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10 September 2020 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Mlungisi Louw
Dr Francois Smith wants his new book, Die kleinste ramp denkbaar, to be a journey to uncover the real disaster.
The new book by Dr Francois Smith from the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French, Die kleinste ramp denkbaar, is a compelling story about a medical doctor in a typical Free State town. Writing is second nature for Dr Smith, if not first – as evidenced by the success of his debut novel, Kamphoer.

“The success of my previous novel, Kamphoer, greatly contributed to the fact that I was able to get a job at the UFS, especially to teach creative writing,” says Dr Smith, who is currently a Lecturer in Afrikaans and Creative Writing at the University of the Free State (UFS). He does not want to divulge too much about the new book, but says “the story is about a medical doctor in a typical Free State town in whose consulting room a policeman is lying all but senseless from a high fever one morning.” 

The title of the book implies that we all have some kind of disaster fantasy and that the disaster mentioned in the book exists largely in the imagination of the main character – the doctor; that it is something he wants to see. “I am not going to reveal it completely, because in a sense the book is a search for what the disaster is really about,” says Dr Smith. 

For any author, the takeaway message of a book is important. It should touch the lifestyle of the reader in some way. Dr Smith wants Die kleinste ramp denkbaar to say something meaningful about life here in South Africa – “about what makes life here meaningful, or what it is that makes it possible for us to live in the midst of what we experience as a total disaster.” 


Creative Writing a UFS success story

Creative Writing, presented by the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French, is one of the many success stories that the department is proud of. Dr Smith is part of the formidable team driving the course; also part of the team is Prof Henning Pieterse, a Hertzog Prize-winning poet. 

The success of the course is not only evident from the number of applications, but also from the stream of publications from their stable.  “There will be three this year; in addition to mine, there was also the collection of short stories, Luistervink, by Madré Marais, and later this year Anton Roodt’s novel, Weerlose meganika, will be published,” says Dr Smith.



Die kleinste ramp denkbaar was published by Tafelberg Publishers and is part of the many success stories of the department’s Creative Writing course. 

Watch short video clip below:


News Archive

University hosts International Feminist Journal of Politics first annual conference
2012-07-31

The university will host the first annual international conference organised by the prestigious international journal International Feminist Journal of Politics.

The conference will take place from 2 to 4 August 2012 on the Bloemfontein Campus and will coincide with national women’s month celebrations. The theme of the conference is “Leaving the Camp – Gender Analysis across Real and Perceived Divides”. Several leading scholars will participate in the proceedings.

Inderpal Grewal, Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Yale University in the United States and author of Transnational America: Feminisms, Diasporas, Neoliberalisms will deliver the keynote lecture entitled “Outsourcing Patriarchy: Media, Violence and Transnational Feminisms”.

Prof. André Keet, Director of the International Institute for Studies in Race, Reconciliation and Social Justice will deliver a keynote address at the Women’s Day Dinner on 2 August 2012. The topic will be "Clean shaven Marx [s]? Rights, Necromancy and Conceptions of Feminist Justice".

In addition, Prof. Amanda Gouws, Professor in the Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University and also newly appointed Commissioner in the Commission for Gender Equality, will facilitate a feminist methodology workshop on “Working across Disciplinary and Professional Borders”.

The International Feminist journal of Politics offers a unique cross-cultural and international forum to foster debate and dialogue at the intersection of international relations, politics and women’s studies. Developed by a team of leading feminist scholars, this journal brings together some of the most influential figures in the field to build a global critical community of writers and readers.

The lecture by Inderpal Grewal takes place in the Business School Auditorium from 10:45-12:00 on 3 August. The lecture is open to the public, but please take note that space is limited.

For further information, please contact Prof. Heidi Hudson at hudsonh@ufs.ac.za  or visit http://ifjp.z2a.co.za.

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