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02 February 2018 Photo Esti Strydom
Not a laughing stock Phil de Lange
Phil de Lange

Phil de Lange studied for a BA Integrated Marketing Communication and English + TEFL at the University of the Free State (UFS) from 2008-2011. During that time, he was a Kovsie FM presenter, which paved the way for his blossoming career in radio. Currently, Phil is the producer of the Smile Breakfast show on Smile 90.4FM, and is a co-host of Sunday Night Comedy Hour at the same station. He also performs as a comedian.

“My biggest career obstacle was to balance the expensive realities of life while trying to get a foot in the door of the career I wanted,” said Phil.

“The best career advice I can currently give is to read, research, study future trends, and be prepared. Know who to listen to, and who to ignore. Also, you are more important than any company. Look after your physical, emotional and mental well-being. Unfortunately, most companies don’t really have that in mind.  

“My fondest memories of the UFS are having fun with the Kovsie FM team, intense class discussions with Dr Brooks and Ms Lovisa from the English Department, and chilling by the fountains in front of the main building. Not to mention passing a re-write with distinction from a hospital bed. I wasn’t hospitalised due to the re-write, it just happened at the same time!

“The best thing about being a comedian is the platform you get – it’s like nothing else. Having people listen to you intently for a long time and laughing at your jokes is exhilarating. And the worst thing is realising that not everything you think is funny, is funny.

“I have an appreciation for radio that few other people have. I love it. I love how it’s still so important to millions of people. I am also privileged to be working with some of the best and most passionate people in South African radio.” 

News Archive

Babies need time on their tummies
2009-08-07

 
Babies who spend more time on their tummies (in the prone position) when they are awake are more advanced in their motor development than children who are not allowed to lie on their tummies, or only for short periods, shows research published by Ms Dorothy Russell in the South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. Ms Russell is a senior occupational therapist in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health in the Faculty of Heath Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS). The study shows there were significant differences in the active movements of the arms and the pushing-up on the arms between prone and non-prone infants.

She says research and clinical evidence indicate that parents are not well educated regarding the value of placing their infants in the prone position during the early stages of infancy. The supine position where babies lie on the backs, leads to a decrease in the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and mothers steer away of putting their babies in the prone position because of that. However, lack of exposure to prone position can result in deceased opportunities to learn functions such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling and pulling to the standing position.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar

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