Pretoria- The University of the Free State (UFS) graduation ceremony tickets, where American television host and actress, Oprah Winfrey will receive an honorary Doctorate in Education, were snapped up a few hours after they become available on Wednesday.
UFS spokesperson, Lacea Loader, described the atmosphere at the university as electric with the upcoming visit and graduation ceremony of Winfrey at their Bloemfontein campus on Friday, June 24.
"Every single ticket for the event was snapped up within hours of becoming available this morning (Wednesday).
"Winfrey will receive an Honorary Doctorate in Education from the UFS on Friday, 24 June," she said.
Loader said staff and students queued in front of the Information Centre on the university's Bloemfontein Campus to get their free tickets, while the general public did the same at Computicket outlets throughout the country.
"The UFS would like to thank everyone for their positive attitude and eagerness to be part of this special day.
"A special thanks to all our staff and students who have volunteered their services and are helping to plan and manage the event," she said.
The university requests graduation ticket holders to arrive early on graduation day. The doors of the Callie Human Centre will open for both special guests and the public in general at 1pm.
Loader said the doors will be closed at 2pm and no-one will be allowed to enter or leave the building for reasons of safety and security.
Entertainment before and after the ceremony will be provided by acclaimed musicians such as the internationally lauded, award-winning singer Sibongile Khumalo, the Botshabelo String Orchestra, the Bloemfontein Children's Choir and the choir of the Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind.
After the graduation ceremony, Loader said Winfrey will formally address the 4 500 guests, before she conducts a question-and-answer session with students.
Details of when the Queen of Talk will arrive in the country are not yet known at this stage.
