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Jaap Steyn: Book pays tribute to leading Afrikaans academic

23 October 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Rulanzen Martin

Prof Angelique van Niekerk, Prof Jaap Steyn, Prof Hennie van Coller and Prof Bernard Odendaal — From the left: Prof Angelique van Niekerk, Prof Jaap Steyn, Prof Hennie van Coller, research fellow and former HOD of Afrikaans and Dutch; German and French and Prof Bernard Odendaal, from the ATKV School for Creative Writing at North West University,after the book launch on 16 October 2019.

The very comprehensive publication, JC Steyn en Afrikaans – ’n viering, pays tribute to a leading figure of the Afrikaans academic world. The book, edited by Profs Angelique van Niekerk, Hennie van Coller, and Bernard Odendaal, was recently launched at the University of the Free State (UFS) as a tribute to Prof Jaap Steyn, research fellow and former colleague at the UFS.

“The publication contains diverse contributions and provides a comprehensive overview of the different types of research in Afrikaans literature and linguistics,” said Prof van Niekerk, Head of the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French at the UFS.

The scope of the contributions is as wide as the influence Prof Steyn has had on the Afrikaans language landscape. “Creative writing and biographies lexicography and sociolinguistics are addressed in his book,” Prof van Niekerk said.

As mentioned in the title, the publication serves as a celebration of Afrikaans as a language and discipline; it also covers the research areas in which Prof Steyn used to publish research himself.

The book, published by SUN MeDIA, was made possible by a financial donation from the South African Academy for Science and Art. It was officially launched at the UFS on Wednesday 16 October 2019.

More about Prof Steyn

Prof Steyn is a seasoned poet, writer, and one of the leading Afrikaans academics in the country. With more than 100 articles in scientific journals to his name, Prof Steyn is still serving as research fellow in the UFS Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French. He is also the author of, among others, books on language politics, language, and cultural history, such as Tuiste in eie taal, Trouwe Afrikaners: Aspekte van Afrikanernasionalisme en Suid-Afrikaanse taalpolitiek and the recent Ons gaan ’n taal maak. He has also written a number of award-winning biographies and published prose and poetry.

Prof Steyn has been associated with several South African universities, including the University of Johannesburg (the then Rand Afrikaans Universiteit), Nelson Mandela University (the then University of Port Elizabeth), as well as the UFS.

Prof Jaap Steyn signs a copy of the book for Prof Theodorus du Plessis

From the left; Prof Henning Pietersen; Pof Angelique van Niekerk; Prof Jaap Steyn; Prof Hennie van Coller; Prof Bernard Odendaal and Dr Francois Smith

News Archive

Is Al-Qaeda operating in South Africa?

2014-09-29

Our Department of Political Studies and Governance recently hosted a seminar with investigative journalist De Wet Potgieter – author of the book, ‘Black Widow White Widow’.During the seminar, Potgieter reflected on the research he has conducted for the book, revealing the unsettling presence of Al-Qaeda in South Africa.

The ‘White Widow’ in the book’s title refers to Samantha Lewthwaite, a British woman who was found in South Africa with a fraudulent passport. She was later linked to the Westgate shopping mall attack which took place in Nairobi, Kenya on 21 September 2013. In this mass shooting at least 67 people died and over 175 people were wounded. The Islamist group al-Shabaab – which is also linked to Al-Qaeda – claimed responsibility for the incident.

In contrast, the ‘Black Widow’ is the disclosed identity of an Afrikaans-speaking self-styled spy, who after being widowed became a counter-terrorist operative.

Potgieter’s book divulges details of Al-Qaeda paramilitary and urban warfare training on a secluded farm in the Little Karoo and reveals details of the support they receive from various local extremist groups. Potgieter’s investigation spans across two years and suggests possible future attacks from, or on, South African soil.

“South Africa plays a role in the bigger picture for Al-Qaeda Islamic terrorism,” Potgieter said. “For instance, the Navy Seal team who killed Bin Laden found reports pointing to active Al-Qaeda/Islamist presence in South Africa. South Africans need to know we are under siege by a small, well-trained Al Qaeda terrorist cell. Yet, operations – of which I know, but cannot disclose much – are also underway to contain these matters,” Potgieter added.

Potgieter’s sources suggest that Al-Qaeda has been active in South Africa since the 2010 FIFA World Cup already. The South African government seems to turn a blind eye, though, despite CIA and MI6 requests and enquiries on the matter.

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