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{{Short description|South African author, publisher, and commentator}} |
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'''Dan Roodt''' is an Afrikaans writer from South Africa. He is one of the most prominent authors, intellectuals and commentators of his generation. Among his most recent works are a novel, Moltrein (2004), a book of essays, Aweregs (2006), as well as a political polemic in English, The Scourge of the ANC (2005). |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} |
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{{Use South African English|date=August 2012}} |
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{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] --> |
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| name = Daniel Francois Roodt |
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| image = [[File:Daniël François Roodt (cropped).jpg|200px]] |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|5|26|df=y}} |
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| birth_place = [[Springs, Gauteng|Springs]], [[Transvaal province|Transvaal]], Union of South Africa |
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| occupation = Activist, literary critic, writer |
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| nationality = South African |
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| website = {{URL|http://roodt.org}} |
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| influences = |
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| influenced = |
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| awards = |
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}} |
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'''Daniel Francois Roodt''' (born 26 May 1957) is a South African author, publisher, and commentator. |
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==Early life and education== |
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Roodt was born in the mining town of Springs, east of [[Johannesburg]], South Africa. He completed his schooling in Johannesburg, after which he enrolled for a [[Bachelor's degree]] at the [[University of Witwatersrand]].<ref name="a72497">{{cite web|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article72497.ece |title=Radical thoughts of a right-wing reactionary |publisher=Times LIVE |date=3 April 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724025700/http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article72497.ece |archive-date= 24 July 2010 |access-date=2010-07-28}}</ref> Roodt has six degrees, including a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand in Afrikaans, obtained with a thesis on the works of {{ill|John Miles (writer)|lt=John Miles|af|John Miles}} in 1994.<ref>Ondermyning in die prosa van John Miles: 'n postmoderne lesing. http://www.worldcat.org/title/ondermyning-in-die-prosa-van-john-miles-n-postmoderne-lesing/oclc/775690588</ref> |
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Daniel François Roodt was born on 26 May 1957 in the mining town of Springs, east of Johannesburg. His father was an accountant but with strong literary interests and his maternal grandfather was an amateur poet. Also on his mother's side, his great grandfather fought on the Boer side during the Second War for Independence (Second Anglo-Boer War) and was wounded in the battle of Rooiwal on 12 April 1902. He kept a war diary, Met ryperd en Mauser (With horse and Mauser), which was later published. |
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==Career== |
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From an early age, Roodt was an avid reader. He attended the Laerskool Christiaan Beyers in Springs where he also became head boy. His high school years were spent at the Hoër Seunskool Helpmekaar, the most famous Afrikaans school in Johannesburg where he took Afrikaans, English, Mathematics, Science, Biology, Latin and some French. As an athlete, he excelled in the high jump and became a provincial champion who participated in the junior South African championship in Bloemfontein. |
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Roodt lectured at the [[University of Durban-Westville]] for a while, and in 1985 left South Africa for France to avoid [[conscription]] in the South African Defence Force.<ref name="a72497"/><ref name="mond">{{cite web|url=http://www.oulitnet.co.za/mond/danroodt.asp |title=LitNet: Die mond is nie geheim nie |publisher=Oulitnet.co.za |access-date=2010-07-28}}</ref> |
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[[Times LIVE]] said that in the 1980s, Roodt was an anti-establishment anarchist, but that now "he is branded a right-wing reactionary" for his "vehement anti-ANC essays". Two of his literary works had been banned by the South African government in 1980, a time of strict censorship.<ref name="a72497"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Censored publications: ID 9905629|url=http://search.beaconforfreedom.org/search/censored_publications/publication.html?id=9905629|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140823062525/http://search.beaconforfreedom.org/search/censored_publications/publication.html?id=9905629|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 August 2014|publisher=Beacon for Freedom of Expression|access-date=23 August 2014|quote=Main title: Sonneskyn & Chevrolet, Period of censorship: July 17, 1992 – March 5, 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Censored publications: ID 9905677|url=http://search.beaconforfreedom.org/search/censored_publications/publication.html?id=9905677|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120041407/http://search.beaconforfreedom.org/search/censored_publications/publication.html?id=9905677|url-status=usurped|archive-date=20 January 2016|publisher=Beacon for Freedom of Expression|access-date=23 August 2014|quote=Main title: Kommas uit'n boomzol, Period of censorship: October 2, 1992 – March 5, 1993}}</ref> |
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After his matric or school-leaving examination in 1974, Roodt enrolled at the university of the Witwatersrand, also in Johannesburg. Initially he studied law, but soon abandoned his legal studies in favour of literature, philosophy and political science, obtaining two B.A. Honours degrees in Afrikaans and in Comparative Literature, an M.A. in Literary Theory, as well as a Ph.D. in Afrikaans. |
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After returning to South Africa in 1992, Roodt worked for Citibank until 1999, and in 2000 he co-founded PRAAG (Pro-Afrikaanse Aksiegroep, or Pro-Afrikaans Action Group),<ref name="a72497"/> which describes itself as an extra-parliamentary movement devoted to the rights of [[Afrikaner]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.praag.org/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=3&id=23&Itemid=117 |title=Pro-Afrikaanse Aksiegroep - Wie is ons? |website=www.praag.org |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927191807/http://www.praag.org/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=3&id=23&Itemid=117 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> PRAAG also has a publishing division, which has published some of his recent works. Roodt has contributed articles to Focus, the journal of the liberal [[Helen Suzman Foundation]], columns to ''[[American Renaissance (magazine)|American Renaissance]]'', a [[white nationalist]] magazine, various scientific or academic journals in South Africa as well as a host of articles in South African newspapers. He has also appeared on television and radio talk shows in South Africa. |
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During 1985, he lectured at the University of Durban-Westville in Afrikaans literature, but left for Paris where he studied philosophy under Gilles Deleuze, Jean-François Lyotard and René Scherrer. |
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In May 2011 Roodt stood for the [[Freedom Front Plus]] during the municipal elections as a candidate in Johannesburg, but was not elected. |
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Roodt is the deputy leader and spokesperson of South African right-wing political party [[Front National (South Africa)|Front Nasionaal]] formed in late 2013 which promotes [[separatism]] and Afrikaner [[self-determination]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Roodt|first=Dan|title=Afrikaners moet opstaan vir selfbeskikking|url=http://www.rapport.co.za/Weekliks/Nuus/Afrikaners-moet-opstaan-vir-selfbeskikking-20140221|access-date=13 March 2014|language=Afrikaans|trans-title=Afrikaners must stand up for self-determination|newspaper=Rapport|date=22 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313154529/http://www.rapport.co.za/Weekliks/Nuus/Afrikaners-moet-opstaan-vir-selfbeskikking-20140221|archive-date=13 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Eckard |first=Lourensa |title=EFF dood as eis nie slaag |url=http://www.beeld.com/nuus/2014-03-05-eff-dood-as-eis-nie-slaag |language=Afrikaans |trans-title=EFF dead if demand fails |access-date=13 March 2014 |newspaper=Beeld |date=5 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313164725/http://www.beeld.com/nuus/2014-03-05-eff-dood-as-eis-nie-slaag |archive-date=13 March 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Godinho|first1=Thorne|title=Front Nasionaal stokes the embers of the Afrikaner right|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2014-04-24-front-nasionaal-stokes-the-embers-of-the-afrikaner-right|access-date=15 June 2014|work=Mail & Guardian|date=25 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615121535/http://mg.co.za/article/2014-04-24-front-nasionaal-stokes-the-embers-of-the-afrikaner-right|archive-date=15 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The Sunday newspaper Rapport reported on 8 February 2015 that Roodt had been "voted out of the party" without him being aware of it.<ref>Dan Roodt uitgestem http://www.netwerk24.com/nuus/2015-02-08-dan-roodtuitgestem</ref> He was quoted in the article as saying that "he would henceforth be devoting his energy to his publishing company, Praag... I am disillusioned with Afrikaner politics. I am finished with Afrikaner politics." |
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== Works == |
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==Activism== |
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Sonneskyn en Chevrolet, novel (1980) |
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Roodt has strong views on the preservation of Afrikaans and Afrikaner culture, which has led to some controversy in the South African [[mass media|media]].<ref name="a72497"/><ref name="mond"/> He maintains a blog and the PRAAG website, commenting on issues in South Africa. Roodt also regularly writes letters regarding political matters to various South African newspapers and the literary [[e-zine]] LitNet.<ref name="Venter, A 2007. pp. 501-502">Venter, A. 2007. Book Review: ''Aweregs: politieke essays''. ''Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe'', 47(3):pp. 501-502.</ref> |
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==Writing== |
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Kommas uit 'n boomzol, poetry (1980) |
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Roodt's first novel, ''Sonneskyn en Chevrolet'' (Taurus, 1980), is an anti-establishment commentary on South African society (and specifically Afrikaner society) of that time.<ref name="k608">Kannemeyer, J.C. 2005. ''Die Afrikaanse literatuur, 1652-2004''. Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau. p.608.</ref> His only published volume of [[poetry]] to date, ''Kommas uit 'n boomzol'' (Uitgewery Pannevis, 1980), structurally parodies ''Komas uit 'n bamboesstok'' (Human & Rousseau, 1979), a volume of poetry by the Afrikaans poet [[D.J. Opperman]].<ref name="k608"/> Afrikaans [[literary critic]] [[John Christoffel Kannemeyer|John Kannemeyer]] asserts that there is 'no one poem of any intrinsic value' in ''Kommas uit 'n boomzol'', and similarly views Roodt's subsequent prose work ''Twee sinne'' (Taurus, 1985).<ref name="k608"/> |
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Roodt's first publication after ''Twee sinne'' is a critical [[essay]] on the South African [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]] (TRC) entitled ''Om die Waarheidskommissie te vergeet'' ('Forgetting the Truth Commission', 2001). This would be PRAAG's first publication of one of Roodt's works. In 2004, PRAAG published the novel ''Moltrein'', which is about a promising musician who leaves South Africa during the 1980s to avoid military service in the South African Defence Force.<ref>Kannemeyer, J.C. 2005. ''Die Afrikaanse literatuur, 1652-2004''. Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau. p.609.</ref> |
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Twee sinne, prose (1985) |
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In 2005 Roodt released ''The Scourge of the ANC'' (PRAAG), a critique of the ANC, and also of the former South African government under leadership of [[FW de Klerk]].<ref name="a72497"/> The following year, ''Aweregs'' (PRAAG, 2006), another collection of political essays, was released. Regarding ''Aweregs'', Venter notes that if the ultimate aim of the book is |
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Om die waarheidskommissie te vergeet, essay (2001) |
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<blockquote> |
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Moltrein, novel (2004) |
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to demonstrate the author's pessimism regarding Africa, the [[African National Congress]] (ANC), "the new" South Africa, and supporters of the idea that Afrikaans can only survive by developing [[multilingualism]] in South Africa, then Roodt's vision succeeds. But it is a limited and distressing vision.<ref name="Venter, A 2007. pp. 501-502"/> |
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</blockquote> |
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In 2015, Roodt published an essay ''Raiders of the Lost Empire: South Africa's English Identity'' (PRAAG) in which he "explores the country's 'new' English identity which is founded on the old colonial identity of the nineteenth century when the redcoats invaded the Cape of Good Hope."<ref>Raiders of the lost Empire: South Africa’s 'English' identity – by Dan Roodt http://praag.org/?wpsc-product=raiders-of-the-lost-empire-south-africas-english-identity-by-dan-roodt</ref> |
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The Scourge of the ANC, essays (2005) |
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==Personal life== |
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Aweregs, essays (2006) |
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Roodt currently lives with his wife, Karin (née Bredenkamp), and their three children in Johannesburg, South Africa.<ref name="a72497"/> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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== Internet writings == |
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{{wikiquote}} |
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{{commons category}} |
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* [http://praag.org/ Homepage of the Pro-Afrikaans Action Group] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405071400/http://www.praag.org/ |date=5 April 2010 }} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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He has written copiously on the internet and many of his essays are available on http://www.praag.org |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Roodt, Dan}} |
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[[Category:1957 births |
[[Category:1957 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people |
[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:People from Springs, Gauteng]] |
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[[Category:South African people of Dutch descent]] |
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[[af:Dan Roodt]] |
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[[Category:Afrikaans-language writers]] |
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[[Category:Afrikaner nationalists]] |
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[[Category:South African male novelists]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:59, 22 December 2024
Daniel Francois Roodt | |
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.jpg) | |
| Born | 26 May 1957 Springs, Transvaal, Union of South Africa |
| Occupation | Activist, literary critic, writer |
| Nationality | South African |
| Website | |
| roodt | |
Daniel Francois Roodt (born 26 May 1957) is a South African author, publisher, and commentator.
Early life and education
[edit]Roodt was born in the mining town of Springs, east of Johannesburg, South Africa. He completed his schooling in Johannesburg, after which he enrolled for a Bachelor's degree at the University of Witwatersrand.[1] Roodt has six degrees, including a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand in Afrikaans, obtained with a thesis on the works of John Miles in 1994.[2]
Career
[edit]Roodt lectured at the University of Durban-Westville for a while, and in 1985 left South Africa for France to avoid conscription in the South African Defence Force.[1][3]
Times LIVE said that in the 1980s, Roodt was an anti-establishment anarchist, but that now "he is branded a right-wing reactionary" for his "vehement anti-ANC essays". Two of his literary works had been banned by the South African government in 1980, a time of strict censorship.[1][4][5]
After returning to South Africa in 1992, Roodt worked for Citibank until 1999, and in 2000 he co-founded PRAAG (Pro-Afrikaanse Aksiegroep, or Pro-Afrikaans Action Group),[1] which describes itself as an extra-parliamentary movement devoted to the rights of Afrikaners.[6] PRAAG also has a publishing division, which has published some of his recent works. Roodt has contributed articles to Focus, the journal of the liberal Helen Suzman Foundation, columns to American Renaissance, a white nationalist magazine, various scientific or academic journals in South Africa as well as a host of articles in South African newspapers. He has also appeared on television and radio talk shows in South Africa.
In May 2011 Roodt stood for the Freedom Front Plus during the municipal elections as a candidate in Johannesburg, but was not elected.
Roodt is the deputy leader and spokesperson of South African right-wing political party Front Nasionaal formed in late 2013 which promotes separatism and Afrikaner self-determination.[7][8][9] The Sunday newspaper Rapport reported on 8 February 2015 that Roodt had been "voted out of the party" without him being aware of it.[10] He was quoted in the article as saying that "he would henceforth be devoting his energy to his publishing company, Praag... I am disillusioned with Afrikaner politics. I am finished with Afrikaner politics."
Activism
[edit]Roodt has strong views on the preservation of Afrikaans and Afrikaner culture, which has led to some controversy in the South African media.[1][3] He maintains a blog and the PRAAG website, commenting on issues in South Africa. Roodt also regularly writes letters regarding political matters to various South African newspapers and the literary e-zine LitNet.[11]
Writing
[edit]Roodt's first novel, Sonneskyn en Chevrolet (Taurus, 1980), is an anti-establishment commentary on South African society (and specifically Afrikaner society) of that time.[12] His only published volume of poetry to date, Kommas uit 'n boomzol (Uitgewery Pannevis, 1980), structurally parodies Komas uit 'n bamboesstok (Human & Rousseau, 1979), a volume of poetry by the Afrikaans poet D.J. Opperman.[12] Afrikaans literary critic John Kannemeyer asserts that there is 'no one poem of any intrinsic value' in Kommas uit 'n boomzol, and similarly views Roodt's subsequent prose work Twee sinne (Taurus, 1985).[12]
Roodt's first publication after Twee sinne is a critical essay on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) entitled Om die Waarheidskommissie te vergeet ('Forgetting the Truth Commission', 2001). This would be PRAAG's first publication of one of Roodt's works. In 2004, PRAAG published the novel Moltrein, which is about a promising musician who leaves South Africa during the 1980s to avoid military service in the South African Defence Force.[13]
In 2005 Roodt released The Scourge of the ANC (PRAAG), a critique of the ANC, and also of the former South African government under leadership of FW de Klerk.[1] The following year, Aweregs (PRAAG, 2006), another collection of political essays, was released. Regarding Aweregs, Venter notes that if the ultimate aim of the book is
to demonstrate the author's pessimism regarding Africa, the African National Congress (ANC), "the new" South Africa, and supporters of the idea that Afrikaans can only survive by developing multilingualism in South Africa, then Roodt's vision succeeds. But it is a limited and distressing vision.[11]
In 2015, Roodt published an essay Raiders of the Lost Empire: South Africa's English Identity (PRAAG) in which he "explores the country's 'new' English identity which is founded on the old colonial identity of the nineteenth century when the redcoats invaded the Cape of Good Hope."[14]
Personal life
[edit]Roodt currently lives with his wife, Karin (née Bredenkamp), and their three children in Johannesburg, South Africa.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "Radical thoughts of a right-wing reactionary". Times LIVE. 3 April 2005. Archived from the original on 24 July 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ Ondermyning in die prosa van John Miles: 'n postmoderne lesing. http://www.worldcat.org/title/ondermyning-in-die-prosa-van-john-miles-n-postmoderne-lesing/oclc/775690588
- ^ a b "LitNet: Die mond is nie geheim nie". Oulitnet.co.za. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ "Censored publications: ID 9905629". Beacon for Freedom of Expression. Archived from the original on 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
Main title: Sonneskyn & Chevrolet, Period of censorship: July 17, 1992 – March 5, 1993
- ^ "Censored publications: ID 9905677". Beacon for Freedom of Expression. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
Main title: Kommas uit'n boomzol, Period of censorship: October 2, 1992 – March 5, 1993
- ^ "Pro-Afrikaanse Aksiegroep - Wie is ons?". www.praag.org. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Roodt, Dan (22 February 2014). "Afrikaners moet opstaan vir selfbeskikking" [Afrikaners must stand up for self-determination]. Rapport (in Afrikaans). Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ Eckard, Lourensa (5 March 2014). "EFF dood as eis nie slaag" [EFF dead if demand fails]. Beeld (in Afrikaans). Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ Godinho, Thorne (25 April 2014). "Front Nasionaal stokes the embers of the Afrikaner right". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 June 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
- ^ Dan Roodt uitgestem http://www.netwerk24.com/nuus/2015-02-08-dan-roodtuitgestem
- ^ a b Venter, A. 2007. Book Review: Aweregs: politieke essays. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 47(3):pp. 501-502.
- ^ a b c Kannemeyer, J.C. 2005. Die Afrikaanse literatuur, 1652-2004. Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau. p.608.
- ^ Kannemeyer, J.C. 2005. Die Afrikaanse literatuur, 1652-2004. Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau. p.609.
- ^ Raiders of the lost Empire: South Africa’s 'English' identity – by Dan Roodt http://praag.org/?wpsc-product=raiders-of-the-lost-empire-south-africas-english-identity-by-dan-roodt
External links
[edit]
- Homepage of the Pro-Afrikaans Action Group Archived 5 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
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