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UFS sympathises with the passing of Dr Dolf van Niekerk

03 January 2023 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo Evert Kleynhans

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

Two Kovsies play sevens rugby for SA

2009-05-29

The University of the Free State (UFS) has two players in the South African Sevens Rugby Team. Robert Ebersohn, B Comm General Management student and Philip Snyman, B Agric student, have been wearing the green and gold since October 2008 and represented South Africa at a number of tournaments, amongst others in Dubai, George SA, Wellington New Zealand, San Diego in the USA, Hong Kong, Adelaide Australia, London England and Edinburgh in Scotland.

Both players played in the tournaments and their performance in the team was exceptional. The last match that Robert played was on Sunday, 24 May 2009 during the semi-final against New Zealand at Twickenham in England. He will miss the last match in Scotland because he will join the SA U-20 group to practice for the World Championships in Japan.

Four Kovsie rugby players represented the UFS in the South African Student Sevens Rugby team that toured France. They are Johan van Niekerk, Wouter Stieger, Lionel Cronjé and Marlin Ruiters. Due to a concussion Marlin could not join the tour.

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