Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner 26 August 2017

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Inspiring excellence. Transforming lives. Inspireer uitnemendheid. Verander lewens. PG

Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Recipient 2

The Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year is the highest honour VIAN CHINNER accorded to an alumnus in recognition of the recipient’s distinguished achievements. This award celebrates an excellent alumnus who serves to inspire fellow alumni, current students and the community at large.

Young Alumnus of the Year Recipient 3

This award acknowledges the achievements of alumni who have graduated LEAH MOLATSELI within the past decade and have contributed immensely to their fields.

Cum Laude Award Recipients 4-6

This award is bestowed upon an alumnus to recognise excellence in any DAVID ABBEY field, whether vocational or voluntary. JOHAN EKSTEEN ZOLA VALASHIYA Executive Management Award Recipient 7

This service award is presented to an individual who has delivered SARINA CRONJÉ exceptional service to the University of the Free State. Dr Khotso Mokhele UFS Chancellor Kovsie Ambassador Award 8-9

The Kovsie Ambassador Award is bestowed upon an individual whose CRYSTAL-DONNA achievements have brought distinction to him/her, benefited his/her community and brought credit to the University of the Free State. ROBERTS FRANCO SMITH 2 Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Young Alumnus of the Year 3

VIAN CHINNER LEAH MOLATSELI Described by Gene Anderson, CEO of home-printed business cards he Having launched South Africa’s first her company was selected as one of of Advanced Online Technology and made the necessary contacts on his legal e-commerce website with in- South Africa’s Top 10 tech start-up The Billionaire Foundation ambas- first trip to the US, and from there stant legal document download ca- companies for Seedstars. She was sador, as one of the “most brilliant” on, he continued attending confer- pability, Leah Molatseli is the perfect also nominated as one of 50 inspir- people she had ever worked with, ences and events when the oppor- example of what happens when in- ing women in technology in South Vian Chinner epitomises ambition. tunity arrived. novation meets passion Africa. He started his career as a comput- At present Chinner is at the helm of The attorney-turned-businesswom- With an interest in youth and wom- er scientist when he applied math- Xineoh, a performance marketing an began her legal journey in private en development Molatseli sits on ematical modelling to commodity company he founded in 2014. The practice in 2012 at the age of 24 the boards of Entrepreneurs Net- trading while he was working at a company, based in , where she quickly worked her way working South Africa, an organi- boutique trading firm in 2004. The and with offices in Cape Town, Or- up the ranks to become an associ- sation for South African entrepre- following year he founded a trad- egon and Vancouver, specialises in ate. After completing the Entrepre- neurs, and Phenomenal Women, a ing company where he developed applying mathematical modelling neurship Development Programme non-profit organisation with a focus proprietary trading algorithms that and machine learning to optimise offered by the University of the Free on empowering women in business consistently outperformed com- conversion in industries including State and with the MTN Foundation, through training, networking and modities funds in the US and Europe. real estate, mortgage banking and workshops. Chief Executive Officer: the entrepreneur bug bit and Leno- Founder and e-commerce in which Xineoh has Xineoh After analysing various global mar- ma Legal was born. Since Lenoma This driven mother of three is a Managing Director: generated more than $30 million in kets and their respective opportu- Legal’s launch in 2016, Molatseli former president of the Free State Lenoma Legal nities, Chinner determined that a revenue for its clients. has been listed in the Top 5 of the and Northern Cape branch of the business in online marketing could 2016 QuickBooks and Saturday Sun South African Society of Labour QUALIFICATIONS Chinner’s innovation and drive saw open doors to multiple industry sec- Xineo reach $1million in revenue Mompreneur Competition landing Law and lends her writing skills to BCom Financial Management QUALIFICATIONS tors and so in 2011 his first online during its first year, a figure which her a feature in Entrepreneur mag- publications including SME Toolkit, (UFS) 2010 LLB marketing company was launched. doubled in its second year of op- azine which boasts a South African SA Labour Guide, Farmers Week- (UFS) 2010 Two years later he started Ylopo eration. Today Stanford Universi- readership of more than 200 000. ly, News24 Voices and She Leads Inc, a venture backed by Move Inc, a ty, Harvard University and a Fellow She also participated in the Bloem- Africa, while serving as the chapter top-three real estate portal in the US at Intel Corporation are among the fontein leg of the Engen Pitch and lead for The Hook Up Dinner Bloem- and focused on applying marketing investors in Chinner’s vision. This Polish business pitching competition fontein, a monthly networking automation and machine learning to vision secured him $2 million of in which she was placed third and community for entrepreneurs. enhance the rental and real estate funding from US and Canadian in- search experience. vestors in 2017 which will be used In 2012 Chinner embarked on a to grow Video Llama, a one-stop self-funded trip to San Franciso personal shopping assistant for where he attended his first mar- video streaming; which will initially keting conference. With just a set be rolled out in the US market. 4 Cum Laude Cum Laude 5

DAVID ABBEY JOHAN EKSTEEN David Abbey is widely respected Passionate about education and At just 11 years old Johan Eksteen market on the African continent. for his integrity, sound business early childhood development had ambitions of being a stud breed- Agricon also exports to Germany, acumen and commercial savvy. Abbey is involved in mentoring young er. Six cows and one bull later, Johan Sweden, Australia and Asia. Johan A recipient of numerous accolades professionals and ran the Banking was the youngest stud farmer to be has successfully tapped into new and honours, David has attracted and Capital Markets Financial In- registered in the South African Stud markets by adapting equipment to offers from local and international struments Programme, where he Book – a business he grew sub- pelletise a range of products includ- blue-chip companies because of his guest lectured on investment bank- stantially before selling in order to ing tobacco dust, vermin compost, high intellectual and execution ca- ing, financial instruments, indus- cover his tuition fees. Today, Johan rooibos tea and organic fertilisers. pability. try and technical developments at Eksteen is the founder of Agricon, University of the Free State, Rhodes The MBA graduate received the UFS While employed at Pricewa- a Bloemfontein-based company University, Nelson Mandela Metro- Business School’s Entrepreneurship terhouseCoopers, David Abbey that designs and manufactures cost politan University and the University Award in 2013. This was followed achieved the highest ratings at the effective, innovative and eco- of Cape Town. by his first prize win of the ILO Free PwC Advisory and Banking Practices friendly pellets for the agricultural State Enterprise Job Creation Chal- serving as Vice-Chairperson of the Abbey is a Chartered Accountant, and industrial industries. lenge as well as an Entrepreneur of PwC Investment Banking special- who qualified concurrently as a After having established Agricon in the Year Award in the small busi- ist group before being headhunted Certified Information Systems Audi- 1993 with his brother, André, Ek- ness category of the Sanlam and Acquisition and Leveraged by Rand Merchant Bank. There he tor (a global qualification recognised Owner: Finance Deal Maker: helped establish the Finance Target as the highest qualification for infor- steen would in 2006 become the Business Partners’ Annual Entre- Agricon Pelleting Rand Merchant Bank Operating Model and after just seven mation technology and information sole owner and grow the business preneurship competition in 2014. months became the youngest strat- systems professionals). He joined into a global specialisation. His In 2016, Eksteen walked away as strong business acumen has led to Entrepreneur of the Year in the same egist and executive assistant to the the Association of Black Account- QUALIFICATIONS Agricon developing its largest export competitions. QUALIFICATIONS Chief Financial Officer receiving the ants in Southern Africa’s education MBA BCom Hons Accounting coveted Rand Merchant Bank Special committee in 2009 and is a member (UFS) 2005 (UFS) 2008 Service Distinction Award in 2015. of the Johannesburg branch board Furthermore, Abbey was selected as of the organisation as well as chair MSc Sustainable Agriculture BCom Accounting one of 30 out of 40 000 employees of the database and communica- (UFS) 1998 (RU) 2007 to take part in FirstRand’s Executive tions committee. He is the public Leadership programme in which he relations officer of an online motor- not only graduated with top honours ing publication, DriveRSA and is also but was recognised as most likely to a motoring journalist become CEO of the FirstRand Group to which the Rand Merchant Bank belongs. 6 Cum Laude Executive Management Award 7

ZOLA VALASHIYA SARINA CRONJÉ Zola Valashiya is a legal mind, an Valashiya co-found Debate Afrika, Before there was Zola Budd there country and road-running athletes. avid writer, a human rights advo- a voluntary association utilising de- was Sarina Cronjé, a woman who She is also the driving force behind cate and pioneer in debating excel- bate as a tool for both critical think- today is regarded as a legend in the Kovsie long distance champion lence. An esteemed thought leader, ing and education in underprivileged athletics world, both as an athlete Kesa Molotsane as well as Mthem- he has served as Vice-Chairperson schools. and trainer. bi Chauque, Marne Mentz, Bennie of the South African National Univer- Additionally, he is the Schools Pro- A former Springbok athlete, Cron- Prinsloo, Lizandré Mulder and Hein- sities Debate Championships (2013), jects and Campaigns manager for jé’s interest in the sport began as a rich Brühns. World Universities Debate Champi- Corruption Watch where he engages Grade 7 pupil when she won her first It is the compassion, drive and in- onships secretary-general (2014), with the youth on integrity, lead- cross-country event. Cronjé won depth knowledge displayed in her and president of the Central Europe- ership ethics, accountability and the South African under-16 title in coaching methods that has earned an University Student Union (2016) the 400m and it was then that she transparency. her the reputation of being one of in Hungary where he obtained his knew her destiny. She went on to This Zulu speaker is multilingual, the most reliable athletics sport Master’s in Public Administration. forge a lucrative career setting South having mastered nine languages managers in the country. African records in the 800m, 100m, Valashiya has lent his writing skills to including Afrikaans, SeSotho, Man- 1500m, mile and 3000m in addition She is married to Danie Cronjé, Al Jazeera, The Journalist and AMAZE darin, French and German. He is a to running the fastest 10km on the a great athlete himself who in (Online) Network and together with Brightest Young Minds alumnus Co-Founder and Director: road in 1980. Many of the records 1981 ran the then second fastest Head of Athletics: UFS alumnus Sibusiso Tshabalala (2013), Mandela Rhodes Scholar Debate Afrika set by Cronjé remained unbeaten for time ever by a South African in the Kovsie Sport co-piloted the Africa Kusoma Liter- (2015) and a Young African Leader- Schools Projects between eight and 10 years with her acy Initiative which won them the ship Initiative Mandela Washington 3000m steeplechase. Furthermore, and Campaigns Manager: best times ranking in the top five of Google Zeitgeist Young Minds Award Fellow (2017) and presently features she is the mother of Olympic athlete Corruption Watch all time in South Africa. QUALIFICATIONS in 2012. It was this passion for litera- on the Mail and Guardian list of top and South African record holder Jo- cy and youth development that saw 200 young South Africans. Joining the Kovsie Sport family in the han Cronjé whom she also trained. Bachelor of Science 1990s, Cronjé is a seasoned trainer Her other sons are actor Hendrik (UFS) 1977 QUALIFICATIONS for national middle- and long-dis- Cronjé and Danie Cronjé jnr, an Postgraduate Diploma in LLB tance athletes as well as cross- attorney and businessman. Higher Education (UFS) 2014 (UFS) 1983 Masters of Public Administration (Central European University) 2016 8 Kovsie Ambassador Award Kovsie Ambassador Award 9

CRYSTAL-DONNA ROBERTS FRANCO SMITH The public first took note of Crys- her portrayal of her character. It was Born in Lichtenburg, Smith got his backline coach a year later. It was tal-Donna Roberts as a presenter on the first South African film nominat- first taste of professional rugby after not long before he returned to Italy SABC 2 entertainment and lifestyle ed to compete for The Golden Lion being selected in 1999 for the Free as head coach of his former side Tre- show Pasella. Since then the bub- Award at the Venice Film Festival. State Under-18 team. viso, guiding them to two National bly personality has chosen to wow Moreover, Roberts became the first He became a regular on the Free Championship of Excellence titles her audience with her acting, rather South African to be nominated in the State Under-20 and the UFS Shimlas from 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 in than her presenting, abilities. best actress category at the same teams prior to his Free State Chee- addition to an Italian Supercup and festival. tahs debut in 1992. Coppa Italia in 2009 and 2010. Smith After she graduated Roberts worked was reappointed backline coach of Presently she is playing the lead Smith would later have a stint play- as a bar tender before relocating the and head coach of the role in the internationally acclaimed ing for the Kimberley based to Cape Town where she became a Shimlas in 2015. He led them to their film, Krotoa. It has won numerous (1996) and (1998) during which high school drama teacher for six first Varsity Cup title that year. months. Not content with teaching awards including Best Film at the time he became South Africa’s lead- and yearning to occupy the stage, Harlem International Film Festival in ing points scorer. Between then and In 2015 Smith was appointed head Roberts jumped into the world of New York. It also won: the Award of 2005 Franco played for the , coach of the freelance acting, getting her first Excellence at the International Film Welsh team Newport, as well as Ital- before switching roles with former ian club Treviso, with whom he won head of Free State Rugby and pres- fruitful gig after five months without Festival for Women: Social Issues Actress the National Championship of Excel- ent head coach Rory Duncan ear- Director: an income. and Zero Discrimination; Best of Show at the Depth of Field Interna- lence in 2002–2003 and in 2003– lier this year to take on the task of Free State Rugby QUALIFICATIONS An active television, theatre and tional Film Festival; Platinum Award 2004 and also won the Coppa Italia heading Free State Rugby. Assistant Coach: BA Drama and Theatre Arts film actress, Roberts has appeared in 2005. at the International Movie Awards; Smith has also played nine test Springboks (UFS) 2005 in a multitude of theatre produc- Diamond Award at the Filmmakers Smith’s foray into coaching began in matches for South Africa and with a tions in addition to starring in Afri- World Festival; Best of Show at the 2005 after he retired from playing playing and coaching career as illus- kaans soap opera 7de Laan, Getroud IndieFEST Film Awards; Award of Ex- professionally. He was appointed as trious as his, the name Franco Smith QUALIFICATIONS Met Rugby, Montana and Vallei van cellence Special Mention: Women technical adviser for the Free State should not be foreign to true rugby BA Human Sluiers in which she won public Filmmakers at the Accolade Global Cheetahs before becoming their connoisseurs. Movement Sciences favour. However, it was her role Film Competition; and World Plat- (UFS) 1996 in the 2015 film, The Endless inumAward at the World Woman River, which earned her praise for Awards. www.ufs.ac.zaT: +27 51 401 9343 | [email protected] | www.ufs.ac.za