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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.
Crossing borders, merging boundaries
2014-02-25
Photo: Johan Roux
Senior and first-year international students recently experienced the warm embrace of the university. The Office for International Affairs and the SRC International Affairs hosted a welcoming gala dinner for their students.
SRC member: International Student Council, Brian Hlongwane, emphasised why this group is so important to the university – helping to ensure the international students feel that they are an integral part of our three campuses.
Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, encouraged these students to immerse themselves in campus life in order to help build bridges between cultures. “Own your space, engage in and facilitate conversations around issues at this university. Do not hold back and become a spectator, know that you have the same responsibilities as any registered student at the UFS,” Buys said.
Dineo Gaofhiwe-Ingram, Head of the Office for International Affairs, spoke about the complexities of the country that international students now face. She urged students to find their role in the student community across the three campuses. In addition, they need to know their rights as well as their responsibilities. “You all deserve to be treated, and taken well care of, like any other registered student on this campus. Nothing should set you apart from the rest,” Gaofhiwe-Ingram stressed.