Sita

Sita (1898-1987) was the pseudonym of a popular Afrikaans author and playwright.

Also known as Sita de Kock.

BEING EDITED

Biography

Born Sara Susanna Bosman on 10 June 1898 on the farm Hoogekraal near Potchefstroom, where she also received her initial schooling at a farm school founded on the farm by her grandfather, completing her studies at the Girls High School in Potchefstroom. This was followed by a B.A. degree fromn the Potchefstroomse Universiteitskollege in 1921. She also completed a diploma course in journalism and on in short story writing through the Vere Stent College of Journalism and Short Story Writing.

On 26 March 1921 she married the teacher Arend Josias de Kock and thereafter she spent most of her life in the vicinity of Potchefstroom, where they lived on the farm Wilgeboom and her husband taught for 40 years. She in turn began writing stories and other publications, especially children's fiction. Gradually she also worked as children's editor on a variety of Afrikaans publications, including Die Vaderland, Die Brandwag, Boerebelange and Avontuur.

Besides her writing she also travelled often and widely, visiting virtually all the continents. She and her husband eventually settled in Bronkhorstspruit, where she passed away on 10 May 1987.

The couple had two sons, Bosman de Kock (the well-known radio announcer, musician and later head of PACT) and Silvan de Kock.

Her writing

Over the course of more than 40 years she wrote and published over 70 works, ranging from short stories, novels, stage and radio plays to musicals and genealogical works.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Besides stories and novels, she wrote a number of stage plays and musicals, radio plays and serials, and translated a number of theatrical works, notably the operettas and songs of Armand Preud'homme.

The plays

Many of her plays were written for use by the travelling Afrikaans theatre companies of the 1930's and 1940's. Not all were formally published, though many performance texts were published in DALRO's script series Wat kan ons opvoer

The stage plays include Bennie Boet, Sy Les, Die Stiefma. Die Goeie Oue Tyd, Oppie trein, Die bordin-huis, Vinkel en koljander (or Finkel en koljander), Janette - die dogter wat nie 'n dame wou word nie, Ses vroue, Die Pettie-krie-koei, Oppie trein. 'n Man van ponde en dinge, Hintemal in die dubbeljoe and Die bondel-smous.

The musicals

1971 Skoothondjie van mev. Pips – Alois Verwaest 1972 Die heiland is gebore – Armand Preud’homme 1975 So sing ons saam – Armand Preud’homme

So vertaal sy onder andere die operettes Die lewe bloei oop en Die Heiland is gebore en verskeie lirieke. Haar vertaling van Alois Verwaest se Skoothondjie van mev. Pips, waarvoor Preud'homme ook die musiek skryf, word deur Dalro gepubliseer. Sy skryf ook die oorspronklike tekste Die lied van die ou meule en Kers-sangdiens wat deur Preud’homme getoonset word. Werke vir skoolgebruik sluit in die sangspele vir laerskole Soetkoek, Potjierol en Ons wil jakker, waarvan die eerste twee deur Bosman de Kock getoonset word.

Radio plays and serials

Die buurt, Ou-Oumatjie en Tant Poppie Kluitjiesfontein, Uw wil geschiede, Magersfontein, Vreemder as verdigsel

Quoted from a biographical sketch by Ena van der Walt (NALN) written in 1998: "Sy het ook dramatekste voorsien aan die bedrywige Afrikaanse rondreisende toneelgeselskappe, bv. Bennie-Boet, wat later as jeugboek gepubliseer is, maar wat oorspronklik as drama geskryf is spesiaal vir Benn Potgieter, een van die beroemde Afrikaanse kindertoneelspelers. Haar baie gewilde boek Janette - die dogter wat nie 'n dame wou word nie, het sy verwerk vir die jong aktrise Pikkie Uys, die liefling van die Afrikaanse toneel van die 1930's en 40's.

Janette by Sita de Kock (17 editions of the book were published, between 1937 and 1986 in 4 languages and held by 39 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Die Bosmans van Suid-Afrika, 1707-1965 by Sita De Kock( Book )

5 editions published in 1968 in 3 languages and held by 35 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Die buurt by Sita De Kock( Book )

11 editions published between 1967 and 2000 in 3 languages and held by 25 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Die verhaal is gebaseer op feite uit die tydperk direk na die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog toe die Boere, verarm deur die oorlog, moes swoeg om weer 'n bestaan te maak Bennie-Boet by Sita De Kock( Book )

8 editions published between 1951 and 2000 in Afrikaans and English and held by 20 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Vonke, kort verhale en sketse by Sita De Kock( Book )

3 editions published between 1931 and 1946 in Afrikaans and held by 19 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Wekroep by Sita De Kock( Book )

3 editions published in 1976 in Afrikaans and held by 17 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Oppie trein komediespel in een bedryf by Sita De Kock( Book )

4 editions published between 1978 and 1984 in Afrikaans and held by 16 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Die bordin-huis a comedy in one act. 1 edition published in 1982 in Afrikaans and held by 15 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Klipsop (in die verbygaan) by Sita De Kock( Book )

2 editions published in 1977 in Afrikaans and held by 15 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Vinkel en koljander a student musical ("studente-sangblyspel") 6 editions published between 1972 and 1985 in Afrikaans and English, held by 15 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Sources

https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sita

Stellenbosch University Library catalogue.

Books by Sita de Kock: https://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n79148004/

Her letters and other documents are held by NALN.

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