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03 January 2023
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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.
Masters Degree in Development Studies Programme
2006-02-03
The Masters Degree in Development Studies Programme, presented by the Centre for Development Support at the University of the Free State (UFS), this year boasts with the most international students registered for a masters programme at the UFS. The programme is designed for people currently working in a development-related context, or who intend to do so. This year almost 140 applications were received, from which only 58 were accepted. Of those, 60% are from African countries.

The programme's first contact session took place recently. Attending the session were from the left Prof Lucius Botes (Programme Director: Centre for Development Support at the UFS); Ms Tendai Chiduku (a student from Zimbabwe); Ms Julia Shipena (a student from Namibia); Mr Neo Masithela (Free State MEC for Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs and a student on the programme) and Mrs Dorie Olivier (Programme Coordinator at the UFS Centre for Development Support).
Photo: Armand Swanepoel