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03 January 2023
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Story Lacea Loader
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Photo Evert Kleynhans
Dr Dolf van Niekerk.
The University of the Free State (UFS) would like to express its condolences to the family and friends of South African author, Dr Dolf van Niekerk, on his passing.
Dr Van Niekerk, the recipient of an
honorary doctorate from the UFS, passed away on 31 December 2022. The UFS awarded a Doctor of Letters to Dr Dolf van Niekerk during its April 2021 graduation ceremony.
Dr Van Niekerk was a celebrated author who also achieved fame as a dramatist and radio presenter. An alumnus of the UFS, he received a BA degree from the university cum laude in 1949. He also played a role in academia and was an emeritus professor at the University of Pretoria until his retirement in 1994. His work includes 27 books in philosophy, poetry, fiction, drama, and memoirs, for which he has received numerous awards. These include the
Eugene Marais Prize, the MER Prize, and the Scheepers Award for Youth Literature.
“Dr van Niekerk is a Kovsie alumnus with a deep connection to the Free State. He played a significant role in the country’s literary history, and it was an honour for the university to award him with an honorary degree. A wordsmith of note, Dr van Niekerk’s contributions to South African literature, radio, and stage will live on," says
Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor.
Australian theologian discusses models of greatness
2008-08-26
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Prof. Bill Loader, research professor at Murdoch University, Australia, recently discussed models of greatness at the University of the Free State's (UFS) Faculty of Theology. In his discussion Prof. Loader opened up what the gospel according to Mark tells about greatness in relation to the disciples, Jesus and God. He contrasted it with popular models of greatness (which emphasises power, control and domination). Jesus’ model of greatness is of vulnerable compassion. It is a paradigm for not only the disciples and Jesus, but also for understanding God. When we think like that, it has a major impact on what we preach and how we worship. What we value in God, will inevitably be what we value in ourselves: Power and control, or love and compassion. This was his second visit to South Africa, but only his first visit to Bloemfontein. Pictured here is Prof. Loader and his wife, Gisela.
Photo: Supplied
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