​​​​​About VER[r]AS

The Department of Afrikaans and Dutch student committee (originally known as the ‘ASK’ – Afrikaans Study Circle) is known as ‘VER[r]AS’ – the Society for Afrikaans Students. VER[r]AS is managed by a student committee and its ranks usually consist of undergraduate students who take Afrikaans and Dutch as subject. The committee organizes various social events for students usually related to Afrikaans in some way, for instance Afrikaans film evenings, poetry evenings and even quiz and games nights.

One of the VER[r]AS Committee's most important activities is compiling the annual student anthology of poetry and short prose: Penseel. This is a publication with a long history in the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, originating in 1969/70, when Fanie Olivier and Danie Botha published it under the auspices of the ASK. Since then the volume has seen publication nearly every year. Some of the poets and writers whose work has appeared in Penseel over the years have gone on to become well-known figures in the Afrikaans literary scene – Zandra Bezuidenhout, Kerneels Breytenbach, Charles Fryer, Rachelle Greeff, Helena Gunter, Joan Hambidge, Daniel Hugo, André le Roux, Sonja Loots, Fanie Olivier, Alfred Schaffer, Etienne van Heerden and Marlene van Niekerk – to name but a few.

Penseel remains a student publication. All students at Stellenbosch University may submit their original Afrikaans poems or short short stories. The entries are reviewed by a panel, with the best contributions being published. 

For more information on VER[r]AS or Penseel, or for any enquiries, contact the VER[r]AS committee at penseel@sun.ac.za.