Julie - University of the Free State

UFS honours esteemed writer
The University of the Free State has conferred an honorary doctorate degree
on esteemed Sesotho author Khotso Pieter David Maphalla for his
contribution to the development of the Sesotho language and culture. Dr
Maphalla is a prolific writer and most of his books have been prescribed for
secondary schools throughout the country. The honorary doctorate was
awarded to him during the graduation ceremony of the UFS Qwaqwa
Campus. Here are Dr Maphalla (left) and Dr Franklin Sonn, Chancellor of the
UFS, during the graduation ceremony.
Khotso Pieter David (Tshepe) Maphalla was honoured for his
contribution to the Qwaqwa community, the Basotho in South Africa
and thus the country as a whole.
He published his first book – Kabelwamanong – in 1982 at the age of
27 while he taught at the Thabo-Thokoza Secondary School in Bethlehem.
KPD Maphalla is a prolific writer and has contri buted immensely
to the development of the Sesotho language and culture through his
immense corpus of authored work.
He published at least two books per year, in total more than 30,
covering all genres. Themes in the books are centred around social
and moral issues.
He contributed in other ways to the community of Qwaqwa.
He was instrumental in the establishment of a local radio station
(Qwaqwa Radio), established local music groups and was advisor to
a writer’s association for young writers.
He received numerous awards for his work, among them the De
Jager-HAUM Literary Award for his short stories, and he got a Lifetime
Achiever Award from the National Department of Arts and
Culture.
Maphalla’s works, which depicts socio-political transformation,
are bound to assist in nation-building and establishing peacful coexistence
among all South Africans, according to the recommendation
for the award.
Centenary News
Zimbabwean
sisters graduate
Two sisters from Zimbabwe, Patricia (left) and Memory Tukuta,
received their B.Com.Hons. and B.Com. degrees respectively.
South Korean
obtains doctorate
Dr Hee-Young Lee became the first Korean student to obtain a
doctorate degree at the Department of Ecclesiology. Dr Lee researched
the well-known South African theologist Rev Andrew Murray. Rev
Murray’s theology made an impact in the South Korean church history
since its early days. Dr Lee is an assistant pastor at a Presbyterian
congregation in South Korea and is also a part-time lecturer in church
history at the Baesuk Theological Centre in Seoul. Here with Dr Lee
(right) is Prof. Dolf Britz, promoter, from the UFS Department of
Ecclesiology.
July 2007 • Bult
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