the passing away of Professor Elize Botha
20 November 2007
We were saddened to hear of the passing away of Professor Elize Botha on
Friday, 16 November 2007. She was a well-known academic and Chancellor of the
University of Stellenbosch, the first woman to hold this prestigious position
since the institution's 80 years of existence.
From her student days Prof Elize Botha obtained her degrees and doctorate
cum laude and with honourable mention, she continued to achieve many firsts to
her name. She was the first woman to serve as chairperson of the
SuidâAfrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and was the chairperson of
Academic Literature Commission. She was also the first woman to be appointed to
the Board of Nasionale Pers and served on the Board of the Nasionale
Boekhandel. Her primary academic interests were Afrikaans prose and prose
theory. She was attached to the Departments of Afrikaans and Dutch of the
University of Pretoria, Wits and University of South Africa (Unisa). Prof Botha
served as a chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Stigting vir
Afrikaans.
She travelled extensively abroad and was often invited to lecture amongst
many countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia and United States of America.
In 1993 she chaired the Commission on National Symbols. She served on the
Multiparty Negotiations Forum to decide on the new South African flag and
anthem. She also served on the national committee for former President Nelson
Mandela's investiture in 1994. She served on the National Arts Council and
chaired the State Library Board.
She received many awards, honours and medals during her long distinguished
career. They included the Gustav Preller medal for Literary Theory and Literary
Criticism from South African Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns in 1982; the Order
for Excellent Service in 1989; the Unisa Council's Award for Exceptional
Academic Merit in 1989; the NP van Wyk Louw medal from the South African
Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns in 1995; Honourary Doctorates from Universities
of Pretoria and Stellenbosch in 1995; an Honourary Award for excellent service
from the Unisa Council in 1996 and in 1995 she was a co-recipient of the Johan
Fleerackers Prize with Prof Jakes Gerwel from the Flemish Ministry of
Culture.
Prof Elize Botha loved her work deeply and read voraciously accumulating a
vast knowledge of literature, she was also extremely modest. She served many
Non-Governmental Organisations such as children's homes, disabled institutions,
church groups and hospices. She was a people's person.
We convey our deepest condolences to her husband, Prof Johan Botha, her
children, grandchildren, family, to all at the University of Stellenbosch
including friends far and wide. You can justifiable to be proud of the mark she
has made in the many positions she held.
Enquiries:
Sandile Memela
Spokesperson of the Minister
Cell: 082 800 3750
Or
Premi Appalraju
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 903 6778
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
20 November 2007
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://www.dac.gov.za)
