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12 May 2025 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Ruhan Fourie
Dr Ruhan Fourie, former postdoctoral fellow in the UFS International Studies Group and current researcher at Stellenbosch University’s Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology, was recently awarded the prestigious Desmond Tutu-Gerrit Brand Prize.

Dr Ruhan Fourie, a former fellow of the International Studies Group (ISG) at the University of the Free State (UFS), recently received the prestigious Desmond Tutu-Gerrit Brand Prize for Debut Work for his book, Christian Nationalism and Anticommunism in Twentieth Century South Africa (Routledge, published in South Africa by Christian Literature Fund).

A media release by the Andrew Murray-Desmond Tutu Prize Fund stated that the prizes primarily serve as motivation and recognition for writers to produce quality publications of theological and Christian work in all official languages of our country. The awards are given in recognition of extraordinary contributions to unity, reconciliation, and environmental justice in our country.

Currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology at the Stellenbosch University Faculty of Theology, Dr Fourie says the award is especially meaningful because of the book’s academic tone. “I hold public accessibility to scholarly work dear; so, to receive this recognition for a more scholarly work outside academia is very encouraging. When I got the call that I’d won the prize, it was met with great surprise and joy,” he says.

 

Challenging Cold War assumptions

In the book, he explores the deep-rooted fears that Afrikaners held about communism during the twentieth century. These fears are often assumed to be Cold War products, primarily shaped by the apartheid state. However, Dr Fourie’s research, undertaken as part of his postdoctoral fellowship in the UFS International Studies Group, challenges this simplified narrative. He approached anticommunism more broadly than merely opposition to the state-centred communist doctrine by focusing on the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), which had the widest reach and deepest influence in the everyday lives of Afrikaners.

The book argues that while the DRC played a constant role in shaping an anti-communist imagination among twentieth-century Afrikaners, its influence shifted over time. “It ultimately concludes that anticommunism functioned as a vehicle for nationalist unity (and uniformity), a paradigm for Afrikaner identity, and a legitimiser of the volk’s perceptions of its imagined moral high ground throughout the twentieth century,” he notes.

Dr Fourie credits his time as a postdoctoral fellow (2022-2023) in the UFS ISG as a key part of developing his book. He describes the ISG as a place offering strong institutional support, valuable mentorship, and the academic freedom he needed to shape his ideas into a full monograph. As part of a research-led, student-centred, and regionally engaged institution such as the UFS – which is committed to development and serves as a hub of impactful knowledge – Dr Fourie found the right space to grow both his research and his contribution to the field of South African history.

 

Impact of UFS' academic environment

He spent a significant part of his emerging academic journey at the UFS. Besides the time he spent on his postdoctoral fellowship at the ISG, he also completed his PhD between 2018 and 2021 – marking a total association of six years with the university. “The ISG’s culture of scholarly rigour, academic freedom, mentorship, and institutional support under the guidance of Prof Ian Phimister, paired with collegiality and collaboration among peers, left a formative impression on me as an aspiring academic,” he comments.

Looking ahead, Dr Fourie is currently working on a project – a biography of anti-apartheid cleric Beyers Naudé. While based on solid academic research, the biography is being written for a wider audience and is aimed at trade publication, an approach that will bring Naudé’s life and legacy to both scholarly and general readers. His interest in Naudé runs deep; his master’s thesis on Naudé’s life was awarded a prize for the best Afrikaans thesis, an early indicator of the path his academic work would follow.

News Archive

UFS Centenary 2004 / 2005 October (centenary) fest Activities
2004-10-08

Friday, 08 October 2004
17:00 – 24:00
Callie Human Centre, UFS
Macufe Rock Concert
With: Rooibaardt, Karen Zoid, The Narrow, F****polisiekar, Stuurbaard Bakkebaard (from the Netherlands), DJ Bob, Ready D, Neva Me.
Cost : R50-00
Bookings : Pacofs (051-447 7772)

Sunday, 10 October 2004
16:00 – 18:00
Callie Human Centre, UFS
Macufe Three Tenors Concert
With: Phillip Kotze, Chris Coetzer and Du Preez Stolz, as well as Angela Kerrison. Free State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Chris Dowdeswell.
Cost :R60-00 (adults), R40-00 (children, scholars, students and pensioners)
Bookings : Pacofs (051-447 7772)

Tuesday, 12 October 2004
11:00 – 15:00
Centenary Complex, UFS
Inauguration of Centenary Complex
Open day with a variety of musical recitals in different rooms
Cost : Free
Enquiries : Elize Rall (051-401 3382)

15:00 – 17:00
Parking area next to the Centenary Complex, UFS
Kovsie Mosaic Day
Collage of the Century, Dance to the beat, Cultural Cartoon,
Who’s line is it anyway?
Cost : Free
Enquiries : Louis Botha (051-401 2819) or
AC Geldenhuys (084 585 3338)

Wednesday, 13 October 2004
19:00
Centenary Complex, UFS
Première of documentary film : The Life and Legacy of  King Moshoeshoe
Note : By invitation only
Enquiries : Elize Rall (051-401 3382)

Thursday, 14 October 2004
18:45 – 21:00
Red Square (in front of Main Building), UFS
Centenary Honorary Doctorate Degree Graduation Ceremony
Conferred on: Me. Antjie Krog, Prof. Jakes Gerwel, Mr. Karel Schoeman, Dr. Frederick van Zyl Slabbert, Prof. Saleem Badat, Dr. Khotso Mokhele, Prof. Robert Bringle, Prof. Leo Quayle, Prof. Jack de Wet, Prof. Kerneels Nel (posthumously), Prof. Boelie Wessels and Prof. Jaap Steyn .
Cost : Free. Please RSVP if you would like to attend.
Enquiries : Elize Rall (051-401 3382)

Friday, 15 October 2004
18:30
Centenary Complex, UFS
Alumni Dinner and Centenary Award Ceremony
Approximately 140 centenary medals will be awarded in acknowledgement of exceptional contributions to the development of the University. The award ceremony is followed by the Alumni dinner in the Callie Human Centre.
Cost : R100-00/person
Enquiries : Elize Rall (051-401 3382)

15:00 (to 12:00, Saturday, 16 October 2004),
UFS campus
Reunion : Momentum Adventure and Expedition Association
Including : Setting up of the Kovsie Momentum base camp, champagne breakfast and abseiling.
Cost : R50-00/person for breakfast
Enquiries : Gerrit van der Merwe (072 4317 153) or
Niel Fraser (082 772 5642)
Website : www.uovs.ac.za/associations/momentum_hrcc.

19:00 (to 11:00 Sunday, 17 October 2004)
Reunion : Cantare Revue Group
Including : Formal dinner, budget show, bring and braai, church service.
Cost : R100-00/person for the dinner
Enquiries : Louis Botha (051-401 2819)

19:00 (to 24:00 Saturday, 16 October 2004
Reunion : House NJ van der Merwe
Including : Senior Student’s Association and concerts
Cost : R5-00/person
Enquiries : Tutu Ntlathi (051-401 4122 / 072 865 2227)

Saturday, 16 October 2004
09:00 – 10:00
Committee Room 120, Faculty of Theology
Founding of Theology Alumni Association
Enquiries: Henna Nel (051-401 2669)

10:00 – 12:00
Parking area, CR Swart Building, UFS
Alumni Campus Tour
Including : Visits to the new physical developments on campus
Cost : Free
Enquiries : Jeanette Jansen (051-401 3594)

10:00 – 12:00
Sonnedou gazellie (next to NJ van der Merwe Residence), UFS
Reunion : Ladies’ Tea
Visit our new gazellie and find out what Sonnedou is up to these days.
Cost : R25-00/person
Enquiries : Anne-Marie Delport (072 109 0507)

12:00 – 16:00
JBM Hertzog Residence (garden in front of Senior Student’s Association), UFS
Reunion : Braai
Cost : Approximately R20-00/person
Enquiries : Hattingh Bornman (084 240 5226)

12:00 Vergeet-my-nie Residence, UFS
Reunion : Braai
Bring and braai. We supply the facilities. Bring old photographs and stories. Enjoy Aunt Juls’ last visit.
Cost : Free
Enquiries : Mari Jordaan (051-444 2832/072 392 4444)

12:00 HF Verwoerd Residence Senior Student’s Association, UFS
Reunion : Spit roast
Cost : R60-00/person
Enquiries : Jan-Chris Landman (051-401 3613 / 082 664 6062)

18:30 Floreat Hall, Bloemfontein Civic Centre (Braam Fisher Building)
Irawa 60 Reunion
For all former editors, former and current main editorial staff and coworkers
Cost : R100-00/person
Enquiries : Sanri van Wyk (072 333 1011)
Elzette Boucher (072 180 6265)

19:00 – 24:00 Red Square (in front of Main Building), UFS
Informal Alumni Reunion
Spit roast and stories in a marquee
Cost : R60-00/person
Enquiries : Elize Rall (051-401 3382)

Sunday, 17 October 2004
10:00 – 11:00
Kovsie Church
Church Service

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