Frans is a trained anthropologist and archaeologist. He received his MA (Archaeology) from the University of Stellenbosch and is presently a PhD candidate on social anthropology at Rhodes University.
Frans has been employed as a research associate and lecturer in Archaeology at the Universities of Transkei and Stellenbosch (1988-1991). From 1991 – 2001 he was appointed head of the department of Historical Anthropology at the Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg. During 2001-2002 Frans assisted an international NGO (Working group for Indigenous Minorities) with the conceptualization of a San or Bushman museum near Cape Town, during this period he consulted extensively with various San groupings. Frans is presently employed as the Cultural Resource Specialist for the Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project – a bilateral conservation project funded through the World Bank. This project involves facilitation with various stakeholders in order to produce a cultural heritage conservation and development strategy for the adjacent parts of Lesotho and South Africa.
Frans’s research interests include African Iron Age, paleoecology, rock art research, San ethnography, traditional healers in South Africa, and heritage conservation. He has published widely on these topics in both popular and academic publications. He is frequently approached by video and film productions in order to assist with research and conceptualization for programmes on African culture. Frans has wide experience in the fields of museum and interpretive centre display and made a significant contribution to the conceptual planning of displays at the Natal Museum, Golden Horse Casino, Didima Rock Art Centre and !Khwa tu San Heritage centre. Frans is also the co-manager of “African Antiqua” a specialist tour company who conducts archaeological and cultural tours world-wide.