to finish. She was named Kovsie
                                                                                 TeenZone Magazine.
ification at the UFS, her passion for                                                                                        In 2016, she broke the1 500-m record                                                      Sportswoman of the Year in 2017. Her
radio was unearthed. She began host-                                             A self-described ‘speed freak, adrenaline
                                                                                                                             in the Varsity Athletics event in Stellen-                                                contribution to the Kovsie communi-
ing a weekend talk show at Kovsie FM                                             junkie, and petrolhead’, she traversed
                                                                                                                             bosch. She finished 1st in the 5 000 m at                                                 ty has been massive – she also volun-
and reading the news for the after-                                              the country with DJ Fresh and other         the ASA Night Series in Cape Town and                                                     teered and translated documents from
noon drive show. Before long, she was                                            celebrities in 2011, and again in 2012 as   the USSA Championships in Limpopo.                                                        English/Afrikaans into Sotho for the
poached by OFM to read the news. Dur-                                            part of the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s     During the Southern Regions CUC-                                                          Vrystaat Arts Festival since 2015.
ing this time, she was working towards                                           Bikers for Mandela cross-country            SA Games, she won both the 1 500 m
                                                                                 charity campaign. 2012 saw her join the                                                                                               Being the country’s most versatile mid-
completing her master’s qualification                                                                                        and 5 000 m and was 1st in the 10-km
                                                                                 5FM cycling team that participated in       event at the South African Cross-Coun-                                                    dle-distance athlete – running track,
during the week, while reading news
                                                                                 the Argus cycle challenge, and hosting      try Championships in George. She was                                                      cross-country, and dominating the
on the weekends. Realising that radio                   Broadcaster                                                                                                                     Athlete &
                                                                                 Vaya Mzansi alongside celebrated            also selected for the World Student                                                       road-running scene – she has truly be-
was her real passion, she opted not to                                                                                                                                               MACAH Foundation
                                                      QUALIFICATIONS             music personality, DJ Cleo. The show        Cross-Country Championships in Italy,                                                     come the face of Kovsies. Her commit-
complete her master’s qualification. She                                                                                                                                               Ambassador
remained at OFM for five years, hosting                                          documented them travelling the              but the South African team withdrew                                                       ment to the sport was highlighted both
                                                        BSc (1999)
her own show.                                                                    country on motorbikes and exploring         from the championship.                                   QUALIFICATIONS                   on and off TV screens and the athletic
                                               BSc Honours Botany and Genetics                                                                                                                                         track when she became a proud am-
In 2008, Angie joined 5FM, where her                                             hidden gems and the country’s tourism       In 2017, she took part in several events,         B.A General Management (2015)
                                                           (2000)                                                                                                                                                      bassador for the Mother and Child Ac-
strong background in news and current                                            offering.                                   among others, the ASA Speed series              Basic Labour Law certificate (2015)       ademic Hospital (MACAH). Her sporting
affairs was put into use. She also formed                                        The following year, she joined South        in Durban; the World Cross-Country
                                                                                                                             Championships in Kampala, Uganda;             Advanced Labour Law certificate (2016)      career and involvement in community
part of the Roger Goode Radio Show                                               Africa’s biggest urban radio station,                                                                                                 projects is well-known; she is indeed a
weeknights from 19:00 to 22:00. An                                                                                           and the World Student Games in Tai-                Alternative Dispute Resolution
                                                                                 Metro FM, as a sports and news                                                                                                        true leader and motivation for every-
avid movie buff, she was introduced                                                                                          wan. She also won the1 500-m Varsity                     certificate (2019)
                                                                                 reader. At present, she forms part of                                                                                                 one.
as 5FM’s Zulu Maiden movie reviewer                                                                                          Athletics event in Pretoria in a record
                                                                                 the afternoon drive team. She is also a
in 2011, offering sneak movie previews                                                                                       time of 04:26, was 1st in the 10-km Spar      geria; she also finished as the 1st South   When she is not a professional athlete,
                                                                                 farmer who is fondly known as ‘Mother       Women’s Challenge in Cape Town, Port
and insider scoops. It was so well                                                                                                                                         African lady in the FNB Cape Town 12        she spends her free time attending
                                                                                 of the Cows’ on Metro FM.                   Elizabeth, and Pietermaritzburg, and 1st      One Run event in May 2018. She won          sporting events, sleeping, family time,
                                                                                                                             in the 10-km Free State Cross-Country         the 10-km Spar Women’s Challenge in         running, as well as community uplift-
                                                                                                                             Championships in Bloemfontein.                both Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. At       ment – with a special focus on girls and
                                                                                                                             Kesa was included in the Athletics            the USSA Championships in Sasolburg,        young women (hence her involvement
                                                                                                                             South Africa team for the 2018 CAA            she was placed first in the 5 000 m as      in the MACAH Foundation). If that is not
                                                                                                                             Cross-Country Championships in Al-            well as the 10 000 m.                       alumni material, nothing is.
                                                             12                                                                                                                               13
Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS
Alumni,
                                    scan, connect and stay informed

  Update your                      UFS Alumni                 UFS Alumni   UFS Alumni
 contact details                    LinkedIn                   Facebook       Web

T: +27 51 401 9111 | alumni@ufs.ac.za | www.ufs.ac.za
www.ufs.ac.za
Th37 WE CELEBRATE A HERITAGE OF EXCELLENCE 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 - UFS
You can also read