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08 April 2021
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Story Thabo Kessah
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Photo UFS Photo Archive
Dr KPD Maphalla with former UFS Chancellor, Dr Franklin Sonn, during the graduations in April 2007.
The University of the Free State is sad to learn of the passing of alumnus and award-winning Sesotho literary giant, Dr KPD Maphalla.
The literary works of Dr Khotso Pieter David Maphalla, like many other African writers and artists, were influenced and characterised by his own era of powerful forms of oppression and exclusion from dominant literary discourses. In his own right and through his writings of poetry, novels, short stories, and kodiamalla (dirge), he articulated a deliberate political and social protest and pushed for a place for African languages in literature at the height of apartheid.
“He entered the professional scene with his ground-breaking novel, Kabelwamanong, in 1982 at the age of 27. His career actually started in 1971 while he was still at school. Since his first novel, he has produced at least two books annually, covering the genres of poetry, novels, dramas, and short stories. As a dramatist, Dr Maphalla has written a number of excellent and educative radio dramas for the then Radio Sesotho (now Lesedi FM),” said his long-time friend and Head: African Languages at the University of the Free State, Dr Nyefolo Malete.
“It was for this writing prowess that he received recognition from the UFS when he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature by the Department of African Languages during a momentous ceremony on the Qwaqwa Campus in 2007,” added Dr Malete.
Dr Malete also revealed that, despite losing the use of his right hand after suffering a stroke following a car accident in the late 1990s, Dr Maphalla continued writing using his left hand. “He was adamant that, what he referred to as his ‘supposed disability’, would not deter his passion for writing.”
Dr Maphalla’s work has also produced numerous scholarly studies by the likes of Profs Moleleki Moleleki (protest poetry), Thapelo Selepe (lament and protest poetry), and Dr Seema Seema (process of cross-cultural communication). He was a committed Qwaqwa community member, who was also instrumental in the founding of Qwaqwa Community Radio (2000) and Metjodi Writers (2006), among others. He has written more than 70 books, many of which have been prescribed texts in schools.
Some of the awards he has won include:
South African Centre for Digital Language Resource (SADiLar) Sesotho Lexicographic Unit (Sesiu sa Sesotho) Lifetime Award for outstanding literary works and for promoting Sesotho literature (2019).
The Literature Festival and the University of the Free State Award for enormous contribution to Sesotho literature by a South African writer (2019).
Lifetime Achiever Award in Literature awarded by the Department of Arts and Culture (2005).
M-Net Book Prize for Sesotho poetry (2005). The first and thus far the only Sesotho author to have received this honour.
M-Net Book Prize for best novel (1996).
De Jager-HAUM Literary Award for his volume of short stories, Mohlomong Hosane (1993).
Thomas Mofolo Trophy for Best Novel, Best Poetry, and the Overall Award (1992).
Thomas Mofolo Trophy for Best Poetry (1991).
Dr JJ Moiloa Floating Trophy for Best Sesotho Poetry Book of the Year, Kgapa tsa ka (1985).
Time is running out for applications for admission at the UFS
2009-11-25
The University of the Free State (UFS) calls on all South African prospective students wishing to study at the UFS in 2010 to submit their applications for admission by no later than 30 November 2009.
The last date for all international students’ applications for 2010 admission was 30 September 2009. All applications received from South African students after the closing date will be considered as late applications and will be handled in a separate process.
Late applications from prospective students will be accepted until 15 January 2010 to accommodate Grade 12 learners who will only receive their results on 7 January 2010.
All South African prospective students who want to apply must pay a non-refundable fee of R150. The duly completed and signed application form must be accompanied by a certified copy of the prospective student’s identity document or passport and a proof of payment of the application fee. The application form of a minor must be signed by his/her parent or guardian. The field of study should be clearly indicated.
The registration of first-time entering first-year students on the Main Campus will be from 19-23 January 2010 in the Callie Human Centre according to a programme.
The registration of senior undergraduate students (that is all students registered at the UFS up until 2009) and postgraduate students will take place from 5-16 January 2010 on a self-service system on the university’s website at www.ufs.ac.za .
Academic advice for all students during the registration period will be available in the Callie Human Centre and the Multi-Purposes Hall, as well as from the different faculties.
First-time entering first-year students on the Main Campus will be welcomed by the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, on Friday, 8 January and Saturday, 9 January 2010, at 09:00 in the Callie Human Centre.
At the Qwaqwa Campus late applications will be accepted until 3 February 2010.
The registration of first-time entering first-year and senior students at this campus will be from 18-22 January 2010 in the Multi-Purpose Hall, also according to a programme. First-time entering first-year students will be welcomed on 11 January 2010.
Lectures for all students will commence on 25 January 2010 on both campuses.
Media release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
24 November 2009