Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
03 January 2023
|
Story Lacea Loader
|
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.
Champion Shimlas coach takes charge of Dream Team
2015-04-14
UFS Shimlas rugby team thrashed North-West University (NWU) Pukke 63-33 to claim their first ever Varsity Cup title at Shimla Park on Monday 13 April 2015.
And the good news keeps coming for the undefeated 2015 Varsity Cup champs as their coach, Franco Smith, will be in charge of the Varsity Cup Dream Team to face off against the Junior Springboks at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on 21 April.
Four Shimlas players will also join their coach for the clash in Stellenbosch. Shimlas wing, Maphutha Dolo, and flanker, Henco Venter, are set to be in the starting line-up, while Gerhard Olivier (also flanker) and Mthokozisi Mkhabala will be on the bench.
Smith will be head coach for the Dream Team, and will be assisted by Hendro Scholtz (also from Shimlas staff) and David Manual (University of Pretoria Tuks). Quintin van Rooyen will be team manager and Tanya Green, the physio, both from Stellenbosch University Maties. UFS sport scientist, Timothy Qumbu, will see to the Dream Team’s fitness and conditioning.
Varsity Cup Dream Team:
15 Rhyno Smith (NWU-Pukke)
14 Maphutha Dolo (UFS-Shimlas)
13 Rowayne Beukman (NWU-Pukke)
12 Daniel Kriel (UP-Tuks)
11 Jean-Paul Lewis (Maties)
10 Innocent Radebe (UKZN-Impi)
9 Dillon Smit (NWU-Pukke)
8 Jeandre Rudolph (NWU-Pukke)
7 Henco Venter (UFS-Shimlas)
6 Wiaan Liebenberg (UP-Tuks)
5 Reniel Hugo (captain) (UP-Tuks)
4 Irne Herbst (UP-Tuks)
3 John-Roy Jenkinson (NWU-Pukke)
2 Chad Solomon (UCT-Ikeys)
1 Johan Smit (NWU-Pukke)
Replacements:
16 Nqobisizwe Mxoli (UP-Tuks)
17 Jaco Visagie (UP-Tuks)
18 Dayan van der Westhuizen (UP-Tuks)
19 Walt Steenkamp (NWU-Pukke)
20 Gerhard Olivier (UFS-Shimlas)
21 Mthokozisi Mkhabela (UFS-Shimlas)
22 Johnny Welthagen (NWU-Pukke)