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03 January 2023 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo Evert Kleynhans
Dr Dolf van Niekerk
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.

News Archive

Kovsie-Alumni Trust presents annual dinner
2009-03-27

 
The Kovsie-Alumni Trust of the University of the Free State (UFS) held its annual dinner at Emoya Estate in Bloemfontein recently. The dinner was among others attended by members of the trust, alumni and members of the Mangaung alumni branch. Judge Faan Hancke, Chairperson of the UFS Council was the guest speaker and Ben Schoonwinkel, chairperson of the Student Representative Council of 2008, was the master of ceremonies. Members of the "Grey Seuns Boereorkes", Martinette van Jaarsveld and Caroline Haasbroek (both UFS students) provided music of the highest standard. At the dinner were, from the left: Judge Hancke, Ms Francis Hoexter, member of the Kovsie-Alumni management and member of the UFS Council, Adv Seef Hefer, Chairperson of the Kovsie-Alumni Trust, and Prof. Nico du Plessis, member of the Kovsie-Alumni management.
Photo: Dries Myburgh

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