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Oprah arrives at UFS

Bloemfontein - Scores of eager Oprah Winfrey fans gathered in anticipation to watch the much loved talk show host receive an honorary doctorate at the University of the Free State (UFS) on Friday.

The university buzzed with excitement as Winfrey arrived for her cap ceremony. She will be honoured with a doctorate in education.

Winfrey arrived shortly before 14:00, dressed in a brown jacket and orange dress.

Fans braved arctic weather, queuing in long lines at Callie Human Hall within Bloemfontein Campus. The hall seats 4 500 people.

Anticipation

Social networking site Twitter updated by the minute with tweets from local media on the day's proceedings. A reporter at Bloemfontein airport tweeted that those inside the hall found a Kovsies water bottle and a muffin on their seats.

O Magazine SA has also been keeping readers up to date with their tweets saying that "The video clip of (graduation) protocol to be adhered to says no whistling. Audience responded with laughter."

Shortly afterward they also tweeted: "Anticipation is rising. As the first row of seats are filled. Now that the 'top shayela' are seated we"ll likely start soon".

At approximately 15:32 O Magazine tweeted: "A wave from Oprah elicits a round of screaming and ululation. #oprahinsa"

Security

Security at the campus has also been beefed up for the day.

Tickets for students to attend the event were taken up within hours of the announcement, and public tickets were sold out on the same day.

Placards welcoming Oprah to Bloemfontein are also up on lamp posts in the streets. Winfrey was expected to stay in Bloemfontein for only a few hours to receive the doctorate and to talk to students.


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