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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

UFS senior professor serves on panel that investigates conversion of algae into biofuels
2009-09-07

 
Prof. Johan Grobbelaar, senior professor at the University of the Free State's (UFS) Department of Plant Sciences, has been invited by the Arizona Public Service (APS) to be part of a panel of experts who will be attending a series of meetings in the United States of America (USA) on CO2 fixation via algae for the Department of Energy Coal to Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) Project. Prof. Grobbelaar has extended knowledge of and is one of the leading researchers in algal biotechnology. APS is investigating the possibility of recycling CO2 emissions into biomass for the successful conversion of algae into biofuels. Prof. Grobbelaar will be visiting the USA from 8-15 September 2009 where the meetings will take place in Phoenix, Arizona.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse

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