# Justus Cornelias Dirks

Justus Cornelias Dirks (1911-2001) was a writer from South Africa.

## History

Dirks was born on 28 February 1911 in Volksrust, Transvaal, South Africa to Justus Dirks and Cornelia Petronella Herselmann. He married Elsje Christina van Niekerk on 7 July 1939. The couple had two children. Dirks died on 15 October 2001, in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.

## Education

Having passed standard 10 (grade 12) in 1928 at Volksrust High School, Dirks studied from 1929 to 1937 at the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and obtained a BA (History and English), MA (History) and a diploma in Education.

## Career

From 1934 to 1973 Dirks taught at schools in Duiwelskloof, Potchefstroom, Belfast, Boksburg and Johannesburg. He was Vice-Headmaster at Voortrekker High School in Boksburg and Headmaster of Linden High School, in Johannesburg for 18 years.

## Writing

In addition to books, other writings were published or broadcast:
* short stories in magazines and newspapers namely Die Jongspan, Die Naweek, Die Brandwag, Die Huisgenoot, Die Huisvrou, Die Ruiter and 10-Plus,
* a drama, televised by the SABC during South Africa's first day of television in 1976, named Die Dubbele Alibi (translated from Afrikaans: The Double Alibi),
* a series: Die Honde van Donkerkrans (translated: The Dogs of Dark Cliff), broadcast on radio in 1976.
Books written:
| Year | Title | Title translated | Part of a series |
| 1946 | As Die Galg Dreig | When you face the Gallow | No |
| 1947 | Arendnes se Moordenaar | Eagle Nest's Murderer | No |
| 1948 | Hoefslag van Die Dood | Hoofbeat of The Death | No |
| 1949 | Die Uile van Kranskop | The Owls of Kranskop | Yes |
| 1950 | Bloed in die Weste | Blood in the West | No |
| 1950 | Moord wek Moord | Murder begets Murder | No |
| 1950 | Wadda van die Woestyn | Wadda from the Desert | No |
| 1950 | Die Uile en die Rampokkers | The Owls and the Gangsters | Yes |
| 1951 | Arend van As | Arend van As | No |
| 1953 | Breuk Onder die Uile | The Owls Split Up | Yes |
| 1954 | Die Uile in die Wildtuin | The Owls in the Game Reserve | Yes |
| 1956 | Ghoerie : die Musketier | Ghoerie – the Musketeer | No |
| 1956 | Die Uile in die Kalahari | The Owls in the Kalahari | Yes |
| 1957 | Die Uile en die Verlore Stad | The Owls and the Lost City | Yes |
| 1958 | Die Uile langs die Limpopo | The Owls beside the Limpopo | Yes |
| 1959 | Die Uile by die See | The Owls by the Sea | Yes |
| 1961 | Die Uile in die Wapad | The Owls on the Wagon Trail | Yes |
| 1965 | Vyf Uile en ’n Tier | Five Owls and a Tiger | Yes |
| 1966 | Rooi Oog, Geel Oog | Red Eye, Yellow Eye | No |
| 1966 | Die Uile in die Gimnasium | The Owls in the Gymnasium | Yes |
| 1971 | Ben Opperman van Hoogland | Ben Opperman of Highland | NO |
| 1971 | Die Uile in Mosambiek | The Owls in Mozambique | Yes |
| 1976 | Die Smits gaan See toe | The Smits visit the Sea | No |
| 1977 | Joof van Doringkop | Joof of Doringkop | Yes |
| 1979 | Joof en sy Maats by Doringspruit | Joof and his Friends at Thorn Creek | Yes |
| 1980 | Joof en sy Maats in Etosha | Joof and his Friends at Etosha | Yes |
| 1981 | Joof en sy Maats op Doringkruin | Joof and his Friends on Thorn Crest | Yes |
| 1981 | Joof en sy Maats onder die Koeëls | Joof and his Friends Under Fire | Yes |
| 1981 | Die Otters | The Otters | Yes |
| 1983 | Joof en sy Maats se Bergavontuur | Joof and his Friends' Mountain Adventure | Yes |
| 1983 | Joof en sy Maats in Tongaland | Joof and his Friends in Tonga Land | Yes |
| 1983 | Joof en sy Maats : Platina uit Wes-Transvaal | Joof and his Friends – Platina from Western Transvaal | Yes |
| 1983 | Die Otters op die Bosveldplaas | The Otters on the Bushveld Farm | Yes |
| 1983 | Die Otters se Koshuisstreke | The Otters' escapades at the School Hostel | Yes |
| 1984 | Die Otters en die Huis op die Krans | The Otters and the House on the Cliff | Yes |
| 1985 | Die Otters se Fietstoer | The Otters' Cycle Tour | Yes |
| 1986 | Joof en sy Maats en die Dwelmsmokkelaars | Joof and his Friends and the Drug Dealers | Yes |
| 1986 | Die Otters en die Skateiland van die Seychelles | The Otters and the Treasure Island of the Seychelles | Yes |
| 1988 | Joof en sy Maats en die Ivoordiewe | Joof and his Friends and the Ivory Thieves | Yes |
| 1988 | Die Otters se Veldskoolavonture | The Otters' School Trip Adventures | Yes |
| 1989 | Die Otters in die Okavango-moeras | The Otters in the Okavango Marsh | Yes |
| 1990 | Die Uile Vlieg Weer | The Owls Fly Again | Yes |
Note: "The Owls and the Otters" refer to a group of friends and their adventures. Joof is a boy's name.

## Recognition

* Linden High School named a building after him.
* He received an academic award in 1999 at the Aardklop Art Festival in Potchefstroom for his contribution to children's literature.