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UFS sympathises with the passing of Dr Dolf van Niekerk

03 January 2023 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo Evert Kleynhans

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

Medical student stars in local movie

2015-10-15

Sung-Hoon as the on-screen character Operator 2

Sung-Hoon Kim’s dream of starring in a movie became a reality with the release of Reconnect on 16 October 2015 in Nu Metro cinemas across the country.

Thesecond-year medical student at the University of the Free State transitioned into a professional actor in December 2013, when he made the leap from his high school drama stage to shooting for the big screen.

“I did plays in high school where I had roles like Simba in The Lion King,” said the first-time movie star.

The film is a purely South African creation. It is set in Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp, Sung-Hoon’s former and current hometowns. Sung-Hoon plays two major roles: XJ-1- a robot, and the on-screen role of artificial intelligence Operator 2 at SKY CORP - an international intelligence company that protects top secret information from around the world.

Reconnect was directed by the late Marius Swanepoel, who Sung-Hoon described as “a great blessing to all those privileged enough to have known him.” The movie explores the relationship between human beings and artificial intelligence.

Eric Scott discovers XJ-1 at an abandoned warehouse, and transfers him to SKY CORP where he becomes destructive. Eric and his friend, Jason, are then faced with the challenge of containing the situation, and saving the company which XJ-1 has infected with a dangerous virus. As the science-fiction action unfolds, viewers catch a glimpse into the life of XJ-1.

Shooting the movie was an exciting experience for Sung-Hoon. “It was quite fun because I like imitating voices,” he said.

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