University of the Free State

A young woman left home carrying lesson plans, a teaching file, and the hope of becoming a teacher. She expected classroom observations and mentor feedback. Instead, she found herself opening a police case. The incident has sparked outrage across communities, but it also raises a broader question: what does this incident reveal about the realities many student teachers navigate every day in South Africa?

If safety has become a genuine concern for many student teachers, how can we continue expecting future teachers to fulfil their professional and institutional obligations when fear, vulnerability, and concerns for personal safety have become part of their teaching practice experience? Asks the UFS’ Dr Nasaret Ruswa.

This weekend, 20 and 21 June, marks South Africa’s national voter registration weekend ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

Will you be away from your registered voting station on 4 November? You can still make your voice heard by applying for a special vote and casting your ballot before election day.

Visit https://bit.ly/4vXcz1p to register, update your details, check your voting status, or apply for a special vote, or head to your nearest voting station this weekend.

Your vote shapes your community. Make sure it counts.

𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘂𝗯𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Through the Ubuntu Community Street Store and the Community Gardens Project, students are addressing poverty, hunger, and inequality while restoring dignity and hope in local communities.

In the wake of Youth Day, these initiatives highlight how young people continue to lead positive change through service, compassion, and community engagement.

Let’s rally behind Bafana Bafana as they take on Czech Republic! 🇿🇦⚽

South Africa stands united in support of our national team. Bring the energy, wear the colours, and show your pride as Bafana Bafana represents the nation on the international stage.

Watch the match live here: https://bit.ly/4fOJ5hx

Come on, Bafana — the nation is behind you! 💛💚

South Africa vs Czech Republic LIVE | FIFA World Cup 2026 LIVE Coverage | RSA vs CZE Football LIVE South Africa vs Czech Republic LIVE | FIFA World Cup 2026 LIVE Cove...

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗮-𝗘𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗺𝘂𝘀, 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲-𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗸𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 (𝗦𝗠𝗨).

We extend our sincere condolences to her family, loved ones, colleagues, students, and the entire SMU community.

Prof Matsha-Erasmus was a respected scientist and higher education leader whose work contributed meaningfully to advancing health sciences education and the broader higher education sector in South Africa. Through her leadership and commitment to academic excellence, she helped shape opportunities for students, scholars, and communities.

Her passing is a significant loss to South African higher education. She will be remembered for her contribution, leadership, and service.

May she rest in peace.



Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗔𝗜 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛

This Short Learning Programme serves as an accessible, interdisciplinary entry point into contemporary AI-assisted research practices. Participants will explore the foundational principles of machine learning, the capabilities and limitations of current Generative AI systems, and the ethical considerations surrounding their use. Through practical engagement with leading AI tools and modern computational research workflows, the programme empowers participants to integrate GenAI into their scholarly and professional activities.

Offering Date: 01 June 2026
Cost: R11 000,00
Contact Person: Dr Jacques Matthee
Email: [email protected]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗸𝘂 (𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗠) 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗠–𝗨𝗙𝗦 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺, 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗠 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆.

The symposium brought together academics, researchers, and university leaders committed to advancing research, innovation, and knowledge exchange across Africa. It also highlighted how collaboration across borders, languages, and disciplines can strengthen research capacity, create new opportunities for scholars, and contribute to knowledge that serves African communities.

Read more: https://ufsweb.co/3QIBnLE

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗵𝗹𝗲𝗿-𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿, 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿: 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗼 𝗫𝗜𝗩’𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹:

“In mid-May 2026, Pope Leo XIV released his first major social encyclical (a formal teaching letter addressed to the global Catholic Church), ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, devoted to safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). For those of us who study law, rights, and ethics in the Global South, it is a more useful document than its provenance might suggest – not because it settles the moral questions AI raises, but because it asks them in the right register.”

Read more: https://ufsweb.co/4xzdfvu

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮.

For the first time, the University of the Free State Faculty of Law fielded an all-women team at the prestigious 33rd Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria.

Representing the UFS on the global stage, the team competed against universities from around the world while continuing a proud tradition of excellence in international legal advocacy.

Read more: https://ufsweb.co/4a4ADHl

𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀.

This Youth Day, the University of the Free State honours the legacy of June 16 not only through remembrance but also through meaningful action – supporting student wellness, fostering leadership, and creating opportunities for young people to thrive.

The challenges may have changed, but the urgency remains.

Read more: https://ufsweb.co/3QnbzEz