Nationalising the University of the Free State (UFS), ”to protect the national asset”, must start immediately, the African National Congress and its alliance partners said on Friday. About 1 000 workers from various unions marched to the UFS to hand over the demand, contained in a memorandum on racism at the institution.
Allegations of disorder on the main campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) contained in an anonymous email circulated country were untrue, Rector Frederick Fourie said on Thursday. The email apparently makes reference to incidents of intimidation by black students on the main campus in Bloemfontein on March 4.
Total transformation is needed at the University of the Free State (UFS), the African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State said on Tuesday. Provincial party spokesperson Playfair Morule said the recent ”dehumanising video” which surfaced at the university was just the tip of the iceberg of racist tendencies at the university.
The council of the University of the Free State on Friday mandated management to consider the possibility of closing down the Reitz men’s residence. Chairperson of the council Judge Faan Hancke said this included the possibility of converting the hostel into a beacon of transformation, hope and liberation.
The University of the Free State (UFS) has obtained a further court interdict to maintain calm on the main campus in Bloemfontein and on the Vista campus, also in the city, a UFS spokesperson said on Friday. Spokesperson Anton Fischer said the interdict was obtained because a number of outside organisations were planning to hold mass demonstrations.
Even after parting ways with coach Khabo Zondo after a string of poor results, Bloemfontein Celtic’s ambitions of improving their position on the log suffered a blow. With caretaker coaches Benjamin Reed and David Modise at the helm, Celtic lost 1-0 to the title-chasing Orlando Pirates on Wednesday afternoon.
The council of the University of the Free State must ”go” because they do not want to transform, the African National Congress chairperson in the province, Ace Magashule, said on Tuesday. ”I cannot agree with those people who want to say everything at the University of the Free State was still fine,” Magashule said.
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Thirteen students were arrested at the University of the Free State (UFS) on Tuesday for contravening a court order. Police spokesperson Captain Chaka Marope said they were taken into custody on the Bloemfontein campus at about 8am after they disrupted classes.
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Lawyers for the University of the Free State (UFS) and two white male students who made a racist video involving black university workers were still discussing details of possible disciplinary action on Monday. UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader said the process of disciplinary action was still ongoing on Monday as ”the legally correct processes were continuing”.
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/ 29 February 2008
Police are investigating a case of crimen injuria in relation to a racist video made by students at the University of the Free State. The video, which caused national outrage, features black university employees on their knees eating food that had apparently been urinated upon by white students.
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/ 28 February 2008
Two University of the Free State students apologised on Thursday for their involvement in a racist video which has sparked a national outcry. RC Malherbe and Schalk van der Merwe said they acted without malicious intent, and expressed sorrow for the embarrassment they might have caused any individual or group.
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/ 27 February 2008
A racist video — featuring University of the Free State employees on their knees eating food that had been urinated upon — was widely condemned by various institutions and political parties on Wednesday. The video, made by members of the Reitz men’s residence on the Bloemfontein campus, came to the attention of the public on Tuesday.
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/ 26 February 2008
A video of University of the Free State employees on their knees eating food which had been urinated upon was condemned ”in the strongest possible terms” by the university on Tuesday. The video, made by male students at the Reitz Residence, surfaced on Tuesday morning and adds to an already tense racial situation at UFS.
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/ 23 February 2008
Matt Giteau scored all his team’s points — including a penalty goal in the fourth minute after the final whistle — to lead the Western Force over the Cheetahs 16-15 on Friday. The Cheetahs could have won with a penalty in the 80th minute, but a miss by replacement flyhalf Conrad Barnard led to a final series of attacks by the Force.
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/ 21 February 2008
Ten students were arrested on various charges at the Bloemfontein campus of the University of the Free State after a group took part in a ”disruptive march”, Free State police said on Thursday. Captain Chaka Marope said police had ”a hard time” on Wednesday night, until early on Thursday morning, containing the situation.
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/ 16 February 2008
Replacement flyhalf Earl Rose landed two late kicks to earn the Lions a 23-22 win at the Cheetahs in the Super 14 on Saturday. The Lions were outscored by three tries to two in a tense South African derby where the lead changed hands five times. The Cheetahs were on target in the second minute when right wing Eddie Fredericks ended a sweeping move by diving over in the corner.
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/ 12 February 2008
The North West department of health on Tuesday rejected suggestions that young people were trained to become sex workers. ”The three complainants from Schweizer Reneke were invited to attend a workshop in Mmabatho to teach the youth about HIV, drug abuse and crime,” said a spokesperson.
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/ 12 February 2008
The United Democratic Movement councillor for the Metsimaholo municipality in the Free State, who was shot in the face recently, has died in hospital, police confirmed on Tuesday. Isaac Mokgatla (38) was shot in the Tshepiso informal settlement after he collected his two children from a school on January 31.
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/ 10 February 2008
The Health Department recalled 10,8-million condoms after the country was hit by ”quality issues” during last year, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Sunday. ”Yes, we have had a challenge recently with regard to quality issues, but once this was brought to our attention we acted on the matter.”
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/ 8 February 2008
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on Friday dismissed an application by Dina Rodrigues for leave to appeal against her murder conviction. The SCA also refused an application for an order directing that an appeal against her sentence be heard by the Bloemfontein court.
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/ 31 January 2008
Free State farmers were on Thursday asked by Eskom to cut their power consumption by 10%, mainly during the ”red periods” of between 6pm and 7pm every day. ”This is with immediate effect,” Free State Agriculture president Louw Steytler told journalists in Bloemfontein.
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/ 24 January 2008
Water restrictions could be next in line for Free State businesses and residents if scheduled power cuts increase, Bloemfontein businessmen heard on Thursday. Chief executive of BloemWater, Nolene Morris, said the water supplier was completely dependent on Eskom or Centlec, the local bulk electricity supplier.
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/ 23 January 2008
The man linked to the African National Congress (ANC) hoax-email saga, Muziwendoda Kunene, appeared in the Kestell Magistrate’s Court in the Free State on Wednesday. A court official said the matter was postponed to April 9 for further investigation. Kunene is facing a provisional charge of murder in the Free State court and remains in custody at the Kroonstad Prison.
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/ 20 January 2008
The Diamond Eagles proved with their victory of 82 runs over the Dolphins at the Outsurance Oval in Bloemfontein on Saturday that they are the SuperSport Series cricket champions for the 2007/08 season. It was the central franchise’s sixth trophy out of a possible 11 since the franchise system was introduced.
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/ 14 December 2007
South African nurses have received significant salary increases including back-pay of up to six months, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Friday in Bloemfontein. She said the increases form part of an agreement with unions of an occupational-specific dispensation for nurses signed in September this year.
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/ 12 December 2007
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Suspended African National Congress (ANC) member Votani Majola has failed in another bid to have next week’s ANC national conference in Polokwane postponed. The Supreme Court of Appeal on Wednesday dismissed his urgent application for leave to appeal a Johannesburg High Court judgement, which also turned down an urgent application.
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/ 12 December 2007
The IT technician caught up in the hoax-email saga, Muziwendoda Kunene, appeared in the Kestell Magistrate’s Court in the eastern Free State on Wednesday. A court official said the matter was postponed to January 23 2008 for further investigation. ”He is facing a provisional charge of murder and will stay in custody at the Kroonstad Prison.”
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/ 11 December 2007
The man caught up in the national hoax email saga, Muziwendoda Kunene, briefly appeared in the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court in the Free State on Tuesday. A court official said Kunene’s case was postponed and transferred to the Kestell Magistrate’s Court, where he was expected to appear on Wednesday.
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/ 10 December 2007
Bloemfontein Celtic were held to a 1-1 draw by Thanda Royal Zulu in an exciting Premier Soccer League clash at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Sunday. Celtic netted in the seventh minute through Lebohang Kukane, and three minutes later Bernard Parker equalised for the struggling Royals team and earned them a valuable point.
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/ 8 December 2007
The Titans secured their first victory of this season’s SuperSport cricket series when they defeated the Eagles by 231 runs in their encounter at the Outsurance Oval in Bloemfontein on Saturday. It was also the home side’s first defeat of the series and first loss at home this season.
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/ 4 December 2007
The first South China tiger cub born in South Africa was shown to the media at the Laohu Valley Reserve in the southern Free State on Tuesday. The cub, not named yet, was born 11 days ago, weighing 1,2kg, and opened his eyes on Monday. The South China tiger is one of the most endangered species in the world.
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/ 30 November 2007
Dina Rodrigues — jailed for life for the murder of six-month-old Jordan Leigh Norton — on Friday filed papers at the Supreme Court of Appeal for leave to appeal her conviction and sentence. The Cape High Court in June this year handed down life sentences to 26-year-old Rodrigues and two accomplices for the contract murder of baby Jordan.