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21 June 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Tania Allen
Jerry Mofokeng, Prof Francis Petersen and Prof Nico Luwes
Dr Jerry Mofokeng Wa Makhetha, Prof Francis Petersen and Prof Nico Luwes at a luncheon hosted by the UFS Chancellor, Dr Khotso Mokhele.

WATCH: Livestream


Dr Jerrry Mofokeng Wa Makhetha received an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degree for his commitment to scholarship and his service to humanity, from the University of the Free State (UFS) on 28 June 2019, during the second last ceremony of the 2019 June Graduations.

“This award will bring credit and honour to the university and endorse his exceptional dedication to the promotion of art, the values and reputation he exhibited in his outstanding career as both a creative artist and as an arts manager,” says Prof Nico Luwes, Head of the UFS Department of Drama and Theatre Arts. 


Fugard’s The Island a ‘thank you’

For this exceptional honour, Dr Mofokeng, together with Master’s student Charl Henning, agreed to direct and produce Athol Fugard’s play The Island for the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts. “As a sign of goodwill from his side, he decided to offer his talents and direct the play with our department,” says Prof Luwes. 

“Is there a way of linking the theme of The Island with the ethos of the UFS? For me the one aspect that stands out, is the celebration of languages,” says Dr Mofokeng. The play is in the three primary languages of the Free State: English, Sesotho and Afrikaans. Only graduates from the department will be cast, which according to Mofokeng, will “give a professional credence to the training of the department”. 

The play was performed on 27 June 2019 in the Scaena Theatre on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus, and on 1,2 and 6 July 2019 during the Free State Arts Festival also in the kykNet-Scaena Theatre.

Acclaimed actor, academic and writer 

Dr Mofokeng is a world-renowned, respected television and theatre actor. He is also a film writer, academic, and National Arts Administrator. He studied drama at the University of the Witwatersrand and obtained a Master’s Degree in theatre directing at Columbia University in the US. Mofokeng has also starred in a slew of movies and television shows   most notably in the 2005 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film, Tsotsi. He is currently appearing  on the small screen as Neo Mokgethi (Bra Moscow) in e.tv’s Scandal. 





News Archive

“Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?” Country folk worried about NSH hikers
2014-05-15

About 5 km short of Wortelfontein Guestfarm in the Northern Cape, Rachel Swart is sitting on the porch of her peasant house when four people come walking down the dirt road.

Guests on foot are not a regular sight in this region, because you must understand, Wortelfontein is situated where Hanover lies far behind you and Richmond is still a very long way off.

 

The four people on the dirt road are the hikers from the University of the Free State (UFS) on their way to Cape Town (on foot) to create awareness for food-insecure students at the UFS.

Adele van Aswegen, Ronel Warner, Ntokozo Nkabinde and Nico Piedt are already on the road for more than two weeks as part of the No Student Hungry bursary’s (NSH bursary) fundraising efforts. The bursary provides assistance to students at the UFS who often do not have enough to eat.

On day 12 of their walk, the plan was that our hikers would stay at Wortelfontein Guestfarm, but unfortunately they took the wrong turnoff. It is precisely at this point where they met Rachel.

“I will show you where Wortelfontein lies. One can easily get lost here,” says Rachel decidedly and points to the straight main road. She ties her baby skilfully behind her back with a towel and tackles the next 5 km together with our hikers.

“It is this kind of support and encouragement that keep us on the road,” says Adel.

Everywhere along the road people are stunned and concerned about the four’s trip and immediately offer their help.

Near Trompsburg, an elderly couple who just heard about the hikers at church, stop next to them and offer them a lift to the next town. They are thankful for the gesture, but have to decline the offer.

Between Trompsburg and Springfontein, Doug offers to take them to Springfontein. Once again they decline the offer.

There was also the uncle who wanted to buy them cool drink and the road workers who cheered them on.

In Colesberg a group of children asked worriedly: “Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?”


These boots are made for walking ... to Cape Town (Article of 02 May 2014)


Daily updates:
(You can also follow us on @UFSweb for daily tweets)

Day 21: 21 May 2014
15:09
42 km
Leeu Gamka Hotel

Day 20: 20 May 2014
13:39
20 km
Alida, Springfontein

Day 19: 19 May 2014
12:31
27.6 km
Teri Moja Game Lodge

Day 18: 18 May 2014
First rest day
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 17: 17 May 2014
19:30
62.3 km
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 16: 16 May 2014
13:00
14 km
Taaibochfontein

Day 15: 15 May 2014
16:03
32 km
Travalia, Three Sisters

Day 14: 14 May 2014
18:33
43 km
Joalani Guest Farm
 
Day 13: 13 May 2014
17:30
33 km
Die Rondawels
 
Day 12: 12 May 2014
16:49
40 km
Aandrus B&B in Richmond
 
Day 11: 11 May 2014
39 km
Wortelfontein (Magdel and Christiaan)
 
Day 10: 10 May 2014
15:44
34 km
Hanover Lodge
 
Day 9: 09 May 2014
40.8 km
Camping between Colesberg and Hanover
 
Day 8: 08 May 2014
15:25
33.7 km
Colesberg, The Lighthouse Guesthouse

Day 7: 07 May 2014
15:08
23 km
Orange River Lodge

Day 6: 06 May 2014
15:57
51.06 km
Gariep Forever Resort

Day 5: 05 May 2014
12:18
28 km
Rondefontein

Day 4: 04 May 2014
15:27
35 km
Trompsburg: Fox Den

Day 3: 03 May 2014
17:30
46.74 km
Edenburg Country Lodge (Hotel)

Day 2: 02 May 2014
11:44 am
15.3 km
Tom's Place

Day 1: 01 May 2014
32 km
Leeuwberg

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