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24 July 2023 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo André Damons
Dr Jerry Mofokeng
Dr Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha recently launched his second book, Nna Ke Monna, during an event at the UFS.

Award-winning actor and now author, Dr Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha, launched his second book Nna Ke Monna at an event hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Library and Information Services (LIS), the African Languages Press, and the Academy for Multilingualism

The event took place on 19 July on the Bloemfontein Campus.

The book launch was held as part of a creative writing masterclass and drew notable attendees, including dignitaries from Lesotho. Among them was the Honourable Minister of Trade and Industry in Lesotho, Shelile Motaung, and the British High Commissioner in Lesotho, Harry MacDonald.

Earlier last week, Jeannet Molopyane, Director of LIS, and her team handed a copy of the book to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Francis Petersen. 

Writing in Sesotho

Out of a collection of more than 200 000 books, only 16 000 are written in Sesotho. Dr Mofokeng wa Makhetha highlighted that the UFS should take a leading role in promoting the publication of African languages.

Addressing the importance of decolonising education, he asked, ‘how do you do that? “We need to go back to our language and our culture. This is what this book seeks to correct and heal,” he answered. 

Unlike his first book, I am a man, where he delved into his intricate relationship with masculinity, fatherhood, and identity, this new book is written in Sesotho, not English.

I do not want anybody reading this latest book to sit with a dictionary to understand it. It was written for the Basotho pallet, to be read by all members of the family.
“As a Sesotho, I have the authority to talk to the Basotho and I don’t want to do that in a manner that anyone must interpret what I am saying.”

He went on to explain that he chose to write this book in Sesotho, because – with the first book – he found that there are thoughts that are difficult to express in English. The English book was a compromise in many ways, and with this book he wanted to reclaim his authentic voice and really have fun.

MacDonald also contributed to the language discussion, saying that the way in which we express ourselves is coloured by our language. He said being able to work in one's own language, such as this book, is a crucial aspect of reflecting one's culture and facilitates faster learning during childhood.

Molopyane, regarded the event as an opportunity to restore the dignity of our languages. Building upon Molopyane's statement, Kego Phuthi, Marketing and Engaged Scholarship Assistant Director in LIS, added that the book launch is reflecting on the significance of literature as a catalyst of change. “The book is an extraordinary work that can change stereotypes and give voice to the voiceless.”
 
Healing masculinity 

In addition to addressing language, the book also emphasised the significance of manhood and the process of healing masculinity. “We are here to raise responsible men with integrity, not big boys,” Dr Mofokeng wa Makhetha said.

According to Nthabiseng Jafta, the publicist of Nna Ke Monna, this book was released one year after Dr Mofokeng wa Makhetha’s first book and coincided with the launch of the African Languages Press.

“During the process of working on the second book, Dr Mofokeng wa Makhetha guided me to reconnect with myself,” said Jafta. She also expressed pride in contributing to the potential impact of Sesotho literature in the nation.

In his address, the Honourable Minister Motaung shared the same sentiment, encouraging Dr Mofokeng wa Makhetha to continue publishing books that uplift the Basotho community.

  • The award-winning South African actor, who appeared in the films Cry, the Beloved Country, Mandela and De Klerk, and Tsotsi, received an honorary doctorate from the UFS in 2019 for his commitment to scholarship and his service to humanity. 

News Archive

Parking at UFS for visitors
2007-11-10

UFS creates more parking for visitors

In its effort to make it easier for visitors to park on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein, two paid parking areas will be put into operation as from Monday, 5 November 2007.

These parking areas are part of a comprehensive new parking strategy of the UFS, which is being implemented since September 2007. As part of the strategy, areas of the central campus have been reserved for staff and visitors and hundreds of new parking areas were developed for students at the entrance in Wynand Mouton Avenue (at the Faculty of Health Sciences) and the entrance in DF Malherbe Avenue (at the Agriculture Building).

“The paid parking areas for visitors, which are as close as possible to the busy and largely closed-off central campus, were created as an additional service to visitors,” said Ms Edma Pelzer, Director of Physical Resources at the UFS.

According to Ms Pelzer, persons who attend meetings, seminars or short courses, visiting colleagues, consultants, service providers, family of students and staff members, clients, etc. can make use of this parking.

“We have found that it is often difficult for visitors to obtain parking in or close to the central campus. Now they will have a choice to either park in the visitors parking areas at a minimal fee or to park in any of the open unreserved parking areas on campus,” said Ms Pelzer.

The areas, which will be closed off behind booms on weekdays from 06:00 until 18:00, are situated to the eastern side of the “Red Square”, east of the CR Swart and Idalia Loots Buildings and west of Campus Avenue North between the Psychology and the Flippie Groenewoud Buildings.


Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za  
2 November 2007

Parking for visitors: Important notice:

As from Monday 5 November 2007 two paid parking areas on the UFS Campus will be put into operation. The areas will be closed off behind booms on weekdays from 06:00 until 18:00. These will be manned and R3 per hour will be charged.
 

The following areas are involved:

  • P3: The area to the east of the “Red Square”, east of the CR Swart and Idalia Loots Buildings.

     
  • P6: The area to the east of Campus Avenue North between the Psychology and Flippie Groenewoud Buildings.

    The friendly co-operation of users of motor vehicles on campus is requested to allow this implementation to proceed as smoothly as possible.

Parking for visitors: More information

The strategy to create paid parking areas for visitors

The decision to reserve areas in the central campus areas for the convenience of visitors was taken as part of the comprehensive new parking strategy of the UFS approved by the Executive Management in May 2007 and which is being implemented since September.

All visitors need not park in these areas. Visitors may park for free on any open (unreserved) parking bay on campus. These paid parking areas for visitors, as close as possible to the busy and largely closed-off central campus, have been created as an additional service to visitors.

The strategy to close off parts of the central campus for staff members and visitors was implemented after sufficient alternative parking areas had been developed for students.

What is meant by the term “visitors”?

It includes all persons who are not students of staff members of the UFS and who visit the campus for one reason or another. Persons who attend meetings, seminars or short courses, visiting colleagues, consultants, service providers, family of students and staff members, et cetera are included.

As at present, it will, of course, be possible to make special arrangements with Protection Services to make it possible for VIP visitors to park as near as possible to their destinations.

No student or staff member will be actively prevented from parking in the area. They will, however, be discouraged by the fact that R3 per hour will be charged without exception.

The visitors’ parking area and access to it

  • P3: The area to the east of the “Red Square”, east of the CR Swart and Idalia Loots Buildings. The area is within easy walking distance for visitors to, among others, the following buildings: George du Toit Administration Building, Theology Building, Idalia Loots Building, CR Swart Building, Johannes Brill Building, Van der Merwe Scholz Hall.

    The area is conveniently accessible from the following entrances: Nelson Mandela Drive, Groenewoud Street and Wynand Mouton Drive.

     
  • P6: The area to the west of Campus Avenue North, between the Psychology and Flippie Groenewoud Buildings. The area is within easy walking distance for visitors to all the academic buildings in the central campus, such as the Chemistry Building, Stef Coetzee Building, the Geography Building, et cetera and located directly opposite the general information point on the Thakaneng Bridge.

    The area is conveniently accessible from the following entrances: Fürstenburg Road and DF Malherbe Avenue (at the Agriculture Building).

     

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