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17 May 2023 | Story NONSINDISO QWABE | Photo SUPPLIED
Matsimela Setenane
Matsimela Setenane speaking about his book Haeso ke Naheng at the launch event on the Qwaqwa Campus.

In celebration of African linguistic diversity and the power of indigenous creative expression, the UFS African Languages Press, in collaboration with the Academy for Multilingualism on the Qwaqwa Campus, kick-started Africa Month with the launch of the African Languages Press on the campus, as well as the Multilingual Hub, and finally, its first product, a book titled Haeso ke Naheng by former UFS Qwaqwa Campus student Matsimela Setenane.

The African Languages Press was launched on the Bloemfontein Campus in May 2022.

In her opening remarks, Dr Tholani Hlongwa, Deputy Director of the Academy of Multilingualism, said the Languages Press and Multilingual Hub would work together to publish high-quality original content in African languages. “We will promote writing in African languages and position the UFS as a hub, promoter, and preserver of African languages in South Africa. We want to support upcoming authors by providing high-quality editorial services and bridge the gap left by the mainstream publishing industry by increasing the publication of African languages, among other things.” 

A creative expression of the Sesotho language

Haeso ke Naheng, a fictional Sesotho novel, looks at the life of Thabo, an orphan who witnessed the takeover of his place of birth. He grows up to be a revolutionary Sesotho warrior who fights to reclaim his birthplace. His story resonates with his life; the author told the audience during the book launch. “Through writing this book, I discovered a lot about my origins as a Mosotho man. It is our responsibility as young people to continue digging to discover who we are so that we, too, will have knowledge to pass on to our children”, he said.

Setenane was born and bred in Qwaqwa and obtained his BSc degree majoring in Physics and Chemistry qualification from the Bloemfontein Campus in 2019. His love for Sesotho literature has grown over the years, and he hopes to produce more literature that celebrates the creative expression of his culture. He is currently busy with his first poetry anthology, which is also in Sesotho.

A platform to reignite free expression in indigenous languages

The guest speaker for the launch was Dr Edwin Mohatlane, who praised the UFS for the strides it's taking towards preserving and promoting African indigenous languages. “This is a milestone in the development of our languages. Our languages are doomed to extinction because of our attitudes towards them. I hope that the African Languages Press and the Multilingual Hub will be used to promote the literary and aesthetic talents in our languages”, he said.

News Archive

UFS council appoints new representatives
2006-06-14

From the left are Dr Vicky le Roux and Mr Jan Grobler, both are former members of the Executive Committee of the Council, Judge Faan Hancke, chairperson of the Council, and Prof. Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.
Photo: Stephen Collett

UFS council appoints new representatives   

Three new representatives were elected on the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Council during its second seating for 2006.  This includes representatives from the religious community, alumni, donors and the Minister of Education.

Ms Cheryl Gillwald, former Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, has been appointed by the Minister of Education as ministerial representative in the place of Prof Shirley Walters and will serve for the rest of Prof Walters’ term.

Father Patrick Towe, Roman Catholic priest from Bloemfontein, was appointed as representative of the religious community.  Father Towe is member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and chairperson of the UFS Campus Ministries. 

Adv Mauritz Randlehoff, joint deputy chairperson of the national Kovsie-Alumni Association and deputy chairperson of the Kovsie-Alumni Trust, was elected as one of the three representatives out of UFS alumni on the Council.  Judge Faan Hancke was re-elected as representative of the alumni for a second term.

Mr Klippies Steenkamp as representative of the UFS donors has also been re-elected.  He was, among others, chairperson of the Kovsie-Alumni Association and founding member of the Kovsie-Alumni Trust’s council of trustees.

The university also bid farewell to two members of Council, Dr Vicky le Roux and Mr Jan Grobler.  Both were members of the Executive Committee of the Council.  Mr Grobler represented the UFS Council in the Institutional Forum and Dr le Roux was a representative of the Council in the Institutional Forum and the Senate. Together they have serve thirty nine years on the Council.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
13 June 2006


 

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