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20 February 2023 | Story Gerda-Marié van Rooyen | Photo Supplied
Nthabiseng (JahRose) Jafta, a Publishing Coordinator at the University of the Free State (UFS), recently received the Silver Medal Award and other accolades at the Eurasian Literary Festival held in Egypt. She says writing is a way of life for her and she writes anywhere and anytime.

Nthabiseng (JahRose) Jafta, a Publishing Coordinator at African Languages Press in the Library and Information Services at the University of the Free State (UFS), recently received the Silver Medal Award and other accolades at the Eurasian Literary Festival held in Egypt. Jafta, an MA scholar (Creative Writing) at Rhodes University, describes herself as an international performing poet, artpreneur, teacher, festival curator, content developer, and creative strategist born in the Free State.

Being an introvert, she says her love for writing gives her a voice. “I can echo my thoughts and colour my grey sky,” she explains poetically. She feels writing is as natural to her as breathing. She is comfortable writing anywhere and anytime. “There’s no physical area needed. We type on WhatsApp in the taxi. We catch brainwaves whenever they appear.” Jafta's creative juices seem to be overflowing, as she confessed to even getting an idea while contemplating her love for writing. “Life throws you prompts from all spheres, but you have to be present to recognise its call. And sometimes the piece decides if it wants to be happy, erotic, or sad.”
 
Her literacy cap serves Jafta's career as a publisher and her creative writing when time allows. “I read and write. Publish what I read or write. I also happen to recite, read, and sing what I write. It’s all in alignment.” This Deputy President of the National Writers Association of South Africa and founder of the Poetic Blues Virtual Festival writes in her mother tongue, Sesotho, and English. She also has additional experience in the poetry industry, as she was previously the Curator of the Macufe Poetry Festival. She also attended the International Writing Centre at Beijing Normal University part time. Her poems have also been translated into Mandarin and published in Chinese literary magazines.

Jafta says besides the growing catalogue of more than 40 publications, she also has an upcoming multilingual poetry compilation featuring Spanish, Danish, Mandarin, Arabic, KiSwahili, IsiZulu, and Sesotho translations from English. This poet believes poetry is a gift that feeds lyrics to melodies. “And that song carries us to humanity's highs and lows. Prose is how we navigate that gift daily. They are rainbows on melting clouds, events plants rejoice on their rhythmic drops.”

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Kovsies heading to Varsity Netball finals – again!
2014-10-14



The Kovsie Netball side is well underway to hold onto their champion status in the Varsity Netball Championships. On Monday evening, 13 October 2014, they beat NWU-Pukke 51–45 in the semi-final that took place on our Bloemfontein Campus.

The ladies from the UFS established a comfortable lead early on. Despite a strong comeback effort from NWU, Kovsies ended the game as conquerors with their second consecutive final ahead of them for next Monday.

Our team could hardly ask for better supporters, as the crowd roared them on to a winning score. They made the most of every attacking opportunity on court and played an offensive match. This was especially evident during the power plays – a period of time during which each goal is worth two points.

NWU-Pukke managed to fight their way back, coming within a goal of their hosts. But Kovsies went into a well-earned 10–6 lead during the first break. Kovsies’ Danelle Willemse and Ane Botha impressed with their accuracy at the hoop and clinically-executed shots at goal. At half-time, Kovsies had built up to a 27–14 lead.

The home side was in complete control of the game as they went into the final break with the scoreboard at 43–31. NWU’s effort fell short in the last quarter, though, and they could not snatch the victory from the defending Kovsie champions.

Kovsies will face the Tuks team in Pretoria on Monday 20 October at 18:45 for the final of the 2014 Varsity Netball tournament.


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