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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.
R1,8 million available to create employment
2006-05-23
USAID South Africa has made more than R1,8 million available for the creation of a programme to create employment through agribusiness SMME’s. The programme was established at the Lengau Agricultural Development Centre of the UFS Sydenham Experimental Farm by
the Free State Department of Agriculture, the National African Farmers Union (NAFU), the Mangaung Local Municipality, the University of the Free State (UFS) and ECIAfrica. The aim of the programme is to create an agribusiness model which will mainstream historically disadvantaged farmers into high value markets. In this way economic growth and market driven employment will be stimulated in this economic sector.
During the launch of the programme were, from the left: Ms Deborah Kahatano (ECIAfrica), Prof Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS), Mr Challa Moahloli ( Programme Co-ordinator) and Dr Léan van der Westhuizen (Head of the Lengau Agricultural Development Centre).