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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

First-year students encouraged to attend UFS welcoming function
2006-01-12

The University of the Free State (UFS) will host a welcoming function for all new first-year students and their parents on Saturday 14 January 2006 in the Callie Human Centre on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

The function starts at 11:00 and will be addressed by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof Frederick Fourie. UFS staff will also be available to provide vital information to first-year students on academic matters.

According to Mr Vernon Collett, Registrar: Academic Student Services at the UFS, Saturday’s welcoming function can assist students and parents by providing vital information on the many high quality academic learning programmes on offer at the UFS in six faculties.

“If students and parents have this information it will make the registration process, which starts next week Tuesday 17 January 2006, much smoother,” Mr Collett said.

The UFS has split the registration process into various categories of students and Mr Collett appealed to all students to adhere to the dates and times which apply to them as a one-stop service will be available so as to avoid unnecessary delays in the registration process.

The registration of first-time entering first-year students who applied before 30 November 2005 to study at the Bloemfontein Campus will take place from Tuesday 17 January 2006 at the Callie Human Centre.

Senior undergraduate students (that is, students entering their second or later year of study) may register from 23 January 2006.

Postgraduate students, first-time entering first-year students and other students who applied for admission to the main campus after 30 November 2005 must register at the Callie Human from 2 February 2006. 

Late applications will be accepted until Wednesday 25 January 2006 at the Information Centre on the Main Campus’ Thakaneng Bridge. These applications will be regarded as pending and will be processed as places become available on the programme the student has applied for,” said Mr Collett. 

Vista Campus:
The Vista Campus in Bloemfontein – which was incorporated into the UFS in January 2004 – no longer accepts applications from first-year students. Such prospective students had to apply to the UFS Main Campus. Students who had been registered on the Vista campus last year must register at the Vista Campus on the same dates as applicable on the Main Campus.

Qwaqwa Campus:
At the Qwaqwa Campus of the UFS, all first-time entering first-year students must report on Thursday 19 January 2006, after which the registration of these students will take place according to a specific programme. The official welcoming functioning for new first-years at the Qwaqwa campus of the UFS will take place on Saturday 11 February 2006 at 08:00 in the Rolihlahla Mandela Hall on the Qwaqwa Campus.

Mr Collett appealed to first-year students who have applied to study at the Qwaqwa Campus and their parents to attend this function which fulfils the same role as the one held on the Bloemfontein Main Campus.

Detailed information on the dates and times of registration for the various faculties and academic learning programmes is available on the UFS website at www.uovs.ac.za. Prospective students may also call the Main Campus in Bloemfontein on (051) 401-3000 or the Qwaqwa Campus on (058) 718-5000 for more information.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
10 January 2006

 

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