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LJ du Plessis building

LJ du Plessis building (F4)

Photo taken around 1967

 

  • By 1950 there was an urgent need for larger office space for administrative staff. 
  • As part of a five-year plan, a new administrative building was already regarded as a priority by the beginning of 1951.
  • Plans were drawn, but after the completion of other buildings, the £30 000 needed was not available. This was in spite of a state subsidy on a pound-for-pound basis. 
  • Eventually tenders for the work were requested in March 1955. 
  • The building was designed to, apart from offices for administrative staff, also house the offices of the rector. Today the former rector’s offices are those of the dean of Humanities. A wedge-shaped senate hall was built on the northern side. 

The building under construction

  • The Prime Minister, Adv JG Strijdom, laid the foundation stone on 25 August 1956. 
  • The building was officially opened during a festive ceremony by the Secretary for National Education, Mr JJP Op’t Hof, on 11 May 1957. On the same day the Physics laboratory was also officially opened by him. 
  • The first Senate meeting was held in May 1957 in the Senate Hall. 
  • Due to a large donation by SANLAM, the building was initially named the SANLAM Building. 
  • It was later named after Prof LJ (Wicus) du Plessis (1897-1968). He was the first lecturer in economic subjects and also in law subjects. His students regarded him as the most intelligent man on earth. 

Prof LJ du Plessis

         Information about Prof Du Plessis

  • He obtained a BA degree from the Literary Department of the Theological School in 1917 in Potchefstroom. After an Honours in Classical Languages (Greek and Latin) at the Transvaal University College (Tukkies), he was appointed as a lecturer in Classical Languages at the Theological School. He obtained an MA degree in Classical Languages in 1923, a MEcon degree in 1931 and a LLB in 1934. 
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  • One of his greatest achievements was being the secretary to the Bible translators, who translated the first Bible into Afrikaans. With his knowledge of Greek and Afrikaans, he could make valuable contributions. 
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  • In 1934 he was, with thirty-four other Afrikaners, a founding member of Volkskas (now part of ABSA Bank) and was chairman of the board for eleven years. 
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  • In 1948 he left academia to become a businessman. After he had been elected as the first chairman of the Convocation of the newly independent Potchefstroom University in 1951, he was back at the University as a professor in 1953. 
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  • He resigned early, due to medical reasons, in 1961 and underwent a lobotomy in 1963. This brain operation was then regarded as state of the art, but today it is seen as a crude, unscientific and hazardous procedure. 
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  • Prof Du Plessis passed away in Potchefstroom in 1968. This man, who was a trail-blazer, regarded as a philosopher and at one time considered by Prime Minister, Dr DF Malan, as his successor, in his later life became troubled by mental issues, but should still be regarded as one of the most phenomenal men associated with the University.